Calcyphosine is a calcium-binding protein containing four EF-hand domains, initially identified as thyroid protein p24. It was first cloned and its counterparts in rabbit, human, and mouse, crayfish and lobster of invertebrate were also cloned. Here we describe the cloning and characterization of a novel human calcyphosine gene. The 3829-bp cDNA encodes a EF-hand Ca2+-binding protein homologous to the dog calcyphosine. It also contains two EF-hand Ca2+-binding motif. It is abundantly expressed in many tissues including by RT-PCR analysis and believed to play important role in calcium signaling. It was mapped to human genome 12q15. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).