Regulator Of G Protein Signaling 7 Binding Protein (RGS7BP)

Database analysis identified human and rat homologs. R7bp contains 4 N-terminal alpha-helices likely to form coiled-coil domains and a C-terminal polybasic region followed by 2 cysteines. Western blot of immunoprecipitates of mouse tissues revealed that R7bp was expressed only in nervous system, including all brain regions tested, retina, and spinal cord. it shares 28% identity with the N-terminal region of R9ap (RGS9BP), which interacts with Rgs9 in photoreceptors. Northern blot analysis detected expression of Rgs7bp at high levels in mouse brain and much lower levels in other tissues. Confocal microscopy showed R7bp in the plasma membrane as well as the cytoplasm and nucleus. R7bp has a broader range of interaction with R7 proteins than R9ap (RGS9BP), which interacts with Rgs9 and Rgs11 but not Rgs6 or Rgs7.