Erythrocyte Membrane Protein Band 4.1 Like Protein 4B (EPB41L4B)

EPB41L4B encodes a predicted protein of 518 amino acids that shows 93% amino acid identity with mouse Epb41l4b. EST database analysis identified EPB41L4B homologs in rat and pig. Phylogenetic tree analysis of the FERM domains of 98 FERM-containing proteins showed that EPB41L4B belongs to a distinct subfamily consisting of at least 9 members from 7 different species. EPB41L4B protein shows up to 41% amino acid identity with the FERM domain of members of the NF2/ERM/4.1 superfamily, with greatest homology to EPB41L4A, PTPN4, and EPB41. Phylogenetic analysis showed that EPB41L4B is a novel member of the NBL4 subfamily. Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses showed expression of mouse Epb41l4b in liver, lung, kidney, testis, high and low metastatic melanoma cell lines, 7- to 17-day embryos, and BALB/c 3T3 cells.