THE HUMAN HOMOLOG-T OF THE MOUSE T(BRACHYURY) GENE - GENE STRUCTURE, CDNA SEQUENCE, AND ASSIGNMENT TO CHROMOSOME 6Q27

We have cloned the human gene encoding the transcription factor T. T p rotein is vital for the formation of posterior mesoderm and axial deve lopment in all vertebrates. Brachyury mutant mice, which lack T protei n, die in utero With abnormal notochord, posterior somites, and allant ois. We have identified human T genomic clones and derived the mRNA se quence and gene structure. There is 91% amino acid identity between hu man and mouse T proteins overall and complete identity across 77 amino acids of the T-box motif within the DNA-binding domain. Human T expre ssion is very similar to that found for T in other vertebrate species and is confined to cells derived From the notochord. The human T gene maps to chromosome 6q27 and is only the second human member of the T-b ox gene Family to be described.