Endothelial Cell Specific Molecule 1 (ESM1)

Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 is encodes a secreted protein which is mainly expressed in the endothelial cells in human lung and kidney tissues. The expression of this gene is regulated by cytokines, suggesting that it may play a role in endothelium-dependent pathological disorders. The transcript contains multiple polyadenylation and mRNA instability signals. The cDNA sequence contains an open reading frame of 552 nucleotides. The deduced 184-amino acid protein is cysteine rich with an N-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence. Expression of ESM1 was tested by Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR and was found to be constitutive in a HUVEC cell line, but not in any other cell line tested. Constitutive ESM1 expression in human tissue is restricted to the lung. Immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation identified a 20-kD protein.