CLONING AND CHROMOSOMAL LOCALIZATION OF A NEW MEMBER OF THE BHLH PAS TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR FAMILY/

Here we report the cloning and primary characterization of TIC, a new member of the bHLH/PAS domain family of transcription factors. Norther n blot analysis indicates that the 3.3-kb Tic mRNA is widely expressed . A polyclonal antibody against TIC identifies multiple protein specie s in most cell lines and tissues tested, suggesting that alternative s plicing may result in the production of protein isoforms. Interspecies backcross and FISH mapping have been used to localize the Tic gene to mouse Chromosome (Chr) 7 F2-F3, given the locus name Arntl. FISH mapp ing was also used to localize the human gene to Chr 11p15.