Chromosomal assignment of the chicken NP220 gene encoding a large DNA-binding nuclear protein and its targeted disruption in chicken DT40 cells

摘要

NP220s form a family of DNA-binding nuclear proteinsoriginally found in human cell lines. Four isoformsof NP220 are produced in humans and mice probably byalternative splicing of two sequence units. Theyhave RNA-recognition and arginine/serine rich motivescommonly found in many nuclear proteins important forpre-mRNA processing. In order to analyze the functionof NP220s, its gene was disrupted in chicken cell lineDT40. For this, gemomic DNA clone of chicken NP220was isolated and the gene was localized tochromosome 4q2.7–q2.8. Chicken NP220 conserves MH1and zinc finger-like motives found in human and mouseNP220s. Despite its expression as a mRNA of 6 kb inwild type DT40 cells, disruption of the NP220gene did not impair the growth of DT40 cells.