DnaJ/HSP40 Homolog Subfamily C, Member 14 (DNAJC14)

The 702-amino acid HDJ3 protein is highly homologous to rat Drip78, suggesting that it is a novel member of the molecular chaperone family and functionally related to dopamine signal transduction. HDJ3 has a transmembrane domain from residues 326 to 342 and a J domain from residues 443 to 507. RT-PCR detected high expression in pancreas and selective expression in brain, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, and kidney. No expression was detected in heart and placenta. A second transcript was detected in pancreas, suggesting that a splice variant of HDJ3 might exist.coexpression of rat Drd1 and Drip78 resulted in inhibition of Drd1 surface expression and intracellular trapping. Overexpression of Drip78 also caused retention of another GPCR, the acetylcholine M2 muscarinic receptor (CHRM2).