Identification and characterization of ankyrin repeat and SOCS box-containing gene ASB15 in silico.

The ASBs are a family of ankyrin-repeat proteins that contain a C-terminal SOCS box motif, which was first identified in the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins. Here, we identified the ASB15 gene by using bio-informatics. Human ASB15 gene, consisting of 12 exons, was located within human genome sequences RP11-390E23 (AC006333.3). Complete coding sequence of human ASB15 cDNA was determined by FLJ43370 cDNA (AK125360), which was identified by using partial coding sequence of human ASB15 cDNA (AF403033) as a query. Human, chimpanzee, bovine, canine, and murine ASB15 showed 88-99% total-amino acid identity. N-terminal and central seven ankyrin repeats, and C-terminal SOCS box were identified within ASB15 protein.