Identification of a novel gene with RING-H2 finger motif induced after chronic antidepressant treatment in rat brain

Previously, we have identified 200 cDNA fragments as antidepressant related genes/ESTs. In this study, using these cDNAs, we developed our original cD NA microarray for rapid secondary screening of candidate genes as the novel therapeutic targets. With this microarray, we found that the expression of a novel gene, ADRG34, was significantly increased in rat hippocampus which had been chronically treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant, sertraline. RT-PCR analysis also demonstrated the inductio n of ADRG34 at mRNA levels in rat hippocampus and the frontal cortex. This cDNA encoded 685 amino acid residues containing a RING-H2 finger motif at t he carboxy-terminal. Sequence analysis of ADRG34 with the EMBL/GenBank data base showed significant homology to mouse and human kf-l gene. Our data sug gest that ADRG34, a possible rat homologue of kf-1, may be one of the commo n functional molecules induced after chronic antidepressant treatment. (C) 2000 Academic Press.