Cloning and characterization of a novel human gene RNF38 encoding a conserved putative protein with a RING finger domain

RING finger (C3HC4-type zinc finger) is a variant zinc finger motif present in a large family of functionally distinct proteins. We describe the cloning and characterization of a novel human transcript RNF38 encoding a new member of the RING finger protein family. The complete mRNA consists of about 6.8 kb widely expressed in human tissues as a single transcript, most abundantly in testis. The predicted proline-rich protein consists of 432 amino acid residues with a coiled-coil motif and a RING-H2 motif (C3H2C2) at its carboxy-terminus. High degree homology was found between the human protein and hypothetical peptides from several other species including Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, and Drosophila melanogaster, indicating a significant conservation throughout evolution. The RNF38 genomic structure was determined and comprises at least 13 exons extending over more than 65 kb in the genome, 78 kb centromeric to the GNE gene on human chromosome 9p12-p13. The involvement of this chromosomal segment in a large number of human diseases and in particular in various types of malignancies urges the assessment of the potential functional role of RNF38 in these disorders.