Adenosine Deaminase, RNA Specific B2 (ADARB2)

ADARB2 is a member of the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) adenosine deaminase family of RNA-editing enzymes. Adenosine deamination of pre-mRNA results in a change in the amino acid sequence of the gene product, which differs from that predicted by the genomic DNA sequence.

The protein contains an N-terminal R domain, followed by 2 dsRNA-binding motifs and a C-terminal deaminase domain. The R domain is an arginine- and lysine-rich region that includes 6 consecutive arginine residues. ADAR3 shares 72% amino acid similarity with ADAR2 and is 84% identical to rat Adar3. Northern blot analysis of several tissues detected a major 9.5-kb transcript only in brain. Within specific brain regions, thalamus and amygdala showed highest expression.