Sodium Channel Modifier Protein 1 (SCNM1)

SCNM1 is a zinc finger protein and putative splicing factor. In mice, Scnm1 modifies phenotypic expression of Scn8a mutations. The deduced mouse and human proteins both contain 229 amino acids. SCNM1 has a C2H2 zinc finger, a basic nuclear localization signal, and a C-terminal acidic domain. Database analysis revealed SCNM1 orthologs in mammals, chicken, fish, and the urochordate Ciona, but not in flies, worms, or yeast. The C2H2 zinc finger domain is 100% conserved in mammalian orthologs of SCNM1. Phylogenetic comparison of zinc finger sequences placed SCNM1 within the U1C subfamily of RNA-binding proteins, which are commonly found in RNA-processing proteins. The mouse Scnm1 protein localized exclusively to the nucleus in transfected cells.