Characteristics and clustering of human ribosomal protein genes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ribosome is a central player in the translation system, which in mammals consists of four RNA species and 79 ribosomal proteins (RPs). The control mechanisms of gene expression and the functions of RPs are believed to be identica...

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Main Authors: Uechi Tamayo, Washio Takanori, Ishii Kyota, Yoshihama Maki, Kenmochi Naoya, Tomita Masaru
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2006-02-01
Series:BMC Genomics
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/7/37
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author Uechi Tamayo
Washio Takanori
Ishii Kyota
Yoshihama Maki
Kenmochi Naoya
Tomita Masaru
author_facet Uechi Tamayo
Washio Takanori
Ishii Kyota
Yoshihama Maki
Kenmochi Naoya
Tomita Masaru
author_sort Uechi Tamayo
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ribosome is a central player in the translation system, which in mammals consists of four RNA species and 79 ribosomal proteins (RPs). The control mechanisms of gene expression and the functions of RPs are believed to be identical. Most RP genes have common promoters and were therefore assumed to have a unified gene expression control mechanism.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We systematically analyzed the homogeneity and heterogeneity of RP genes on the basis of their expression profiles, promoter structures, encoded amino acid compositions, and codon compositions. The results revealed that (1) most RP genes are coordinately expressed at the mRNA level, with higher signals in the spleen, lymph node dissection (LND), and fetal brain. However, 17 genes, including the P protein genes (<it>RPLP0</it>, <it>RPLP1</it>, <it>RPLP2</it>), are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. (2) Most promoters have GC boxes and possible binding sites for nuclear respiratory factor 2, Yin and Yang 1, and/or activator protein 1. However, they do not have canonical TATA boxes. (3) Analysis of the amino acid composition of the encoded proteins indicated a high lysine and arginine content. (4) The major RP genes exhibit a characteristic synonymous codon composition with high rates of G or C in the third-codon position and a high content of AAG, CAG, ATC, GAG, CAC, and CTG.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Eleven of the RP genes are still identified as being unique and did not exhibit at least some of the above characteristics, indicating that they may have unknown functions not present in other RP genes. Furthermore, we found sequences conserved between human and mouse genes around the transcription start sites and in the intronic regions. This study suggests certain overall trends and characteristic features of human RP genes.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-eafc080c59bf474eaa46469b27e5daf12022-12-22T02:11:57ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642006-02-01713710.1186/1471-2164-7-37Characteristics and clustering of human ribosomal protein genesUechi TamayoWashio TakanoriIshii KyotaYoshihama MakiKenmochi NaoyaTomita Masaru<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ribosome is a central player in the translation system, which in mammals consists of four RNA species and 79 ribosomal proteins (RPs). The control mechanisms of gene expression and the functions of RPs are believed to be identical. Most RP genes have common promoters and were therefore assumed to have a unified gene expression control mechanism.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We systematically analyzed the homogeneity and heterogeneity of RP genes on the basis of their expression profiles, promoter structures, encoded amino acid compositions, and codon compositions. The results revealed that (1) most RP genes are coordinately expressed at the mRNA level, with higher signals in the spleen, lymph node dissection (LND), and fetal brain. However, 17 genes, including the P protein genes (<it>RPLP0</it>, <it>RPLP1</it>, <it>RPLP2</it>), are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. (2) Most promoters have GC boxes and possible binding sites for nuclear respiratory factor 2, Yin and Yang 1, and/or activator protein 1. However, they do not have canonical TATA boxes. (3) Analysis of the amino acid composition of the encoded proteins indicated a high lysine and arginine content. (4) The major RP genes exhibit a characteristic synonymous codon composition with high rates of G or C in the third-codon position and a high content of AAG, CAG, ATC, GAG, CAC, and CTG.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Eleven of the RP genes are still identified as being unique and did not exhibit at least some of the above characteristics, indicating that they may have unknown functions not present in other RP genes. Furthermore, we found sequences conserved between human and mouse genes around the transcription start sites and in the intronic regions. This study suggests certain overall trends and characteristic features of human RP genes.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/7/37
spellingShingle Uechi Tamayo
Washio Takanori
Ishii Kyota
Yoshihama Maki
Kenmochi Naoya
Tomita Masaru
Characteristics and clustering of human ribosomal protein genes
BMC Genomics
title Characteristics and clustering of human ribosomal protein genes
title_full Characteristics and clustering of human ribosomal protein genes
title_fullStr Characteristics and clustering of human ribosomal protein genes
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics and clustering of human ribosomal protein genes
title_short Characteristics and clustering of human ribosomal protein genes
title_sort characteristics and clustering of human ribosomal protein genes
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/7/37
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AT washiotakanori characteristicsandclusteringofhumanribosomalproteingenes
AT ishiikyota characteristicsandclusteringofhumanribosomalproteingenes
AT yoshihamamaki characteristicsandclusteringofhumanribosomalproteingenes
AT kenmochinaoya characteristicsandclusteringofhumanribosomalproteingenes
AT tomitamasaru characteristicsandclusteringofhumanribosomalproteingenes