Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein L40 (MRPL40)

NLVCF encodes a deduced 206-amino acid protein containing 2 consensus sequences for nuclear localization signals and a putative leucine zipper near the N terminus. The mouse homolog shares 75% overall amino acid sequence identity with the human protein. Northern blot analysis detected ubiquitous expression of a 1.3-kb NLVCF transcript at varying levels in human adult tissues and in human and mouse embryonic tissues. In situ hybridization of mouse embryos at 9.5 days postcoitum demonstrated that Nlvcf is expressed in most structures of the developing embryo, except the heart. The highest levels of expression were detected in the frontonasal prominence, the region overlying the forebrain, the first and second pharyngeal arches, and the neural tube.