Cloning and Identification of a Novel Human RNPC3 Gene That Encodes a Protein with Two RRM Domains and Is Expressed in the Cell Nucleus

The RNA recognition motifs (RRM) domain is one of the most common eukaryotic protein folds. Proteins containing RRM domains function in important steps of posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression and are involved in processing and transport of mRNA precursors. Here we describe the cloning and characterization of a novel human RNPC3 gene containing two RNA recognition motifs. The 1870 bp cDNA encodes a protein with 517 amino acids. It also contains two bipartite nuclear targeting sequences, which is important for nuclear targeting for proteins, especially those functioning in the cell nucleus. The GFP location of the RNPC3 gene product shows that this protein is located in the cell nucleus. RT-PCR reveals that it is abundantly expressed in kidney and pancreas.