APOBEC3A_B Knockout Cell Line (Hela)

This gene is a member of the cytidine deaminase gene family. It is one of seven related genes or pseudogenes found in a cluster, thought to result from gene duplication, on chromosome 22. Members of the cluster encode proteins that are structurally and functionally related to the C to U RNA-editing cytidine deaminase APOBEC1. The protein encoded by this gene lacks the zinc binding activity of other family members. The protein plays a role in immunity, by restricting transmission of foreign DNA such as viruses. One mechanism of foreign DNA restriction is deamination of foreign double-stranded DNA cytidines to uridines, which leads to DNA degradation. However, other mechanisms are also thought to be involved, as anti-viral effect is not dependent on deaminase activity. The protein encoded by this gene is the same as that encoded by APOBEC3A; however, this gene is a hybrid gene that results from the deletion of approximately 29.5 kb of sequence between the APOBEC3A gene and the adjacent gene APOBEC3B. The breakpoints of the deletion are within the two genes, so the deletion hybrid is predicted to have the promoter and coding region of APOBEC3A, but the 3' UTR of APOBEC3B. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2012]