Epithelial Membrane Protein 2 (EMP2)

The predicted 167-amino acid EMP2 protein contains 4 membrane-spanning domains and 3 N-linked glycosylation motifs in the first extracellular loop. EMP2 cDNA generates an 18-kD protein in vitro. The EMP2 protein shares 43% amino acid identity with peripheral myelin protein-22 (PMP22). Due to the high amino acid sequence homology among PMP22, EMP1, EMP2, and EMP3, Ben-Porath and Benvenisty (1996) stated that these proteins belong to a novel family. Using Northern blot analysis, Taylor and Suter (1996) found prominent EMP2 expression in adult ovary, heart, lung, and intestine and lower expression in most other tissues, including the liver. In the fetus, they found high EMP2 mRNA levels in the lung and kidney and lower levels in the liver and brain.