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CAZIP, a novel protein expressed in the developing heart and nervous system
Author(s) -
Du Puy Leonie,
Beqqali Abdelaziz,
MonshouwerKloots Jantine,
Haagsman Henk P.,
Roelen Bernard A.J.,
Passier Robert
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.22107
Subject(s) - biology , in situ hybridization , gene isoform , heart development , leucine zipper , gene , embryonic stem cell , nervous system , messenger rna , embryogenesis , western blot , microbiology and biotechnology , northern blot , genetics , peptide sequence , neuroscience
Recently, we have performed a whole genome micro‐array analysis on human embryonic stem cells differentiating toward cardiomyocytes, which resulted in the identification of novel genes that were highly up‐regulated during differentiation. Here, we describe one of these novel genes annotated as KIAA0774. The predicted protein contains a leucine‐zipper domain at the C‐terminus and has at least two isoforms (358 and 1354 amino acids). Whole‐mount in situ hybridization confirmed that the mRNA of both the mouse and chicken orthologs of KIAA0774 is expressed during early cardiac development. Hence, we named this protein CAZIP ( ca rdiac zi pper p rotein). Later during embryonic development, Cazip was also expressed in parts of the nervous system. Northern blot and real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that Cazip is expressed in heart and brain in adult mice. These results suggest a role for CAZIP in development and function of the heart and nervous system in vertebrates. Developmental Dynamics 238:2903–2911, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.