Characterization of the mouse Abcc12 gene and its transcript encoding an ATP-binding cassette transporter, an orthologue of human ABCC12.

We have recently reported on two novel human ABC transporters, ABCC11 and ABCC12, the genes of which are tandemly located on human chromosome 16q12.1 [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 288 (2001) 933]. The present study addresses the cloning and characterization of Abcc12, a mouse orthologue of human ABCC12. The cloned Abcc12 cDNA was 4511 bp long, comprising a 4101 bp open reading frame. The deduced peptide consists of 1367 amino acids and exhibits high sequence identity (84.5%) with human ABCC12. The mouse Abcc12 gene consists of at least 29 exons and is located on the mouse chromosome 8D3 locus where conserved linkage homologies have hitherto been identified with human chromosome 16q12.1. The mouse Abcc12 gene was expressed at high levels exclusively in the seminiferous tubules in the testis. In addition to the Abcc12 transcript, two splicing variants encoding short peptides (775 and 687 amino acid residues) were detected. In spite of the genes coding for both ABCC11 and ABCC12 being tandemly located on human chromosome 16q12.1, no putative mouse orthologous gene corresponding to the human ABCC11 was detected at the mouse chromosome 8D3 locus.