Identification and characterization of Rat ETV6 gene by using bioinformatics tools

Abstract

The products of ETS (erythroblast transformation specific domain) family genes are essential for a variety of developmental processes. This group of genes is frequently involved in leukemia and sarcoma as the result of specific chromosomal translocations. The ETV6 (ETS variant gene 6) gene, also called Tel or Tell, is a member of the ETS family transcriptional regulators. Using in silico bioinformatic tools, we identified and characterized the rat ETV6 gene in this study. It has 8 exons and is located on the rat genomic contig NW_047696 of the rat chromosome 4. Its protein product has a predicted nuclear localization signal, one SAM_PNT (SAM-Pointed domain), and one ETS conserved domain. It has high homology to those of other vertebrate species. This is the first report on identification and characterization of the rat ETV6 gene.