Molecular Genetic Analysis of Rbm45/Drbp1: Genomic Structure, Expression, and Evolution

Authors

  • Lauren E. Price Judson University
  • Abigail B. Loewen Faul Tabor College
  • Aleksandra Vuchkovska Judson University
  • Kevin J. Lopez Judson University
  • Katie M. Fast Tabor College
  • Andrew G. Eck Judson University
  • David W. Hoferer Briar Cliff University
  • Jeffrey O. Henderson Judson University Tabor College Trinity International University Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsr.v7i2.426

Keywords:

Drbp1, Rbm45, RNA-binding proteins, genomics, gene structure, molecular phylogeny

Abstract

RNA recognition motif-type RNA-binding domain containing proteins (RBDPs) participate in RNA metabolism including regulating mRNA stability, nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling, and splicing. Rbm45 is an RBDP first cloned from rat brain and expressed spatiotemporally during rat neural development. More recently, RBM45 has been associated with pathological aggregates in the human neurological disorders amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and Alzheimer’s. Rbm45 and the neural developmental protein musashi-1 are in the same family of RDBPs and have similar expression patterns. In contrast to Musashi-1, which is upregulated during colorectal carcinogenesis, we found no association of RBM45 overexpression in human colon cancer tissue. In order to begin characterizing RNA-binding partners of Rbm45, we have successfully cloned and expressed human RBM45 in an Intein fusion-protein expression system. Furthermore, to gain a better understanding of the molecular genetics and evolution of Rbm45, we used an in silico approach to analyze the gene structure of the human and mouse Rbm45 homologues and explored the evolutionary conservation of Rbm45 in metazoans. Human RBM45 and mouse Rbm45 span ~17 kb and 13 kb, respectively, and contain 10 exons, one of which is non-coding. Both genes have TATA-less promoters with an initiator and a GC-rich element. Downstream of exon 10, both homologues have canonical polyadenylation signals and an embryonic cytoplasmic polyadenylation element. Moreover, our data indicate Rbm45 is conserved across all metazoan taxa from sponges (phylum Porifera) to humans (phylum Chordata), portending a fundamental role in metazoan development.

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Author Biographies

Lauren E. Price, Judson University

B.A. Biochemistry, Honors Program, 2016

Abigail B. Loewen Faul, Tabor College

B.A. Biology, 2007

Aleksandra Vuchkovska, Judson University

B.A. Biochemistry, 2014

Kevin J. Lopez, Judson University

B.A. Biochemistry, 2014

Katie M. Fast, Tabor College

B.A. Biochemistry, 2008

Andrew G. Eck, Judson University

B.A. Biochemistry, 2017

David W. Hoferer, Briar Cliff University

Associate Professor of Biology

Department of Biology

Jeffrey O. Henderson, Judson University Tabor College Trinity International University Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Professor of Biology

Department of Science and Mathematics

 


Published

08-01-2019

How to Cite

Price, L. E., Loewen Faul, A. B., Vuchkovska, A., Lopez, K. J., Fast, K. M., Eck, A. G., Hoferer, D. W., & Henderson, J. O. (2019). Molecular Genetic Analysis of Rbm45/Drbp1: Genomic Structure, Expression, and Evolution. Journal of Student Research, 7(2), 49-61. https://doi.org/10.47611/jsr.v7i2.426

Issue

Section

Research Articles