Neuroblastoma Amplified Sequence (NBAS)

The deduced 1,352-amino acid protein contains a leucine zipper domain and a ribosomal protein S14 signature domain in its C-terminal half. Northern blot analysis detected a 4.5-kb transcript in neuroblastoma cell lines. RNA dot blot analysis detected expression in all tissues examined, with strongest expression in adult testis, pancreas, pituitary, and adrenal gland, and in fetal heart, kidney, liver, and lung.

NAG amplified in 5 of 8 (63%) MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell lines and in 9 of 13 (70%) MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma tumors. Tumors that did not show MYCN amplification lacked NAG amplification. Northern blot analysis determined that amplification of the NAG gene correlated with increased NAG expression.