NEURONAL DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR TA20 - HOMOLOGY WITH CYTOCHROME-B

TA20 is a cDNA clone which was previously reported to encode a novel n euronal differentiation factor. However, the majority of this clone ha s near perfect DNA sequence homology with cytochrome b mitochondrial s equence and an additional 5' region which lacks homology with any prev iously reported sequence. Furthermore, careful study of the library co nstruction method indicates that the full length TA20 clone is likely an artifact arising from the head-to-head blunt-ended ligation of two unrelated cDNAs. Thus, the effects on growth and neurite outgrowth obs erved in correlation with the overexpression of TA20 in neuronal cells , as well as its mRNA distribution in the developing rat brain require further study. NeuroReport 9: 2501-2503 (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd.