Osler Megan E, Smith Travis K, Bader David M
Stahlman Cardiovascular Laboratories, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-6300, USA.
Dev Dyn. 2006 Mar;235(3):586-93. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.20688.
Bves was discovered through subtractive screens designed to identify heart-enriched transcripts. Bves is a transmembrane protein that possesses a highly conserved structure among species of the animal kingdom. Various approaches have been used to elucidate the expression pattern of Bves mRNA and protein as well as its function in developing and mature organisms. Emerging evidence indicates that this protein is present in muscle and epithelia of developing embryos and the adult. In vitro functional studies predict a role in cell-cell interaction and/or adhesion. In vivo analysis of protein function is very limited at present, but recent work in Xenopus supports the importance of Bves in epithelial integrity. Presented in this review is a compilation of published findings concerning Bves gene and protein characteristics, expression patterns in embryos and cells, and functional significance as determined thus far. Presently, the literature supports a hypothesis that Bves is essential to the junctional architecture of muscle and epithelial cell types. Although there remain aspects of Bves structure, expression, and function that are not completely resolved, now is an appropriate time to summarize current knowledge about this protein, the remaining questions, and what its potential role in development might be. This review will serve as a departure point for others who become interested in the study of this highly conserved protein.
Bves是通过旨在鉴定心脏富集转录本的消减筛选发现的。Bves是一种跨膜蛋白，在动物界物种中具有高度保守的结构。人们采用了各种方法来阐明Bves mRNA和蛋白质的表达模式及其在发育中和成熟生物体中的功能。新出现的证据表明，这种蛋白质存在于发育中的胚胎和成体的肌肉和上皮中。体外功能研究预测其在细胞间相互作用和/或黏附中起作用。目前对蛋白质功能的体内分析非常有限，但最近在非洲爪蟾中的研究支持了Bves在上皮完整性中的重要性。本综述汇总了已发表的有关Bves基因和蛋白质特征、在胚胎和细胞中的表达模式以及迄今确定的功能意义的研究结果。目前，文献支持一种假设，即Bves对肌肉和上皮细胞类型的连接结构至关重要。尽管Bves的结构、表达和功能仍有一些方面尚未完全解决，但现在是总结关于这种蛋白质的现有知识、剩余问题及其在发育中可能的潜在作用的适当时机。本综述将为其他对研究这种高度保守蛋白质感兴趣的人提供一个出发点。
