cDNA cloning and expression of a novel adipose specific collagen-like factor, apM1 (AdiPose Most abundant Gene transcript 1).

Abstract We isolated a novel adipose-specific gene, apM1, the transcript of which is the most abundant in the mRNA population from human adipose tissue. Northern blotting revealed that the human apM1 gene transcript is exclusively expressed in adipose tissue. The apM1 gene encodes a 244 amino acid open reading frame containing a putative signal sequence and G-X-Y repeats (66 amino acids) followed by a cluster of aromatic residues near the C terminus having high local similarity with collagens X and VIII and complement factor C1q. Thus, apM1 is likely to be a novel collagen-like secretory protein exclusively produced by adipose tissue.