*608113
SARCOGLYCAN, ZETA; SGCZ

Alternative titles; symbols
ZSG1
ZETA-SARCOGLYCAN

HGNC Approved Gene Symbol: SGCZ

TEXT
Cloning
By searching electronic databases and by RT-PCR experiments, Wheeler et al. (2002) identified the murine zeta-sarcoglycan (SGCZ) gene. The gene shares 56% identity and 74% similarity in amino acid sequence both to gamma-sarcoglycan (SGCG; 608896) and delta-sarcoglycan (SGCD; 601411). It is also 89% identical to human SGCZ on the nucleotide level.

Gene Structure
Wheeler et al. (2002) determined that human SGCZ shares the same intron-exon organization as the gamma- and delta-sarcoglycan genes.

Animal Model
Wheeler et al. (2002) generated a zeta-sarcoglycan-specific antibody and found that zeta-sarcoglycan associated with other members of the sarcoglycan complex at the murine plasma membrane. Additionally, zeta-sarcoglycan was reduced at the membrane in 2 mouse models of muscular dystrophy, gsg -/- (LGMD2C) and dsg -/- (SGCD). Zeta-sarcoglycan was also found as a component of the vascular smooth muscle sarcoglycan complex. The authors proposed that zeta-sarcoglycan is an integral component of the sarcoglycan complex and, as such, may be important in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy.

Mapping
Based on homology to the murine gene, Wheeler et al. (2002) localized the human gene to chromosome 8p22 by searching electronic databases.

REFERENCES
1. Wheeler, M. T., Zarnegar, S., McNally, E. M. Zeta-sarcoglycan, a novel component of the sarcoglycan complex, is reduced in muscular dystrophy. Hum. Molec. Genet. 11: 2147-2154, 2002. [PubMed: 12189167, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

Creation Date: George E. Tiller : 9/24/2003
Edit History: ckniffin : 09/10/2004
cwells : 9/24/2003
cwells : 9/24/2003