GENOMIC STRUCTURE AND CHROMOSOMAL LOCALIZATION OF GML (GPI-ANCHORED MOLECULE-LIKE PROTEIN), A GENE INDUCED BY P53

Among its known functions, tumor suppressor gene p53 serves as a trans criptional regulator and mediates various signals through activation o f downstream genes, We recently identified a novel gene, GML (glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored molecule-like protein), whose expr ession is specifically induced by wildtype p53, To characterize the GM L gene further, we determined 35.8 kb of DNA sequence that included a consensus binding sequence for p53 and the entire GML gene. The GML ge ne consists of four exons, and the p53-binding sequence is present in the 5'-flanking region. in genomic organization this gene resembles ge nes encoding murine Ly-6 glycoproteins, a human homologue of the Ly-6 family called RIG-E, and CD59; products of these genes, known as GPI-a nchored proteins, are variously involved in signal transduction, cell- cell adhesion, and cell-matrix attachment. FISH analysis revealed that the GML gene is located on human chromosome 8q24.3. Genes encoding at least two other GPI-anchored molecules, E48 and RIG-E, are also locat ed in this region. (C) 1997 Academic Press.