Description
Using a differential display of mRNA by PCR, Miyazaki et al. (1996) cloned a cDNA fragment of a thyroid hormone-responsive gene, which they called ZAKI4 (RCAN2), from cultured human skin fibroblasts. Using 5-prime and 3-prime RACE, they isolated a full-length cDNA, which gives rise to 2 mRNA species, both of which encode a protein of 192 amino acids. Sequence analysis of the ZAKI4 protein suggested that the 2 mRNAs arise by alternative polyadenylation. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of differentially expressed transcripts of 3.4 and 1.4 kb. The larger transcript is expressed in skin fibroblasts and skeletal muscle, whereas the smaller transcript is found in heart, brain, and liver but not in placenta, lung, kidney, or pancreas