Fem-1 Homolog C (FEM1C)

FEM1C contains 6 ankyrin repeats and shares 65% amino acid identity with mouse Fem1a and 34% identity with C. elegans Fem1, a protein involved in nematode sex determination. Northern blot analysis detected transcripts of about 4.5 and 7.5 kb in all tissues examined, with highest abundance in heart and kidney. Lower expression was detected in brain, skeletal muscle, lung, liver, placenta, and cartilage. RT-PCR detected FEM1C in all tissues examined.The deduced 617-amino acid protein shares 41% identity with FEM1B, an ankyrin repeat protein. RT-PCR ELISA detected intermediate expression in all adult and fetal tissues and specific brain regions examined except lung, which showed little to no expression.