Cloning, molecular characterization, and expression analysis of Copine 8

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 303; no. 3; pp. 842 - 847
• Main Authors: Maitra, Rangan, Grigoryev, Dmitry N., Kumar Bera, Tapan, Pastan, Ira H., Lee, Byungkook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 11-04-2003
• Subjects: Alternative Splicing; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Carrier Proteins - chemistry; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cloning; Cloning, Molecular; Copine; DNA, Complementary - genetics; Expressed Sequence Tags; Expression analysis; Female; Functional genomics; Gene Expression; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Isoforms; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Multigene Family; Pregnancy; Prostate; Prostate - metabolism; Rabbits; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Testis - metabolism; Tissue Distribution; Expression analysis; Copine; Prostate; Cloning; Functional genomics; Isoforms
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-291X(03)00445-5

Copines are ubiquitously expressed, phospholipid-binding proteins that have been conserved through evolution. In this paper, we report the cloning and molecular characterization of a new member of the Copine family, Copine 8. This gene has been isolated and characterized using a combination of bioinformatic and experimental approaches. Using an algorithm to cluster ESTs (expressed sequence tags) that are available through the public “GoldenPath” database, Copine 8 was initially identified as a gene predominantly expressed in prostate and testis. Cloning and molecular analysis revealed that this gene is expressed in low-levels in most tissues examined. Two different isoforms of this gene have been isolated. Strongest expression of Copine 8 mRNA is seen in the prostate, heart, and brain. Taken together, this data suggest that Copine 8 may have an important role to play in prostate regulation and development.