HUMAN POSTSYNAPTIC DENSITY-95 (PSD95) - LOCATION OF THE GENE (DLG4) AND POSSIBLE FUNCTION IN NONNEURAL AS WELL AS IN NEURAL TISSUES

We have determined the cDNA sequence, expression pattern, and chromoso mal location of the human gene DLG4, encoding the postsynaptic density -95 (PSD95) protein. hPSD95 is a 723-amino-acid protein that is 99% id entical to its rodent counterparts. This is the fourth human protein i dentified as showing significant similarity to the Drosophila tumor su ppressor Dig. These proteins constitute the DLG; subfamily of the memb rane-associated guanylate kinase protein family. The expression of DLG 4 in neural tissue is consistent with the pattern observed for its rat homolog. However, DLG4 is also expressed in a wide range of nonneural tissues, suggesting that the protein may have additional roles in hum ans. Using radiation-hybrid mapping panels, we mapped the DLG4 locus t o 17p13.1, a region associated with several diseases, the phenotypes o f which are consistent with loss of PSD95 function. (C) 1997 Academic Press.