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Human cytosolic sulfotransferase database mining: identification of seven novel genes and pseudogenes

The Pharmacogenomics Journal volume 4, pages 54–65 (2004)Cite this article

ABSTRACT

A total of 10 SULT genes are presently known to be expressed in human tissues. We performed a comprehensive genome-wide search for novel SULT genes using two different but complementary approaches, and developed a novel graphical display to aid in the annotation of the hits. Seven novel human SULT genes were identified, five of which were predicted to be pseudogenes, including two processed pseudogenes and three pseudogenes that contained introns. Those five pseudogenes represent the first unambiguous SULT pseudogenes described in any species. Expression-profiling studies were conducted for one novel gene, SULT6B1, and a series of alternatively spliced transcripts were identified in the human testis. SULT6B1 was also present in chimpanzee and gorilla, differing at only seven encoded amino-acid residues among the three species. The results of these database mining studies will aid in studies of the regulation of these SULT genes, provide insights into the evolution of this gene family in humans, and serve as a starting point for comparative genomic studies of SULT genes.

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Abbreviations

HMM:

hidden Markov model

MTC:

multiple tissue cDNA

ORF:

open reading frame

PAPS:

3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate

RACE:

rapid amplification of cDNA ends

SULT:

sulfotransferase

UTR:

untranslated region

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Acknowledgements

We thank Luanne Wussow for her assistance with the preparation of this manuscript, Michael Heldebrant and Harold Solbrig for their assistance with the GeneWise program, and Dr Rebecca Raftogianis Blanchard, Emily Aaronson, Richard Hwang, and Ray Mak for their contributions to the preliminary experimental characterization of novel genes. This work was supported in part by NIH grants RO1 GM35720 (RMW), UO1 GM61388 (RMW, CGC, EDW), and the Washington University Genome Analysis Training Program (NIH T32-HG00045) (RRF).

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Author notes

  1. R R Freimuth

    Present address: Department of Medicine, Division of Molecular Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Graduate School-Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    R R Freimuth & R M Weinshilboum

  2. Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Graduate School-Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    M Wiepert & C G Chute

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Graduate School-Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    E D Wieben

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  1. R R Freimuth
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Correspondence to R M Weinshilboum.

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DUALITY OF INTEREST

Dr.Weinshilboum has either provided consulting services or presented seminars at Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Johnson and Johnson, Roche and Merck, Inc. All fees and honoraria for these services and/or seminars were paid to Mayo Foundation. In addition, Drs. Wieben and Weinshilboum currently hold a peer-reviewed grant from Eli Lilly.

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Freimuth, R., Wiepert, M., Chute, C. et al. Human cytosolic sulfotransferase database mining: identification of seven novel genes and pseudogenes. Pharmacogenomics J 4, 54–65 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.tpj.6500223

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