Intraflagellar Transport Protein 80 (IFT80)

The IFT80 gene encodes a protein with 7 WD40 domains that is a component of the intraflagellar transport (IFT) complex B. The IFT is essential for the development and maintenance of motile and sensory cilia.

By sequencing clones obtained from a size-fractionated fetal brain cDNA library, Nagase et al. (2000) cloned IFT80, which they designated KIAA1374. The transcript contains repetitive elements in its 3-prime UTR, and the deduced protein contains 764 amino acids. RT-PCR ELISA detected moderate expression of IFT80 in adult brain, lung, liver, kidney, testis, and ovary, in all specific adult brain regions examined, and in fetal liver and brain. Little to no expression was detected in adult heart, skeletal muscle, pancreas, and spleen.