Sequence similarity between part of human retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product and a neurofilament protein subunit

Retinoblastoma, is a highly malignant but readily treatable cancer of the retina, which occurs at an incidence of 1 in 20,000 live births in young children. The retinoblastoma gene that determines susceptibility to this cancer encodes a nuclear phosphoprotein which has been extensively characterized. Yet, to this date, its function remains unknown. We report here that RB amino acids 307–435 shows similarity to the rod domain of the neurofilament L-type subunit (NF-L).