Transmembrane Protein 47 (TMEM47)

Christophe-Hobertus et al. (2001) cloned canine Tmem47. Subsequently, by database analysis, they identified human and mouse TMEM47. Human, dog, and mouse sequences were entirely conserved across the coding region, and all have a conserved long 3-prime UTR that is AT-rich and has ATTTA motifs, which have been implicated in rapid decay and restricted translation. The deduced 181-amino acid protein has 4 transmembrane domains and 2 motifs sharing similarity to a PMP22 -specific motif and a claudin-specific motif, respectively. Northern blot analysis of dog tissues detected strong expression in brain, with lower levels in lung, muscle, kidney, thyroid, spleen, heart, pancreas, and testis. Immunofluorescence microscopy localized Tmem47 to the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum.