We have purred a 35-kD protein which was expressed mainly in the fetal and early postnatal rat brain cytosol fraction. Partial amino acid sequence analysis of the purred 35-kD protein showed identity with the sequence of putative human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II associated protein I (PHAPI) . To clone cDNAs encoding the 35-kD protein, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using primers designed on the basis of the reported PHAPI cDNA nucleotide sequence.

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... obtained three partial cDNA clones whose nucleotide sequences showed high similarity to PHAPI. The deduced amino acid sequences of these cDNA clones also showed similarity to PHAPI. The region of acidic amino acids at the C-terminal end of the protein suggested that this molecule may function as a transcription factor. This 35-kD PHAPI family protein may therefore function in the determination or differentiation of fetal and early postnatal brain.