MOLECULAR-CLONING OF THE HUMAN HOMEOBOX GENE GOOSECOID (GSC) AND MAPPING OF THE GENE TO HUMAN-CHROMOSOME 14Q32.1

Goosecoid is a homeobox gene first isolated from a Xenopus dorsal lip cDNA library. Homologous genes have been isolated from mouse, zebrafis h, and chick. In all species examined, the gene is expressed and plays an important role during the process of gastrulation in early embryon ic development. We report here the cloning of the human goosecoid gene (GSC) from a genomic library and the sequence of its encoded protein. The genomic organization and protein sequence of the human gene are h ighly conserved with respect to those of its Xenopus and mouse counter parts: all three genes consist of three exons, with conserved exon-int ron boundaries; the sequence of the homeodomain is 100% conserved in m ost vertebrates. Using somatic cell hybrid and chromosomal in situ hyb ridization, the gene was mapped to chromosome 14q32.1. (C) 1994 Academ ic Press, Inc.