Expression analysis and chromosomal mapping of a novel human gene, APRIL, encoding an acidic protein rich in leucines.

Clone 120041 was selected from the EST database for sequence similarity to DEK and SET proteins rearranged in leukemias. The ends of the cDNA were isolated by RACE technique. The assembled cDNA encodes an LRR-containing protein of 251 amino acids designated APRIL (acidic protein rich in leucines). APRIL has high similarity to human pp32, also named PHAPI (bovine I[PP2A]1), and to rat LANP, respectively. APRIL shows tissue-specific expression as shown by Northern blot analysis. It was localized to 15q25 by FISH.