Isolation and mapping of a human gene (SEC14L), partially homologous to yeast SEC14, that contains a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) site in its 3' untranslated region.

We have isolated a novel human gene, designated SEC14L, that contains tandemly-repeated sequences in the 3' untranslated region. This gene includes an open reading frame of 2,145 bp encoding a 715-amino-acid protein. Partial homologies to yeast SEC14 and to retinal-binding protein (RALBP) of the Japanese flying squid suggest a possible role of the gene product in an intracellular transport system. As the predicted protein is also highly homologous to hypothetical proteins of C. elegans, evolutionary conservation is indicated. SEC14L, which was expressed in all human tissues examined, was localized to chromosome bands 17q25.1 --> q25.2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.