Cloning and expression of sterol Delta 14-reductase from bovine liver

Biosynthesis of cholesterol represents one of the fundamental cellular metabolic processes. Sterol Δ14-reductase (Δ14-SR) is a microsomal enzyme involved in the conversion of lanosterol to cholesterol in mammals. Amino-acid sequence analysis of a 38-kDa protein purified from bovine liver in our laboratory revealed > 90% similarity with a human sterol reductase, SR-1, encoded by the TM7SF2 gene, and with the C-terminal domain of human lamin B receptor. A cDNA encoding the 38-kDa protein, similar to human TM7SF2, was identified by analysis of a bovine expressed sequence tag (EST) database. The cDNA was synthesized by RT-PCR, cloned, and sequenced. The cDNA encodes a 418 amino-acid polypeptide with nine predicted transmembrane domains. The deduced amino-acid sequence exhibits high similarity with Δ14-SR from yeasts, fungi, and plants (55-59%), suggesting that the bovine cDNA encodes Δ14-SR. Northern blot analysis of bovine tissues showed high expression of mRNA in liver and brain. The polypeptide encoded by the cloned cDNA was expressed in COS-7 cells. Immunofluorescence analysis of transfected cells revealed a distribution of the protein throughout the ER. COS-7 cells expressing the protein exhibited Δ14-SR activity about sevenfold higher than control cells. These results demonstrate that the cloned bovine cDNA encodes Δ14-SR and provide evidence that the human TM7SF2 gene encodes Δ14-SR.