The RNA-binding protein gene, hermes, is expressed at high levels in the developing heart

In a screen for novel sequences expressed during embryonic heart developmen t we have isolated a gene which encodes a putative RNA-binding protein. Thi s protein is a member of one of the largest families of RNA-binding protein s, the RRM (RNA Recognition Motif) family. The gene has been named hermes ( for HEart, RRM Expressed Sequence). The hermes protein is 197-amino acids l ong and contains a single RRM domain. In situ hybridization analysis indica tes that hermes is expressed at highest levels in the myocardium of the hea rt and to a lesser extent in the ganglion layer of the retina, the pronephr os and the epiphysis. Expression of hermes in each of these tissues begins at approximately the time of differentiation and is maintained throughout d evelopment. Analysis of the RNA expression of the hermes orthologues from c hicken and mouse reveals that, like Xenopus, the most prominent tissue of e xpression is the developing heart. The sequence and expression pattern of h ermes suggests a role in post-transcriptional regulation of heart developme nt. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.