MOLECULAR-CLONING OF A DIACYLGLYCEROL KINASE ISOZYME PREDOMINANTLY EXPRESSED IN RAT RETINA

We have cloned and characterized a new diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) iso zyme which is expressed in the retina and the brain of rat. The cDNA c ontains an open reading frame of 567 amino acid residues with a predic ted protein of 64 kDa and shows very high homology to human DGK epsilo n. The new DGK isozyme contains two distinctive zinc-finger structures and a putative catalytic domain. This DGK expressed predominantly in the inner and outer nuclear layers of retina. This expression pattern is different from those of the previously cloned DGKs including the hu man DGK epsilon, suggesting that this DGK isozyme has potential import ance in visual functions as was the case in Drosophila retinal cells. (C) 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.