Cloning and expression pattern of the human NDRG3 gene

We report the cloning and expression pattern of a novel N-myc downstream-re gulated gene 3 (NDRG3). located on human chromosome 20q11.21-11.23. The NDR G3 cDNA is 2588 base pair in length, encoding a 363 amino acid polypeptide highly related to mouse Ndr3 protein. Northern blot reveals that NDRG3 is h ighly expressed in testis, prostate and ovary. By in situ hybridization, th e NDRG3 mRNA was localized to the outer layers of seminiferous epithelium, indicating that it may play a role in spermatogenesis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.