Musashi Homolog 2 (MSI2)

MSI2 encodes a protein containing two conserved tandem RNA recognition motifs. Similar proteins in other species function as RNA-binding proteins and play central roles in posttranscriptional gene regulation. Two transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been identified for this gene. Msi2 contains 2 RNA-recognition motifs (RRMs), both of which have 2 conserved ribonucleoprotein domains. Northern blot analysis detected a 7.0-kb transcript in all mouse tissues examined and in embryonic brain at all time points. A transcript of about 1.5 kb was also found in adult testis. Both Msi2 and Msi1 were localized exclusively to the cytoplasm of several neural cell lines and in neuroepithelial cells of 10-day mouse embryos. In differentiated neurons, Msi2 localized to the proximal somata and not in dendritic arborizations or axons.