Slim defines a novel family of LIM-proteins expressed in skeletal muscle.

We have assembled the complete protein sequence of the skeletal muscle LIM-protein SLIM by aligning overlapping cDNA sequences. These cDNA sequences were identified from our own sequencing and from BLASTn searches of non-redundant cDNA databases. The predicted SLIM protein sequence included four LIM-domains and a novel single zinc finger domain located in the N-terminal region. Similar sequences to SLIM were identified and termed SLIM2 and SLIM3. The SLIM3 cDNA sequence was identified subsequently as a partial sequence of the of the LIM-protein DRAL. The number and spacing of the LIM domains was common to all three protein sequences. The mRNA for each protein was detected in human masseter muscle RNA by Northern analysis. We suggest that these proteins belong to a novel family of LIM proteins that are expressed in human skeletal muscle.