Molecular characterization of human reticulon 3 as a potential marker during the differentiation of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

Abstract Neuroendocrine-specific protein (NSP) -reticulons are endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein complexes, which are localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and identified as markers for neuroendocrine differentiation. In the present study, human reticulon 3 gene (hRTN3) was cloned and its expression pattern in a variety of tissues was investigated. Truncated hRTN3s corresponding to the C-terminal (hRTN3-C) domain were expressed and purified. hRTN3 mRNA was down-regulated during the differentiation of human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y induced by all-trans-retinoic acid (RA), which suggests that, like other members of the reticulon family, hRTN3 is a potential marker for neuroendocrine differentiation.