WHSC1L1, on human chromosome 8p11.2, closely resembles WHSC1 and maps to a duplicated region shared with 4p16.3.
We have identified and characterized a gene (60% on protein level) and a pseudogene (93% on DNA level) that show high similarity to the Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome candidate gene-1 (WHSC1). These genes, WHSC1L1 and WHSC1L2P, map to human chromosomes 8p11.2 and 17q21, respectively. WHSC1L1 is ubiquitously expressed and, like WHSC1, generates two major transcripts, a short (s-type) and a long (l-type). The WHSC1L1 l-type transcript encodes a 1437-amino-acid protein containing 2 PWWP (proline-trypto-phan-proline-tryptophan) domains, 5 PHD (plant-home-domain)-type zinc finger motifs, a SAC (SET-associated Cys-rich) domain, and a SET (Suppressor of Variegation, Enhancer of Zeste and Trithorax) domain. The s-type transcript encodes a protein of 645 amino acids containing a PWWP domain only. WHSC1L2P is an unexpressed, intronless pseudogene of a WHSC1L1 s-type transcript. The 8p11.2 region around WHSC1L1 contains a set of genes including TACC1, FGFR1, LETM2, and WHSC1L1, which seems to be derived from a recent duplication involving 4p16.3 where a similar set of genes is located. Rearrangements of 8p are frequently found in human cancer, including breast cancer. These characteristics indicate that WHSC1L1 might have a role in embryonic development and, when disregulated, in cancer development.
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MGC-Department of Human Genetics and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
van Ommen
G J
GJ
den Dunnen
J T
JT
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002894:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 / Q000235:genetics*; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 / Q000235:genetics*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D020440:Gene Duplication; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; C419586:NSD2 protein, human