Exon sharing of a novel human zinc-finger gene, ZIM2, and paternally expressed gene 3 (PEG3).
We have identified a novel human gene, ZIM2 (zinc-finger gene 2 from imprinted domain), located 25 kb downstream of PEG3 (paternally expressed gene 3). ZIM2 produces two different-size transcripts, 2.5 and 9.0 kb in length, with highest levels of expression in adult testis and modest levels in fetal kidney and brain. The 2.5-kb transcript of ZIM2 consists of 11 exons and encodes a Kruppel-type (C2H2) zinc-finger protein with a conserved Kruppel-associated box (KRAB) domain. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends and cDNA sequencing studies showed that ZIM2 and PEG3 transcripts share identical 5'-ends, composed of 7 small exons. Alternative splicing events connect these 7 exons either with the remaining 2 exons of PEG3 or with the remaining 4 exons of ZIM2. Interestingly, the third among the 7 shared exons exhibits sequence similarity to leucine-rich domains that are found at the N-terminal region of a subset of KRAB-containing zinc-finger genes. Sequencing of the 5'-termini of both transcripts indicates that ZIM2 and PEG3 share identical transcription start sites and may also share upstream regulatory elements, although the two genes show distinct patterns of tissue-specific expression.
Kim
J
J
Human Genome Center, Biology and Biotechnology Research Program, L-452, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94551, USA. kim16@llnl.gov
Bergmann
A
A
Stubbs
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011494:Protein Kinases; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; C490820:PEG3 protein, human; C097901:Peg3 protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C408894:ZIM2 protein, human; D011494:Protein Kinases