CLONING AND MAPPING OF THE UNC5C GENE TO HUMAN-CHROMOSOME 4Q21-Q23

The vertebrate Unc5 genes, like their Caenorhabditis elegans counterpa rt, define a family of putative netrin receptors. One member of this f amily, Unc5h3, has been shown to have an important role during cell mi gration in the developing murine cerebellum. Mice homozygous for mutat ions in Unc5h3 are ataxic and have cerebellar hypoplasia and laminar s tructure defects. In addition, these mice have ectopic granule and Pur kinje cells in the midbrain and brainstem. We have identified the huma n homologue of this gene, UNC5C, and shown it to have a restricted exp ression pattern in adult human tissues. By radiation hybrid analysis, we have determined that UNC5C localizes to chromosome 4q21-q23 between markers D4S1557 and D4S836 and is closely linked to the Parkinson dis ease gene. (C) 1998 Academic Press.