Gene organization and mRNA expression of NKp44L. (A) Schematic representation of the NKp44L gene organization compared with MLL5. Exons are represented as bars and are numbered. Exons 21 to 25 are specific to MLL5, whereas 21spe exon is specific to NKp44L. Exon 21spe (spe, specific) and the following 3′UTR spe are localized in the intron following the exon 20 of MLL5. The PHD zinc-finger domain is indicated by hatched bars and the Suvar3-9, Enhancer of zeste, Trithorax (SET) domain by checkerboard bars. (B) The mRNA expression of NKp44L in normal tissues. Northern blot analysis of normal tissue poly(A)⁺ RNA was performed with a DNA probe from the specific NKp44L sequence after exposure times of 2 days at −80°C (top panel). The bottom panel shows hybridization with a control β-actin probe after a standard 4-hour exposure. (C) RNA expression of NKp44L in tumor cell lines (HeLa, Jurkat, MCF-7, and Raji) and primary placenta tissue. Northern blot analysis of total RNA was performed with a DNA probe from the specific NKp44L sequence (top panel). The bottom panel shows hybridization with a control 18S ribosomal RNA probe. (D) RT-PCR analysis of NKp44L and MLL5 from complementary DNA of healthy tissues (lung, pancreas, muscle and placenta), HeLa, and Jurkat tumor cells. β-actin and RSP9 were used as controls. The sized of each amplified fragment is noted.