Hemogen (HEMGN)

The deduced mouse and human proteins contain 503 and 484 amino acids, respectively, and share 43% identity. A coiled-coil region and bipartite nuclear localization signal are conserved in the N termini of both proteins. Northern blot analysis detected a major 2.4-kb transcript and a minor 1.8-kb transcript in adult human bone marrow and fetal liver. HEMGN high expression in untreated and mitogen-treated K562 cells, adult bone marrow, and CD34-positive progenitor cells. Lower expression was detected in a child thymus and in a histiocyte lymphoma cell line, but no expression was detected in cultured T cells, monocytes, and nonhematopoietic cell lines examined. Hemgn was expressed in developing hepatic primordia at day 10.5 and, from day 11.5, it was expressed exclusively in fetal liver.