Fine sequence analysis of 60 kb around the Arabidopsis thaliana AtEm1 locus on chromosome III

The Arabidopsis thaliana Em1 gene has been mapped to the lower arm of chrom osome III. Fine analysis of 60 kb around this gene, based largely on identi fication and sequencing of cognate cDNAs, has allowed us to identify 15 gen es or putative genes. Cognate cDNAs exist for ten of these genes, indicatin g that they are effectively expressed. Analysis by sequence alignment and i ntracellular localization prediction programs allows attribution of a poten tial protein product to these genes which show no obvious functional relati onship. Comparison of the true exon/intron structure based on cDNA sequence s with that proposed by three commonly used prediction programs shows that, in the absence of further information, the results of these predictions on anonymous genomic sequences should be interpreted with caution. Examinatio n of the non-coding sequence showed the presence of a novel repeated, palin dromic element. The results of this detailed analysis show that in-depth st udies will be necessary to exploit correctly the complete A. thaliana genom e sequence.