Identification and characterization of BTBD1, a novel BTB domain containing gene on human chromosome 15q24

Working within the EUROIMAGE full-length cDNA sequencing project we have is olated BTBD1, a novel human gene with a BTB/POZ domain. This motif is found in developmentally regulated zinc finger proteins and in the kelch family of actin-associated proteins, and is thought to mediate protein-protein int eractions. The BTBD1 gene encodes a transcript of 3188 nt with an ORF of 48 2 amino acids and a predicted protein product size of 52.7 kDa. Northern bl ot analysis revealed an enhanced BTBD1 expression in heart and skeletal mus cle. We have identified a paralogous BTBD1 counterpart gene on chromosome 1 9, BTBD2. BTBD1 was mapped to chromosome 15q24. Conservation of multiple pa irs of genes between 15q24 and 19p13.3-p12 suggests their possible common c hromosomal origin. We show the existence of the murine BTBD1 and BTBD2 orth ologous genes, as well as the partial rat and bovine homologs. (C) 2001 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.