STRUCTURAL MOTIFS OF THE PKD1 PROTEIN

The complete sequence of the polycystic kidney disease gene (PKD1) and its transcript have been described. The predicted protein is not a me mber of a previously described gene family, but contains several struc tural motifs that are present in proteins of known function. Most of t hese domains are present in the extracellular parts of proteins involv ed in interactions with other proteins and carbohydrates. The PKD1 gen e product also contains potential transmembrane sequences. The molecul e is likely to be involved in cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions, w hich is consistent with the different manifestations of polycystic kid ney disease.