Characterization of rat LANCL1, a novel member of the lanthionine synthetase C-like protein family, highly expressed in testis and brain

We isolated and characterized the cDNA coding for rat LANCL1, a new member of the eukaryotic LanC-like protein family which is related to the bacteria l lanthionine synthetase components C (LanC). LanC is involved in the synth esis of antimicrobial peptides. Rat LANCL1 showed 91.5% and 96% identity wh en compared with the previously characterized human and mouse orthologs, re spectively. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of two major trans cripts, at 1.5 kb and 5 kb, probably arising from the usage of two differen t polyadenylation signals. The 1.5 kb mRNA is massively expressed in testis , whereas the 5 kb transcript is most abundant in brain. The high level of expression of rat LANCL1 in these tissues was confirmed by Western blotting . In situ hybridization analyses of various rat tissues revealed a strong s ignal in the germinal cells of the seminiferous tubules in testis, in the n eurons of the cerebellum, in liver hepatocytes, and in cardiac myocytes. Th e clear relationship between LANCL1 and bacterial LanC proteins suggests si milar functions as peptide-modifying enzymes synthesizing antimicrobial pep tides. In particular, the high expression of LANCL1 in testis and brain, or gans separated by blood-tissue barriers, may hint at a role in the immune s urveillance of these organs. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.