CHROMOSOMAL ORGANIZATION AND TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION OF HUMAN GEM AND LOCALIZATION OF THE HUMAN AND MOUSE GEM LOCI ENCODING AN INDUCIBLERAS-LIKE PROTEIN

The mitogen-induced gene, GEM, encodes a GTP-binding protein that belo ngs to a new family within the Ras superfamily. The regulated expressi on pattern of Gem suggests a role for this protein in cellular respons es to growth stimulation. To facilitate the assessment of the possible role of GEM in heritable and spontaneous disease processes, the genom ic organization of human GEM and the chromosomal localization of human and murine GEM have been determined. GEM has been localized to the lo ng arm of human chromosome 8 (8q13-q21) between the D8S85 and CA2 loci by genetic linkage analysis using an MspI restriction fragment length polymorphism within GEM. No consistent somatic chromosomal alteration s or heritable diseases are associated with this region. Mouse Gem map s to the proximal region of chromosome 4 between Mos and Cga. To gain insight into the transcriptional regulation of GEM, we have establishe d the transcription initiation site of GEM in human T cells and define d a 5' upstream region sufficient for mitogen-responsive, inducible tr anscription. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.