CHARACTERIZATION AND MAPPING OF THE HUMAN SOX4 GENE

The SOX genes comprise a large family related by homology to the HMG-b ox region of the testis-determining gene SRY. We have cloned and seque nced the human SOX4 gene. The open reading frame encodes a 474 amino a cid protein, which includes an HMG-box. The non-box sequence is partic ularly rich in serine residues and has several polyglycine and polyala nine stretches. With somatic cell hybrids, human SOX4 has been mapped to Chromosome (Chr) 6p distal to the MHC region. There is no evidence for clustering of other members of the SOX1, -2, and -3 or SOX4 gene f amilies around the SOX4 locus.