Allelic polymorphism and chromosomal localization of the human oviductin gene (MUC9).
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the gene coding for human oviductin (the estrogen-dependent, oviduct-specific glycoprotein with an affinity for the zona pellucida) shows length polymorphism in the region of tandem repeats. To determine the frequencies of the length alleles in health and disease.


METHODS
Descriptive fundamental and clinical studies.


METHODS
Fertility clinic and research center, university teaching hospital.


METHODS
Fertile women, women with a history of ectopic pregnancy or tubal disease, and women with stage I or II endometriosis.


METHODS
Blood samples were drawn for DNA analysis.


METHODS
Length and sequence of the region of tandem repeats.


RESULTS
Four different length alleles of the human oviductin gene were identified. Their relative frequencies in pathologic cases were not statistically significant compared with those found in normal fertile women. The human genome contains a single copy of the oviductin gene located on chromosome 1p13.


CONCLUSIONS
The human oviductin gene codes for a glycoprotein that shares the characteristics of epithelial mucins. Because eight epithelial mucin genes have been identified so far, we therefore propose to name this gene MUC9. The biologic function of the protein is likely to include protection of the early embryo and of the fallopian tube itself.
Lapensée
L
L
Maisonneuve-Rosemount Research Center, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Paquette
Y
Y
Bleau
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000235:genetics; D012016:Reference Values; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*
D004247:DNA; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C074599:oviductin