GENETIC AND PHYSICAL MAPPING OF A GENE ENCODING A METHYL CPG BINDING-PROTEIN, MECP2 TO THE MOUSE X-CHROMOSOME

The methyl CpG binding proteins (MeCP1 and MeCP2) are a class of prote ins that bind to templates containing symmetrically methylated CpGs. U sing an interspecific backcross segregating a number of X-linked marke rs, we have localized the Mecp2 gene in mouse to the X chromosome clos e to the microsatellite marker DXMit1. Detailed physical mapping utili zing an available YAC contig encompassing the DXMit1 locus has localiz ed the Mecp2 gene to a 40-kb region between the L1cam and the Rsvp loc i, indicating the probable position of a homologue on the human X chro mosome.