The brain link protein-1 (BRAL1): cDNA cloning, genomic structure, and characterization as a novel link protein expressed in adult brain.
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Hirakawa S, Oohashi T, Su WD, Yoshioka H, Murakami T, Arata J, Ninomiya Y
The brain link protein-1 (BRAL1): cDNA cloning, genomic structure, and characterization as a novel link protein expressed in adult brain.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2000 Oct 5;276(3):982-9.
- PubMed ID
- 11027579 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
We report here molecular cloning and expression analysis of the gene for a novel human brain link protein-1 (BRAL1) which is predominantly expressed in brain. The predicted open reading frame of human brain link protein-1 encoded a polypeptide of 340 amino acids containing three protein modules, the immunoglobulin-like fold and proteoglycan tandem repeat 1 and 2 domains, with an estimated mass of 38 kDa. The brain link protein-1 mRNA was exclusively present in brain. When analyzed during mouse development, it was detected solely in the adult brain. Concomitant expression pattern of mRNAs for brain link protein-1 and various lectican proteoglycans in brain suggests a possibility that brain link protein-1 functions to stabilize the binding between hyaluronan and brevican. The human BRAL1 gene contained 7 exons and spanned approximately 6 kb. The entire immunoglobulin-like fold was encoded by a single exon and the proteoglycan tandem repeat 1 and 2 domains were encoded by a single and two exons, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of human brain link protein-1 exhibited 45% identity with human cartilage link protein-1 (CRTL1), previously reported as link protein to stabilize aggregates of aggrecan and hyaluronan in cartilage. These results suggest that brain link protein-1 may have distinct function from cartilage link protein-1 and play specific roles, especially in the adult brain.