Characterization of Ngef, a novel member of the Dbl family of genes expressed predominantly in the caudate nucleus

We have identified Ngef as a novel member of the family of Dbl genes. Many members of this family have been shown to function as guanine nucleotide ex change factors for the Rho-type GTPases. Ngef is predominantly expressed in brain, with the strongest signal in the caudate nucleus, a region associat ed with the control of movement. Ngef contains a translated trinucleotide r epeat, a polyglutamic acid stretch interrupted by a glycine, We have locali zed the Ngef gene to mouse chromosome 1 and the human homologue of Ngef to human chromosome 2q37. We have shown in preliminary experiments that Ngef h as transforming potential in cell culture and is able to induce tumors in n ude mice. (C) 2000 Academic Press.