functional cloning of ALG-4, A novel gene involved in programmed cell death

E. Lacana, P. Vito, L. D. Adamio

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Removal of unwanted cells by programmed cell death is involved in the homeostatic control of cell number and plays a central role in the regulation and development of the immune system. Disregulation of this process may lead to several diseases including neurodegenerative disorders, immunodeficiency, autoimmunity and cancer. Using a functional selection system, we have isolated six Apoptosis Linked Genes (ALG-1 to 6) involved in activation-induced cell death (AICD) in a T-cell hybridoma. Stable clonal populations transfected with the ALG-4 fragment express the endogenous RNA of 6 kb and the transgene fragment that is about 0.8 kb and encodes a putative ORF of 237 aa, ALG-4(237). Sequence comparison analysis showed that the ALG-4 trangene is highly homologous to a recently cloned human cDNA. A rabbit antiserum raised against a GST-ALG-4(237) fusion protein specifically recognized a 60 KDa protein both in human and mouse tissues and cell lines. Analysis of the stable tranfected clones showed that the presence of the transgene confers resistance to cell death triggered through the T-cell receptor with anti-CD3 antibody. We are currently cloning the full length mouse gene and completing the characterization of the tranfected clones using different death stimuli.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)A1028
JournalFASEB Journal
Volume10
Issue number6
StatePublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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