A NOVEL ZINC-FINGER GENE PREFERENTIALLY EXPRESSED IN THE RETINA AND THE ORGAN OF CORTI LOCALIZES TO HUMAN-CHROMOSOME 12Q24.3

A cDNA encoding a novel member of the zinc finger gene family, designa ted zfOC1, has been cloned from the organ of Corti. This is the first transcriptional regulator cloned from this sensory epithelium. This tr anscript encodes a peculiar protein composed of 9 zinc finger domains and a few additional amino acids. The deduced polypeptide shares 66% a mino acid similarity with MOK-2, another protein of only zinc finger m otifs and preferentially expressed in transformed cell lines. Northern blot hybridization analysis reveals that zfOC1 transcripts are predom inantly expressed in the retina and the organ of Corti and at lower le vels in the stria vascularis, auditory nerve, tongue, cerebellum, smal l intestine and kidney. The human gene was mapped, using a human x ham ster somatic cell hybrid panel and fluorescent in situ hybridization, to chromosome 12q24.3. Because of its relative abundance in sensorineu ral structures (retina and organ of Corti), this regulatory gene shoul d be considered a candidate for hereditary disorders involving hearing and visual impairments that link to 12q24.3.