THE NTN2L GENE ENCODING A NOVEL HUMAN NETRIN MAPS TO THE AUTOSOMAL-DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY-DISEASE REGION ON CHROMOSOME 16P13.3

The netrins define a family of chemotropic factors that have been show n to play a central role in axon guidance. We identified two exon trap s encoding netrin-like sequences during the assembly of a transcriptio nal map for the genomic interval surrounding the polycystic kidney dis ease type 1 and tuberous sclerosis type 2 genes. We describe the chara cterization of a novel human netrin-2-like gene, designated NTN2L, and its transcript. The genomic interval containing the NTN2L gene was se quenced, and the coding region was predicted based on computer analysi s. The structure of the NTN2L gene has been confirmed utilizing nested RT-PCR. The NTN2L gene is predicted to encode a 580-amino-acid protei n having homology to the chicken and Drosophila netrins and to Caenorh abditis elegans UNC-6. The NTN2L gene has a restricted pattern of expr ession; its transcript is undetectable by Northern analysis in all tis sues examined, but can be recovered from spinal cord RNA by RT-PCR. Th is report represents the first description and characterization of a h uman netrin. (C) 1997 Academic Press.