COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF A CONSERVED ZINC-FINGER GENE-CLUSTER ON HUMAN-CHROMOSOME 19Q AND MOUSE CHROMOSOME-7

Several lines of evidence now suggest that many of the zinc-finger-con taining (ZNF) genes in the human genome are arranged in clusters. Howe ver, little is known about the structure or function of the clusters o r about their conservation throughout evolution. Here, we report the a nalysis of a conserved ZNF gene cluster located in human chromosome 19 q13.2 and mouse chromosome 7. Our results indicate that the human clus ter consists of at least 10 related Kruppel-associated box (KRAB)-cont aining ZNF genes organized in tandem over a distance of 350-450 kb. Tw o cDNA clones representing genes in the murine cluster have been studi ed in detail. The KRAB A domains of these genes are nearly identical a nd are highly similar to human 19q13.2-derived KRAB sequences, but DNA -binding ZNF domains and other portions of the genes differ considerab ly. The two murine genes display distinct expression patterns, but are coexpressed in some adult tissues. These studies pave the way for a s ystematic analysis of the evolution of structure and function of genes within the numerous clustered ZNF families located on human chromosom e 19 and elsewhere in the human and mouse genomes. (C) 1996 Academic P ress, Inc.