Glycerophosphodiester Phosphodiesterase 1 (GDE1)

The human MIR16 protein shares 94% amino acid similarity with rat MIR16 and also shares strong homology with bacterial glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterases. Northern blot analysis detected widespread expression of a 1.8-kb Mir16 transcript in rat tissues, with highest levels in heart, brain, liver, kidney, and testis. Similar expression was observed for human and mouse MIR16. MIR16 interacts with the RGS domain of RGS16 and weakly with other RGS proteins, including RGS2. Membrane association assays and endoglycosidase H digestion showed that MIR16 is an integral membrane glycoprotein. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy localized Mir16 in the intracellular membranes in rat pituitary and on the plasma membrane in rat liver and kidney.