PHD Finger Protein 3 (PHF3)

By sequencing clones obtained from a size-fractionated immature myeloid cell line cDNA library, Nagase et al. (1996) cloned a partial cDNA encoding PHF3, which they designated KIAA0244. Northern blot analysis revealed ubiquitous low-level expression. By immunologically screening a glioblastoma cDNA library using patient serum, followed by 5-prime RACE, Fischer et al. (2001) cloned PHF3. The deduced full-length protein contains 2,039 amino acids and has a PHD finger motif, a TFIIS domain, a proline-rich region, and 2 bipartite nuclear localization signals. Northern blot analysis detected a 7.5-kb transcript in all tissues examined. Expression was significantly reduced or lost in glioblastomas, glioblastoma cell lines, anaplastic astrocytomas, and astrocytomas.