LMO7 Background Information
The LIM-only (LMO) proteins are nuclear factors characterized by a conserved LIM domain. The LIM domain contains a cysteine-rich zinc-binding motif, present in a variety of transcription factors, including the LIM homeobox (LHX) proteins expressed in the central nervous system. The deduced LMO7 protein is comprised of 1,349 amino acid residues, contains a characteristic zinc finger domain and a 3-prime UTR which possesses a short interspersed nucleotide element (SINE). RT-PCR detects predominant expression of LMO7 in heart, lung, skeletal muscle, and kidney, moderate expression in liver, ovary, brain, pancreas, and testis, and little to no expression in spleen. Research indicates that LMO7 is an afadin- and alpha-actinin-binding protein that connects the nectin-afadin and E-cadherin-catenin systems through alpha-actinin.
