Regulator Of Differentiation 1 (ROD1)

ROD1 is a functional homolog of nrd1, an S. pombe RNA-binding protein that suppresses the onset of differentiation. The deduced human protein contains 521 amino acids. ROD1 has 4 repeats of typical RNA-binding domains containing 2 semiconserved sequences. The first RNA-binding domain also contains a CDC2 kinase and 2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation sites. Human ROD1 shares 96% sequence identity with rat Rod1 and less than 20% identity with S. pombe nrd1. Western blot analysis of adult rat tissues detected Rod1 proteins of 57 and 50 kD in spleen, thymus, lung, and bone marrow. In early stages of rat development, Rod1 was expressed predominantly in thymus and liver and at lower levels in brain, muscle, and kidney. ROD1 protein was expressed in all human hematopoietic cell lines examined.