Identification of a human cDNA homologue to the Drosophila translocation protein 1 (Dtrp1)

Abstract

In yeast, several integral membrane proteins such as Sec61p, Sec62p and Sec63p have been reported as the components involved in protein translocation across and into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. Among them, the homologues of Sec61p have been found both in bacterias and mammals, whereas those of Sec62p or Sec63p have not. So, Sec61p seem to be the evolutionary conserved component, while Sec62p and Sec63p may not. To date, no homologues of Sec62p have been found in mammals yet. Here, we report a novel human cDNA, HTP1 (for human translocation protein 1), that encodes a protein of 399 amino acids that is 36.3% identical (64.6% similar) to Drosophila homologue of Sec62p, Drosophila translocation protein 1 (Dtrpl). Northern blot analysis showed two HTP1 transcripts of about 2.8 and 5.5 kb, which were expressed concomitantly in various human tissues such as heart, brain, placenta, liver and pancreas.