Retbindin (RTBDN)

Using expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis of unamplified cDNA libraries generated from human retina, Wistow et al. (2002) identified an abundant novel open reading frame that encoded a 229-residue protein with a predicted molecular mass of 24.6 kD.The corresponding gene, which they named retbindin (RTBDN), shows modest sequence homology to riboflavin-binding proteins of egg-laying vertebrates, and more distant similarity to mammalian folate receptors. Analysis of the 5-prime ends of multiple RTBDN clones identified splice variants that suggested the presence of multiple promoters. Northern blot analysis of rhesus monkey tissues showed retina-specific expression of a 1.2-kb RTBDN transcript.