Placental expression and chromosomal localization of the human Gcm 1 gene

Although gem was first recognized for its role in specifying glial cell fat e in Drosophila melanogaster, its mammalian counterparts are expressed pred ominantly in non-neural tissues. Here we demonstrate expression of the mous e and human GCM 1 proteins in placenta. We have prepared a highly specific antibody that recognizes the GCM 1 protein and have used it to assess the t emporal and spatial expression profile of the protein. In both mouse and hu man placenta, the protein is associated with cells that are involved with e xchange between maternal and fetal blood supplies: the labyrinthine cells o f the mouse placenta and the syncytio- and cytotrophoblasts of the human pl acenta. Using the full-length hGcm 1 cDNA as a probe, we have mapped the ge ne on human chromosome 6p12 by fluorescent in situ hybridization.