Leucine Zipper And CTNNBIP1 Domain Containing Protein (LZIC)

By database searching for sequences similar to ICAT (CTNNBIP1), followed by PCR of a mixed RNA pool from several gastric cancers, Katoh (2001) cloned LZIC.The deduced 190-amino acid protein contains a leucine zipper domain and an ICAT-like domain, the latter sharing 38% amino acid identity with the ICAT gene. Northern blot analysis detected a major 5.2-kb transcript and minor transcripts of 2.1, 1.6, and 1.0 kb in almost all fetal and adult tissues examined with highest expression in adult kidney. Using Northern blot and PCR analysis, Katoh (2001) demonstrated LZIC expression in all cancer cell lines tested and showed upregulated expression in a gastric cancer cell line and in 5 of 10 primary gastric cancers tested.