CHROMOSOMAL LOCALIZATION AND GENOMIC ORGANIZATION OF GENES ENCODING GUANYLYL CYCLASE RECEPTORS EXPRESSED IN OLFACTORY SENSORY NEURONS AND RETINA

We recently cloned three membrane guanylyl cyclases, designated GC-D, GC-E, and GC-F, from rat olfactory tissue and eye. Amino acid sequence homology suggests that they may compose a new gene subfamily of guany lyl cyclase receptors specifically expressed in sensory tissues. Their chromosomal localization was determined by mouse interspecific backcr oss analysis. The GC-D, GC-E, and GC-F genes (Gucy2d, Gucy2e, and Gucy 2f) are dispersed through the mouse genome in that they map to chromos omes 7, 11, and X, respectively. Close proximity of the mouse GC-D gen e to Omp (olfactory marker protein) and Hbb (hemoglobin beta-chain com plex) suggests that the human homolog gene maps to 11p15.4 or 11q13.4- q14.1. The human GC-F gene was localized to the long arm of chromosome Xq22 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The genomic organization of the mouse GC-E gene was determined and compared to other guanylyl c yclase genes. The mouse GC-D, GC-E, and GC-F genomic clones contain id entical exon-intron boundaries within their extracellular and cytoplas mic domains, demonstrating the conservation of the gene structures. Wi th respect to human genetic diseases, GC-E mapped to mouse chromosome 11 within a syntenic region on human chromosome 17p13 that has been li nked with loci for autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa and Leber c ongenital amaurosis. No apparent disease loci have been yet linked to the locations of the GC-D or GC-F genes. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.