CLUSTERED ARRANGEMENT OF WINGED HELIX GENES FKH-6 AND MFH-1 - POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR MESODERM DEVELOPMENT

The 'winged helix' or 'forkhead' transcription factor gene family is d efined by a common 100 amino acid DNA binding domain which is a varian t of the helix-turn-helix motif. Here we describe the structure and ex pression of the mouse fkh-6 and MFH-1 genes. Both genes are expressed in embryonic mesoderm from the headfold stage onward. Transcripts for both genes are localised mainly to mesenchymal tissues, fkh-6 mRNA is enriched in the mesenchyme of the gut, lung, tongue and head, whereas MFH-1 is expressed in semitic mesoderm, in the endocardium and blood v essels as well as the condensing mesenchyme of the bones and kidney an d in head mesenchyme. Both genes are located within a 10 kb region on mouse chromosome 8 at 5.26+/-2.56 cM telomeric to Actsk1. The close ph ysical linkage of these two winged helix genes is conserved in man, wh ere the two genes map to chromosome 16q22-24. This tandem arrangement suggests the common use of regulatory mechanisms. The fkh-6/MFH-1 locu s maps close to the mouse mutation amputated, which is characterised b y abnormal development of somitic and facial mesoderm. Based on the ex pression patterns we suggest that a mutation in MFH-1, not fkh-6 is th e possible cause for the amputated phenotype.