Transforming Growth Factor Beta Regulator 4 (TbRG4)

By screening a hepatoma cDNA expression library for clones that could block mating pheromone-induced G1 arrest in yeast, Edwards et al. (1997) cloned TBRG4, which they called CPR2. The deduced protein contains multiple putative leucine zipper domains characteristic of transcription factors.

By sequencing clones obtained from a size-fractionated human brain cDNA library, Nagase et al. (1999) cloned TBRG4, which they designated KIAA0948. The transcript contains several repetitive elements in the 3-prime untranslated region. The deduced 521-amino acid protein shares significant similarity with rat Cpr2. RT-PCR ELISA detected moderate expression in ovary, and little to no expression in all other tissues and specific brain regions examined.