1: Int J Oncol. 2005 May;26(5):1435-40. 

Comparative genomics on Vangl1 and Vangl2 genes.

Katoh Y, Katoh M.

M and M Medical BioInformatics, Hongo 113-0033, Japan.

WNT signals are transduced to the beta-catenin pathway or the planar cell
polarity (PCP) pathway. WNT - beta-catenin pathway is implicated in
carcinogenesis, while WNT-PCP pathway is implicated in cell motility and
metastasis. Drosophila Van Gogh (Vang), Frizzled (Fz), Starry night (Stan),
Prickle (Pk) and Diego (Dgo) are PCP signaling molecules. Vangl1 (Strabismus 2)
and Vangl2 (Strabismus 1 or Ltap) are mammalian homologs of Drosophila Vang
interacting with PRICKLE1, PRICKLE2, ANKRD6, DVL1, DVL2, DVL3, KAI1 and MAGI3.
Here we identified and characterized rat Vangl1 and Vangl2 genes by using
bioinformatics. Rat Vangl1 gene, consisting of eight exons, was located within
AC098913.7 and AC108524.6 genome sequences. Rat Vangl2 gene, consisting of eight
exons, was located within AC118856.3 and AC115243.5 genome sequences.
Exon-intron structure of mammalian Vangl1 and Vangl2 orthologs was well
conserved. E47 and double ELK1-binding sites were conserved among promoters of
mammalian Vangl1 orthologs. PAX4, NFkappaB, HNF4, SOX9, RFX1, and POU2F1
(OCT1)-binding sites were conserved among promoters of mammalian Vangl2
orthologs. Rat Vangl1 (526 aa) and Vangl2 (521 aa) were four-transmembrane
proteins with 71.5% total-amino-acid identity. Ser cluster motif
(SxxSxxSxxSxxSxxS) in the N-terminal cytoplasmic region and PDZ-binding motif in
the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail were evolutionarily conserved among vertebrate
Vangl1 and Vangl2 orthologs. This is the first report on rat Vangl1 and Vangl2
genes as well as on comparative genomics for Vangl1 and Vangl2 orthologs.

PMID: 15809738 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


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2: Int J Mol Med. 2005 Apr;15(4):743-7. 

Comparative genomics on Wnt3-Wnt9b gene cluster.

Katoh M.

Genetics and Cell Biology Section, National Cancer Center Research Institute,
Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. mkatoh@ncc.go.jp

WNT signals, transduced through Frizzled (FZD) receptors with extracellular
WNT-binding domain and cytoplasmic Dishevelled-binding domain, are implicated in
carcinogenesis and embryogenesis. WNT3-WNT9B (WNT14B) locus (17q21.31) and
WNT3A-WNT9A (WNT14) locus (1q42.13) are paralogous regions within the human
genome. Here, the rat Wnt3 and Wnt9b genes were identified and characterized by
using bioinformatics. Wnt3 and Wnt9b genes at rat chromosome 10q32.1 were
clustered in head-to-head manner with an interval of about 24 kb within
AC105632.3 genome sequence. The rat Wnt3 gene, consisting of five exons, encoded
a 355-aa protein with N-terminal signal peptide, 24 conserved Cys residues and
two Asn-linked glycosylation sites. The rat Wnt9b gene, consisting of four
exons, encoded a 359-aa protein with N-terminal signal peptide, 24 conserved Cys
residues and one Asn-linked glycosylation site. The rat Wnt3 core promoter
showed 80.5% nucleotide identity with human WNT3 core promoter, while rat Wnt9b
core promoter showed 45.6% nucleotide identity with human WNT9B core promoter.
MYB (c-Myb), ELK1, POU2F1 (OCT1), HNF4A (HNF-4), COMP1, NFYA (NF-Y) and NKX2-5
binding sites were conserved between rat Wnt3 and human WNT3 core promoters. The
Wnt3-Wnt9b intergenic conserved region (IGCR), corresponding to nucleotide
position 124747-125252 of AC105632.3 genome sequence, showed 85.6% nucleotide
identity with human WNT3-WNT9B IGCR. GC content of rat Wnt3-Wnt9b IGCR was
59.5%. Wnt3-Wnt9b IGCR was predicted as regulatory element rather than gene
because cDNA or EST derived from Wnt3-Wnt9b IGCR was not identified. This is the
first report on the rat Wnt3 and Wnt9b genes as well as on comparative genomics
on the Wnt3-Wnt9b gene cluster.

PMID: 15754041 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


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