Molecular characterization of trans-Golgi p230. A human peripheral membrane protein encoded by a gene on chromosome 6p12-22 contains extensive coiled-coil alpha-helical domains and a granin motif.

Using autoantibodies from a Sjögren's syndrome patient, we have previously identified a 230-kDa peripheral membrane protein associated with the cytosolic face of the trans-Golgi (Kooy, J., Toh, B. H., Pettitt, J. M., Erlich, R. and Gleeson, P. A. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 20255-20263). Here we report the molecular cloning and sequence analysis of human p230 and the localization of its gene to chromosome 6p12 22. Partial cDNA clones, isolated from a HeLa cell cDNA library using autoantibodies, were used to obtain additional cDNAs, which together span 7695 base pairs (bp). The p230 mRNA is approximately 7.7 kilobases. Two alternatively spliced mRNAs for p230 were detected. These differed by 21- and 63-bp insertions in the 3'-sequence, resulting in differences in amino acid sequence at the carboxyl terminus. The predicted 261-kDa protein is highly hydrophilic with 17-20% homology with many proteins containing coiled-coil domains. Apart from two proline-rich regions (amino acids 1-117 and 239-270), p230 contains a very high frequency of heptad repeats, characteristic of alpha-helices that form dimeric coiled-coil structures. p230 also includes the sequence ESLALEELEL (amino acids 538-546), a motif found in the granin family of acidic proteins present in secretory granules of neuroendocrine cells. This is the first report of a cytosolic Golgi protein containing a granin motif. The structural characteristics of p230 indicate that it may play a role in vesicular transport from the trans-Golgi.