CRIM1, a novel gene encoding a cysteine-rich repeat protein, is developmentally regulated and implicated in vertebrate CNS development and organogenesis

Development of the vertebrate central nervous system is thought to be contr olled by intricate cell-cell interactions and spatio-temporally regulated g ene expressions. The details of these processes are still not fully underst ood. We have isolated a novel vertebrate gene, CRIM1/Crim1 in human and mou se. Human CRIM1 maps to chromosome 2p21 close to the Spastic Paraplegia 4 l ocus, Crim1 is expressed in the notochord, somites, floor plate, early moto r neurons and interneuron subpopulations within the developing spinal cord. CRIM1 appears to be evolutionarily conserved and encodes a putative transm embrane protein containing an IGF-binding protein motif and multiple cystei ne-rich repeats similar to those in the BMP-associating chordin and sog pro teins, Our results suggest a role for CRIM1/Crim1 in CNS development possib ly via growth factor binding. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.