Worm Breeder's Gazette 14(1): e1 (October 1, 1995)

These abstracts should not be cited in bibliographies. Material contained herein should be treated as personal communication and should be cited as such only with the consent of the author.

Cloning and Characterization of a Novel RNA-Binding Protein from C.elegans

Gavin G. Pickett, Donald E. Tsai, Jack D. Keene

Department of Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710

      We have recently cloned a C. elegans gene, we call cevh, that
expresses an RNA-binding protein of unknown function.  So far we have a
full-length cDNA clone and also a cosmid that contains the complete gene.
The cevh gene physically maps near the end of the left arm of chromosome
I, however we have been unable to identify any existing mutants thus far.
       The CEVH protein is about 65 kD and is a member of the RRM (RNA
Recognition Motif) protein superfamily.  The protein contains 3 RRMs, two
adjacent to one another in the middle of the protein followed by a 19
amino acid linker and then a third RRM.  Previous work in our laboratory
indicates that each RRM has the potential to bind to a specific RNA
sequence, so CEVH may bind several RNAs or may bind the same RNA in
several places.  Preliminary in vitro selection experiments suggest the
protein may prefer RNA that contains a UGGGC/U sequence. We have
overexpressed and purified the CEVH protein in order to produce antibodies
for immunoprecipitation of natural ligands.  The CEVH antibody will also
be used to look for tissue specific and developmental expression of the
protein by immunofluorescence in worms. In an effort to uncover the
function of this protein we will continue to characterize the gene
and the protein it expresses.