Cloning and molecular characterization of three Ubiquitin Fusion Degradation 1 (Ufd1) ortholog genes from Xenopus laevis, Gallus gallus and Drosophila melanogaster

The yeast ubiquitin fusion degradation 1 (Ufd1) protein is involved in a de gradation pathway for ubiquitin fused products. The human ortholog gene (UF D1-like, UFD1L) is deleted in patients affected by the DiGeorge/velocardiof acial syndromes. We report the cloning of UFD1L orthologs from Drosophila m elanogaster (dufd 11), Xenopus laevis and Gallus gallus. The 1,125-bp Droso phila cDNA encodes a protein of 316 amino acids, showing 60% identity with the human and murine proteins. The identity to the G. gallus, X. laevis, C. elegans and S. cerevisiae proteins is 95%, 83%, 32%, and 36%, respectively . Northern expression data in Drosophila indicate that dufd11 is expressed through embryonic, larval and pupal development, as well as in the adult fl y. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.