CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL CLASS-I CYTOKINE RECEPTOR

The human gp130 cDNA sequence was used as a query to search an express ed sequence tag database (dbEST) to identify cDNA sequences with simil arity to the cytokine class I receptor family. A novel class I cytokin e receptor was identified in a human infant brain cDNA library and was named WSX-1. Full-length cDNA sequences for human and murine WSX-1 we re isolated and characterized. The WSX-1 cDNA encodes a 636 amino acid transmembrane protein with an extracellular domain of 482 amino acids and a cytoplasmic domain of 96 amino acids. The structure of the WSX- 1 protein most closely resembles that of gp130, Northern blot analysis indicates high levels of expression in thymus, spleen, lymph node, an d peripheral blood leukocytes, suggesting a role for WSX-1 in modulati on of the immune response. (C) 1998 Academic Press.