HGNC Approved Gene Symbol: FAM3A
Cytogenetic location: Xq28 Genomic coordinates (GRCh38) : X:154,506,171-154,516,232 (from NCBI)
Using a structure-based method to search databases for 4-helix bundle cytokines, followed by RT-PCR of heart mRNA, Zhu et al. (2002) cloned full-length FAM3A. The deduced 230-amino acid protein contains a predicted signal peptide. Three-dimensional modeling indicated that 4 cysteines could form 2 disulfide bonds linking helices 1 and 4 and helices 2 and 3. Northern blot analysis detected FAM3A expression in almost all tissues tested. Immunohistochemical analysis of mouse tissues detected prominent Fam3a staining in capillary endothelium and endocardium of heart, as well as vascular endothelial staining in many other tissues. Staining was also seen in mouse pancreatic islets and ductal epithelium, in the epithelium of seminal vesicles, prostate, and epididymis, in the acrosome of spermatids, in the epithelium of oviducts and endometrium, in distal nephron, urinary bladder, and biliary tract, and in macrophages, stromal cells, fibroblasts, and adipocytes in loose connective tissue surrounding several organs.
Zhu et al. (2002) stated that the FAM3A gene maps to chromosome Xq28.
Zhu, Y., Xu, G., Patel, A., McLaughlin, M. M., Silverman, C., Knecht, K. A., Sweitzer, S., Li, X., McDonnell, P., Mirabile, R., Zimmerman, D., Boyce, R., and 10 others. Cloning, expression, and initial characterization of a novel cytokine-like gene family. Genomics 80: 144-150, 2002. [PubMed: 12160727] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1006/geno.2002.6816]