THE GENOMIC STRUCTURE OF DCTN1, A CANDIDATE GENE FOR LIMB-GIRDLE MUSCULAR-DYSTROPHY (LGMD2B)

Dynactin is a required activator for the molecular motor cytoplasmic d ynein, and is likely to be essential for normal neuronal development. Previously we mapped the human gene encoding the p150(Glued) subunit o f dynactin to 2p13, in the vicinity of the locus linked to limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMB2B). We now report the genomic organization o f DCTN1. We have identified 32 exons in the gene which spans similar t o 25 kb. Alternative splicing of several of the exons generates functi onally distinct isoforms of the p150(Glued) polypeptide. (C) 1998 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.