THUMP Domain Containing Protein 2 (THUMPD2)

THUMPD2 contains an N-terminal nuclear translocation signal and a C-terminal 105-amino acid methyltransferase domain. RACE-PCR of a human placenta cDNA library identified 3 alternatively spliced transcripts that encode a deduced 244-amino acid protein and share a translation start site in exon 6 and lack exons 1 and 2 and part of exon 3. The human and mouse THUMPD2 methyltransferase domains share 82% amino acid identity. Northern blot analysis of human tissues detected 2.0-, 2.1-, and 3.2-kb transcripts. The 3.2-kb transcript was detected in skeletal muscle, thymus, spleen, kidney, liver, small intestine, placenta, and lung, with lower expression in heart and colon. The 2.1-kb transcript was highly expressed in skeletal muscle with lower expression in heart, thymus, kidney, liver, and placenta.