Analysis of 148 kb of genomic DNA around the wnt1 locus of Fugu rubripes

The analysis of the sequence of similar to 150 kb of a genomic region corre sponding to the wnt1 gene of the Japanese pufferfish Fugu rubripes confirms the compact structure of the genome. Fifteen genes were found in this regi on, and 26.6% of the analyzed sequence is coding sequence. With an average intergenic distance of <5 kb, this gene density is comparable to that of Ca enorhabditis elegans. The compactness of this region corresponds to the red uction of the overall size of the genome, consistent with the conclusion th at the gene number in Fugu and human genomes is approximately the same. Eig ht of the genes have been mapped in the human genome and all of them are fo und in the chromosomal band 12q13, indicating a high degree of synteny in b oth species, Fugu and human. Comparative sequence analysis allows us to ide ntify potential regulatory elements for wnt1 and ARF3, which are common to fish and mammals.