The human and murine protocadherin-beta one-exon gene families show high evolutionary conservation, despite the difference in gene number.

AbstractExtensive cDNA analysis demonstrated that all human and mouse protocadherin-β genes are one-exon genes. The protein sequences of these genes are highly conserved, especially the three most membrane-proximal extracellular domains. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that this unique gene family evolved by duplication of one single protocadherin-β gene to 15 copies. The final difference in the number of protocadherin-β genes in man (#19) and mouse (#22) is probably caused by duplications later in evolution. The complex relationship between human and mouse genes and the lack of pseudogenes in the mouse protocadherin-β gene cluster suggest a species-specific evolutionary pressure for maintenance of numerous protocadherin-β genes

The human cadherin-10 gene: complete coding sequence, predominant expression in the brain, and mapping on chromosome 5p13-14.

AbstractIn a quest for novel cadherin gene family members in the human dbEST database, an interesting EST clone was identified and chosen for subsequent analysis. Using the technique of 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends, we isolated the complete coding sequence and a large part of the UTRs of a novel gene. The sequence appeared to correspond to the human cadherin-10 gene, whose sequence was only partially known before. The expression pattern of this cadherin was found to be largely brain-specific, with additional expression in both adult and fetal kidney, and with minor expression in prostate and fetal lung. By FISH analysis the genomic location was determined at human chromosome 5p13–14, which is nearby the reported positions of the human cadherin-6, -12, and cadherin-14 (CDH18) genes. Cadherin-10 shows high relationship to the human cadherin-6 gene

δ-Protocadherins: a gene family expressed differentially in the mouse brain

Phylogenetic analysis of protocadherin genes identified a new gene subfamily, the delta-protocadherins, containing several conserved motifs in their cytoplasmic domains. This subfamily can be further subdivided into two subgroups, named delta 1-protocadherins (comprising protocadherin-1, -7, -9, and -11 or X/Y) and delta 2-protocadherins (comprising protocadherin-8, -10, -17, -18, and -19). The members of the delta 1-protocadherin subgroup were analyzed in greater detail here. They share a similar gene structure that results in the expression of multiple alternative transcripts. All members of this subgroup have at least one transcript that contains a binding site for protein phosphatase-1 alpha. Like most classic cadherins, each of three delta 1-protocadherins analyzed in this study by in situ hybridization showed a unique expression pattern that differed from the patterns of the other delta 1-protocadherins. Together, these results suggest that the members of the M-protocadherin subgroup exercise tightly regulated functions in the development, regionalization, and functional differentiation of the mouse brain