title: The M31 gene has a complex developmentally regulated expression profile and may encode alternative protein products that possess diverse subcellular localisation patterns.
abstract: HP1-like chromobox genes comprise an evolutionarily conserved family of genes that encode components of centromeric heterochromatin. In order to investigate the role of the murine HP1-like gene, M31, in heterochromatin formation we have isolated its gene and characterised its transcripts and protein products. PCR products that represent M31 transcripts were detected at the one-cell stage and were maternal in origin. Maternal provision of M31 transcripts may reflect a need for M31 in the formation of a functional centromere in order that there is proper segregation of chromosomes during the early cleavage divisions; studies in fission yeast and Drosophila have suggested a crucial role for HP1-like genes in centromere function. There are three protein products encoded by the M31 gene. Surprisingly, the two smaller products are found almost exclusively in the cytoplasm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Development and Genetics, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Horsley
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sapienza
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Latham
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst; D002503:Centromere; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D005796:Genes / Q000235:genetics; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013737:Testis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C096188:Cbx1 protein, mouse; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006570:Heterochromatin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins