G. Kappe et al., Characterization of two novel human small heat shock proteins: protein kinase-related HspB8 and testis-specific HspB9, BBA-GENE ST, 1520(1), 2001, pp. 1-6
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Molecular Biology & Genetics
Journal title
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE STRUCTURE AND EXPRESSION
Using search profiles based on the conserved alpha -crystallin domain that
is characteristic for small heat shock proteins (sHsps), we traced two new
human sHsps. One of these, being the eighth known human sHsp and thus named
HspB8, was recently described as a serine-threonine protein kinase (H11),
but not identified as an sHsp (C.C. Smith, Y.X. Yu, M. Kulka, L. Aurelian,
J. Biol. Chem. 275 (2000)). Northern blotting showed that HspB8/H11 is pred
ominantly transcribed in skeletal muscle and heart, like most other sHsps.
The other, named HspB9, is specifically expressed in testis, notably in the
spermatogenic cells from late pachytene spermatocyte stage till elongate s
permatid stage. While mammalian sHsps are generally highly conserved, mouse
HspB9 shows 38% sequence difference with human HspB9, which may confirm it
s sex-related role. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.