A conserved gene family encodes transmembrane proteins with fibronectin, immunoglobulin and leucine-rich repeat domains (FIGLER). 2007

Delicia L Munfus, and Christopher L Haga, and Peter D Burrows, and Max D Cooper
Division of Developmental and Clinical Immunology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-3300, USA. dlmunfus@uasom.uab.edu

BACKGROUND In mouse the cytokine interleukin-7 (IL-7) is required for generation of B lymphocytes, but human IL-7 does not appear to have this function. A bioinformatics approach was therefore used to identify IL-7 receptor related genes in the hope of identifying the elusive human cytokine. RESULTS Our database search identified a family of nine gene candidates, which we have provisionally named fibronectin immunoglobulin leucine-rich repeat (FIGLER). The FIGLER 1-9 genes are predicted to encode type I transmembrane glycoproteins with 6-12 leucine-rich repeats (LRR), a C2 type Ig domain, a fibronectin type III domain, a hydrophobic transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic domain containing one to four tyrosine residues. Members of this multichromosomal gene family possess 20-47% overall amino acid identity and are differentially expressed in cell lines and primary hematopoietic lineage cells. Genes for FIGLER homologs were identified in macaque, orangutan, chimpanzee, mouse, rat, dog, chicken, toad, and puffer fish databases. The non-human FIGLER homologs share 38-99% overall amino acid identity with their human counterpart. CONCLUSIONS The extracellular domain structure and absence of recognizable cytoplasmic signaling motifs in members of the highly conserved FIGLER gene family suggest a trophic or cell adhesion function for these molecules.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007136 Immunoglobulins Multi-subunit proteins which function in IMMUNITY. They are produced by B LYMPHOCYTES from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES. They are comprised of two heavy (IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS) and two light chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) with additional ancillary polypeptide chains depending on their isoforms. The variety of isoforms include monomeric or polymeric forms, and transmembrane forms (B-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTORS) or secreted forms (ANTIBODIES). They are divided by the amino acid sequence of their heavy chains into five classes (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A; IMMUNOGLOBULIN D; IMMUNOGLOBULIN E; IMMUNOGLOBULIN G; IMMUNOGLOBULIN M) and various subclasses. Globulins, Immune,Immune Globulin,Immune Globulins,Immunoglobulin,Globulin, Immune
D011506 Proteins Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein. Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D005353 Fibronectins Glycoproteins found on the surfaces of cells, particularly in fibrillar structures. The proteins are lost or reduced when these cells undergo viral or chemical transformation. They are highly susceptible to proteolysis and are substrates for activated blood coagulation factor VIII. The forms present in plasma are called cold-insoluble globulins. Cold-Insoluble Globulins,LETS Proteins,Fibronectin,Opsonic Glycoprotein,Opsonic alpha(2)SB Glycoprotein,alpha 2-Surface Binding Glycoprotein,Cold Insoluble Globulins,Globulins, Cold-Insoluble,Glycoprotein, Opsonic,Proteins, LETS,alpha 2 Surface Binding Glycoprotein
D005810 Multigene Family A set of genes descended by duplication and variation from some ancestral gene. Such genes may be clustered together on the same chromosome or dispersed on different chromosomes. Examples of multigene families include those that encode the hemoglobins, immunoglobulins, histocompatibility antigens, actins, tubulins, keratins, collagens, heat shock proteins, salivary glue proteins, chorion proteins, cuticle proteins, yolk proteins, and phaseolins, as well as histones, ribosomal RNA, and transfer RNA genes. The latter three are examples of reiterated genes, where hundreds of identical genes are present in a tandem array. (King & Stanfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed) Gene Clusters,Genes, Reiterated,Cluster, Gene,Clusters, Gene,Families, Multigene,Family, Multigene,Gene Cluster,Gene, Reiterated,Multigene Families,Reiterated Gene,Reiterated Genes
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000090263 Leucine-Rich Repeat Proteins A protein with a three-dimensional structure that forms an alpha/beta horseshoe fold. It is found in a large number of proteins with diverse functions, including in INNATE IMMUNITY RESPONSE and NERVOUS SYSTEM. LRR Proteins,Leucine-Rich Repeat Protein,Leucine Rich Repeat Protein,Protein, Leucine-Rich Repeat,Proteins, LRR,Proteins, Leucine-Rich Repeat,Repeat Protein, Leucine-Rich,Repeat Proteins, Leucine-Rich
D000595 Amino Acid Sequence The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION. Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013045 Species Specificity The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species. Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D015870 Gene Expression The phenotypic manifestation of a gene or genes by the processes of GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION and GENETIC TRANSLATION. Expression, Gene,Expressions, Gene,Gene Expressions

Related Publications

Delicia L Munfus, and Christopher L Haga, and Peter D Burrows, and Max D Cooper
February 1994, Cell growth & differentiation : the molecular biology journal of the American Association for Cancer Research,
Delicia L Munfus, and Christopher L Haga, and Peter D Burrows, and Max D Cooper
April 2003, Genomics,
Delicia L Munfus, and Christopher L Haga, and Peter D Burrows, and Max D Cooper
December 1999, Genomics,
Delicia L Munfus, and Christopher L Haga, and Peter D Burrows, and Max D Cooper
May 2012, FEBS letters,
Delicia L Munfus, and Christopher L Haga, and Peter D Burrows, and Max D Cooper
May 2013, BMC developmental biology,
Delicia L Munfus, and Christopher L Haga, and Peter D Burrows, and Max D Cooper
March 2014, Protein and peptide letters,
Delicia L Munfus, and Christopher L Haga, and Peter D Burrows, and Max D Cooper
March 2006, EMBO reports,
Delicia L Munfus, and Christopher L Haga, and Peter D Burrows, and Max D Cooper
August 2013, Neuron,
Delicia L Munfus, and Christopher L Haga, and Peter D Burrows, and Max D Cooper
December 2009, Nature neuroscience,
Delicia L Munfus, and Christopher L Haga, and Peter D Burrows, and Max D Cooper
October 2007, Journal of neuroscience research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!