NSPc1, a novel mammalian Polycomb gene, is expressed in neural crest-derived structures of the peripheral nervous system.
Anterior-posterior (A-P) patterning is a key element in early embryonic development. Polycomb group (PcG) genes act as transcriptional repressors to regulate A-P patterning by either directly or indirectly controlling the coordinated expression of the HOM/Hox homeobox (Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 7 (1997) 488; Trends Genet. 13 (1997) 167). We describe the isolation and characterization of a novel mammalian PcG gene, termed Nervous System Polycomb-1 (NSPc1). Human and mouse NSPc1 genes encode proteins with an N-terminal RING finger domain and share homology with Drosophila melanogaster lethal(3)73Ah and the mammalian Mel18 and Bmi1 genes. Transcripts are observed at 10 dpc in the otic vesicle, urogenital bud and dorsal root ganglia. At 11.5 dpc, transcripts are present in a subset of neural crest cell derivatives of the peripheral nervous system, and in the neural tube. NSPc1 expression is ubiquitous in adult tissue.
Nunes
M
M
Laboratoire d'Immunogénétique Humaine, INSERM E 21, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Cedex 15, Paris, France. mnunes@pasteur.fr
Blanc
I
I
Maes
J
J
Fellous
M
M
Robert
B
B
McElreavey
K
K
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins