CXorf66

CXorf66 only consists of one known splice variant with three exons (1-117, 118-271, and 272-1288bp) and two introns.[9] Locations of junctions occur at 30aa [G] and 81aa [M].[9]

Splicing of CXorf66 gene

CXorf66 has only been found to have only one polyadenylation site.[10]

With 57 serines and 42 lysines, the CXorf66 protein is both serine and lysine rich.[11] CXorf66 has a molecular weight of 39.9kdal and an isoelectric point of 9.89.[11]

CXorf66 protein has a predicted signal peptide from 1-19aa, a topological domain from 20-47aa, a transmembrane domain from 48-68aa, and a second topological domain from 69-361aa.[12] A signal peptide cleavage site is predicted to occur between the 17-18aa.[13] Upon analyzing the protein's composition (serine and lysine rich) and post-translational modifications (high levels of phosphorylation), it is predicted that the first topological domain [20-47aa] is extracellular, while the topological domain [69-361aa] is cytoplasmic. A visual can be seen in Figure II.[14]

Figure I. Candidate phosphorylation sites in human CXorf66 protein

Figure II. SOSUI Prediction of CXorf66 protein transmembrane topology

Three repeat motifs of DKPV [31-34 and 204-207aa], SEAK [97-100 and 287-290aa], and PKRS [161-164 and 245-248aa] have been found in the human CXorf66 protein. These repeats are conserved in other primates like Gorilla gorilla gorilla and Macaca mulatta, but are not present in other mammals.[15]

There is one natural variant of the population (frequency 0.436) at 233aa from proline to leucine in the CXorf66 protein, with proline being the ancestral encoded amino acid. No effects have been observed with this missense mutation.[12][16]

Based on STRING's predicted protein interaction, CXorf66 has medium level scoring for being tied to the proteins listed in Figure III.[17] It is important to note that all proteins listed are not experimentally determined.

There is only one known promoter predicted by Genomatix for the CXorf66 protein on the negative strand from 139047554-139048298 that is 745bp in length.[18] When BLAT Search Alignment was used for the CXorf66 promoter generated, numerous hits with high identity were retrieved for various genes on different chromosomes. The following are a few generated top scoring search results that share a high percent identity:[19]

Uniquely, TESK2 is a testis-specific protein kinase, which correlates with predicted CXorf66 tissue expression.

Through the use of Genomatix, a table was generated of the top 20 transcription factors and their binding sites in the CXorf66 promoter (see Figure IV).[18]

Figure IV: Generated list of transcription factor binding sites in CXorf66 promoter

CXorf66 has two miRNAs, hsa-mir-1290 and hsa-miR-4446-5p predicted to bind to the 3' UTR region of the mRNA.[20]

An N-glycosylation site has been predicted by Expasy's NetNGlyc at NGSS [24aa] with a secondary site also possible at NGTN [21aa].[21] Utilizing NetPhos, a total of 48 phosphorylation sites have been predicted (41 Serines, 2 Threonines, and 5 Tyrosines), all of which occur after the predicted transmembrane domain, suggesting cytoplasmic topology.[22] Using YinOYang, many O-GlcNAc sites have been predicted. All that include high potential occur after the 48-68aa transmembrane region.[23] A SUMOplot Analysis conducted of Homo sapiens CXorf66 protein, discovered a high probability of a sumolyation motif at position K241, alongside low probability motifs at K316 and K186. With sumoylation having a role in various cellular processes like nuclear-cytosolic transport and transcriptional regulation, it is expected CXorf66 is modified by a SUMO protein post-translation.[24]

Figure V. CXorf66 Nuclear Localization Signals Across Homologs

Using PSORT II, there is a nuclear localization signal of PYKKKHL at 268aa.[25] This signal can be seen to be conserved in fellow primate species; however, is not present in other mammals. In addition to this, following SDSC's Biology Workbench's SAPS kNN-Prediction, the CXorf66 protein for humans and the mouse homolog have a 47.8% likelihood to end up in the nuclear region of a cell. For more distant homologs, like Bos taurus, that do not have nuclear localization signals however, CXorf66 has a 34.8% likelihood to end up in the extracellular, including cell wall region, or plasma membrane regions.[11][25] To view several homologs and their nuclear localization signals, see Figure V.