Transmembrane BAX Inhibitor Motif Containing Protein 1 (TMBIM1)

The 309-amino acid protein has a 100-amino acid N-terminal proline- and glycine-rich domain followed by 7 transmembrane domains. The N-terminal domain also contains a PPxY motif within a potential PEST sequence and has several PxxP motifs. There is a minimal consensus SUMO acceptor site between transmembrane domains 4 and 5. Northern blot analysis detected mouse Recs1 in most tissues except for thymus, spleen, and testis. RT-PCR also detected Recs1 in murine fibroblasts and white blood cells.Recs1-null mouse aortic smooth muscle cells had higher levels of active and pro-Mmp9 compared to wildtype cells, but Mmp2 protein levels were equivalent in these cells. They suggested that RECS1 is a negative regulator of aortic MMP9 production.