Mesoderm Specific Transcript Homolog Protein (MEST)

MEST encodes a member of the [alpha]/[beta] hydrolase fold family and has isoform-specific imprinting. The loss of imprinting of this gene has been linked to certain types of cancer and may be due to promotor switching. The encoded protein may play a role in development. Three transcript variants encoding two distinct isoforms have been identified for this gene. A pseudogene for this locus is located on chromosome 6.The predicted 335-amino acid human MEST has a potential N-linked glycosylation site and has 97.3% amino acid similarity with its mouse counterpart. MEST was abundantly expressed in hydatidiform moles of androgenetic origin, whereas it was barely detectable in dermoid cysts of parthenogenetic origin. MEST is maternally repressed (imprinted), as is the mouse homolog.