title: Identification and mapping of human cDNAs homologous to Drosophila mutant genes through EST database searching.
abstract: Cross-species comparison is an effective tool used to identify genes and study their function in both normal and pathological conditions. We have applied the power of Drosophila genetics to the vast resource of human cDNAs represented in the expressed sequence tag (EST) database (dbEST) to identify novel human genes of high biological interest. Sixty-six human cDNAs showing significant homology to genes causing Drosophila mutant phenotypes were identified by screening dbEST using the "text string' option, and their map position was determined using both fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and radiation hybrid mapping. Comparison between these genes and their putative partners in Drosophila may provide important insights into their function in mammals. Furthermore, integration of these genes into the transcription map of the human genome contributes to the positional candidate approach for disease gene identification.
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM) Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banfi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borsani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guffanti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rubboli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchitiello
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giglio
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coluccia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zollo
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zuffardi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ballabio
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000528:radiation effects; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000379:methods; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary