Pseudogenes of rat VDAC1: 16 gene segments in the rat genome show structural similarities with the cDNA encoding rat VDAC1, with 8 slightly expressed in certain tissues

• Published in: Mammalian genome Vol. 23; no. 3-4; pp. 286 - 293
• Main Authors: Ido, Yusuke, Yamamoto, Takenori, Yoshitomi, Tatsuki, Yamamoto, Atsushi, Obana, Eriko, Ohkura, Kazuto, Shinohara, Yasuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.04.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Anion channels; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; complementary DNA; DNA, Complementary - genetics; DNA, Complementary - metabolism; Gene Expression; Genome; Genomes; Human Genetics; Integration; Life Sciences; Mitochondria; Mutation; Organ Specificity; Polymerase chain reaction; Primers; Pseudogenes; rats; Rats - genetics; Rats - metabolism; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 1 - genetics; Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 1 - metabolism; Glycerol Kinase; Splitting Pattern; QIAzol Lysis Reagent; White Adipose Tissue; High Structural Similarity
• ISSN: 0938-8990; 1432-1777
• DOI: 10.1007/s00335-011-9375-x

BLAST analysis of the rat genome revealed the presence of 16 pseudogenes of isoform 1 of the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC1). Based on their structural characterization, it was concluded that these pseudogenes were formed by integration of VDAC1 cDNA into the genome, and subsequent rearrangements/mutations. By RT-PCR analysis using carefully designed primers that could not amplify the cDNA of genuine VDAC1, 8 of these 16 pseudogenes showed slight expression in certain tissues, but none of them seemed to encode a functional protein.