Sequence and expression of seven new tetraspans

The tetraspans are components of large molecular complexes that include als o non-tetraspan molecules, in particular integrins. We have identified and sequenced several new members of the tetraspan superfamily, called NET-1 to NET-7 (new EST tetraspan). Sequence analysis of the NET reveals a structur e typical for tetraspans, with the presence of four transmembrane domains d elimiting two extracellular regions as well as conserved amino acid residue s. The NET are differentially expressed in human cell lines. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.