FRG1, A GENE IN THE FSH MUSCULAR-DYSTROPHY REGION ON HUMAN-CHROMOSOME4Q35, IS HIGHLY CONSERVED IN VERTEBRATES AND INVERTEBRATES

The human FRG1 gene maps to human chromosome 4q35 and was identified a s a candidate for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. However, FRG 1 is apparently not causally associated with the disease and as yet, i ts function remains unclear. We have cloned homologues of FRG1 from tw o additional vertebrates, the mouse and the Japanese puffer fish Fugu rubripes, and investigated the genomic organization of the genes in th e two species. The intron/exon structure of the genes is identical thr oughout the protein coding region, although the Fugu gene is five time s smaller than the mouse gene. We have also identified FRG1 homologues in two nematodes; Caenorhabditis elegans and Brugia malayi. The FRG1 protein is highly conserved and contains a lipocalin sequence motif, s uggesting it may function as a transport protein. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.