Previous characterization of GLI, a gene found to be amplified and expressed in a subset of human brain tumors, revealed the presence of five tandem zinc fingers related to those of Krüppel (Kr), a Drosophila segmentation gene of the gap class. We have used the GLI cDNA as a molecular probe to isolate related sequences from the human genome. Partial characterization of six related loci, including sequence determination, expression studies, and chromosome localization, revealed that each locus could encode a separate finger protein. The predicted proteins all had similar H-C links, i.e., a conserved stretch of 9 amino acids connecting the C-terminal histidine of one finger to the N-terminal cysteine of the next. On the basis of amino acid sequence and intron-exon organization, the genes could be placed into one of two subgroups: the GLI subgroup (with the consensus finger amino acid sequence [Y/F]XCX3GCX3[F/Y]X5LX2HX3-4H[T/S]GEKP) or the Kr subgroup (with the consensus finger amino acid sequence [Y/F]XCX2CX3FX5LX2HXRXHTGEKP). Unlike GLI or Kr, most of the newly isolated genes were expressed in many adult tissues. The predicted proteins probably control the expression of other genes and, by analogy with Kr and GLI, may be important in human development, tissue-specific differentiation, or neoplasia.
Cloned DNA probes were used in combination with a panel of five hybrid cell clones containing a series of different terminal deletions in human chromosome 11 to map precisely the human hemoglobin P and 6 chain structural genes contained on this chromosome. The region of deletion in each clone of the panel has been defined by biochemical, immuno-
case an unequivocal chromosomal localization has been obtained with reference to a panel of hybrid cell clones each of which carries a deletion of a portion of the short arm of chromosome 11. At least one DNA segment has been identified which maps to each of the four regions on the short arm defined by the panel of hybrid cell clones used. The approaches described here appear to be general. They can be extended to produce a fine structure map of human chromosome 11 and other human chromosomes. This approach promises implications for human genetics generally, for the human genetic diseases, and possibly for understanding of gene regulation in normal and abnormal differentiation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.