Characterization and expression of the gene encoding membralin, an evolutionary conserved protein expressed in the central nervous system

We have identified a novel gene that encodes an evolutionary conserved protein that we name membralin since it contains multiple transmembrane regions. The human gene C19orf6 localizes to chromosome 19p13.3. Splice variant membralin-1 is encoded by 11 exons, translating into 620 amino acids. In addition, we found evidence for two additional splice variants in the human. The mouse gene ORF61 localizes to chromosome 10. We cloned two splice variants in mouse: membralin-1, which is encoded by 12 exons, translating into 574 amino acids, and membralin-2, which translates into 598 amino acids. The existence of rat membralin-1 (574 amino acids long) is, so far, only supported by in situ hybridization result, whereas the existence of rat membralin-2 (598 amino acids long) is strongly supported by overlapping ESTs. Gene homologues were also identified in fruit-fly (CG8405, chromosome 2R 52; two splice variants), nematode (chromosome III), and Arabidopsis thaliana (chromosome 1). Sequence analysis revealed no closely related genes, suggesting that membralin represents the sole member of a unique protein family.