Description
Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin is a distinct cationic protein of the eosinophil's large specific granule known primarily for its ability to induce ataxia, paralysis, and central nervous system cellular degeneration in experimental animals (Gordon phenomenon). Rosenberg et al. (1989) isolated a 725-bp cDNA clone for EDN. The open reading frame encodes a 134-amino acid polypeptide with a molecular mass of 15.5 kD and a 27-residue N-terminal hydrophobic leader sequence. The sequence of the mature polypeptide was identical to that reported for human urinary ribonuclease and to the N-terminal sequence of human liver ribonuclease. Similarities to the ribonucleases of pancreas and angiogenin indicate that EDN belongs to the ribonuclease multigene family. This gene is also symbolized RNS2 for ribonuclease 2