Cloning and characterization of the rat homologues of the Inhibitor of Apoptosis protein 1, 2, and 3 genes.

• Main Authors: Lefebvre Charles A, Holcik Martin, Hicks Keiko, Korneluk Robert G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2002-02-01
• Series: BMC Genomics
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/3/5

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) proteins are key intrinsic regulators of apoptosis induced by a variety of triggers. We isolated the rat Inhibitor of Apoptosis genes 1, 2 and 3 and characterized their tissue distribution and expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Rat <it>iap-1</it> encodes a protein of 67.1 kDa with 73 % and 89.2 % homology to human and mouse <it>iap-1</it> respectively. Rat <it>iap-2</it> encodes a protein of 66.7 kDa with 81.6 % and 89.3 % homology to human and mouse <it>iap-2</it> respectively. Rat <it>iap-3</it> encodes a protein of 56.1 kDa with 89.5 % and 93.1 % homology to human and mouse <it>iap-3</it> respectively. We have generated rabbit polyclonal antibodies against all three rat IAP genes. Northern and Western blot analysis detected rat IAP transcripts and proteins in majority of the tissues examined. In addition, a shorter, alternatively spliced transcript corresponding to <it>iap-2</it> was found in testes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We have identified three rat homologues of the IAP genes. The elevated expression of rat <it>iap-1</it> and <it>iap2</it> in testes suggests that these two genes play an important antiapoptotic role in spermatogenesis.</p>