Molecular cloning and primary structure of a Rhesus (Rh)-like protein from the marine sponge Geodia cydonium

 In humans, the 30 000 M _r Rhesus (Rh) polypeptide D (RhD) is a dominant antigen (Ag) of the Rh blood group system. To date, an Rh-like protein has been found in chimpanzees, gorillas, gibbons, and rhesus monkeys. Related to the 30 000 M _r Rh Ag protein are two polypeptides of 50 000 M _r , the human 50 000 M _r Rh Ag and the RhD-like protein from Caenorhabditis elegans. The function of all these proteins is not sufficiently known. Here we characterize a cDNA clone (GCRH) encoding a putative 57 000 M _r polypeptide from the marine sponge Geodia cydonium, which shares sequence similarity both to the RhD Ag and the Rh50 glycoprotein. The sponge Rh-like protein comprises 523 aa residues; hydropathy analysis hints at the presence of ten transmembrane domains. An N-terminal hydrophobic cleavage signal sequence is missing, suggesting that the first membrane-spanning domain of the sponge Rh-like protein acts as a signal-anchor sequence. The sponge Rh-like protein, like the human Rh50, lacks the CLP motif which is characteristic of the 30 000 M _r RhD. In addition, the hydropathy profile of the sponge Rh-like protein is of a similar size and shape as that of human Rh50. This data indicates that the RhD and its structurally related Rh50 glycoprotein, which are highly immunogenic in humans, share a common ancestral molecule with the G. cydonium Rh-like protein. Received: 9 April 1997 / Revised: 29 May 1997