Genomic sequencing reveals the structure of the Kcnk6 and Map3k11 genes and their close vicinity to the Sipa1 gene on mouse chromosome 19

In this report we present the analysis of two overlapping mouse cosmid clon es that contain the entire Kcnk6, Map3k11 I and Pcnxl3 genes, as well as pa rt of the Sipa1 gene. The sequence and genomic organisation of the Kcnk6 an d Map3k11 genes are described in detail. Sipa1 and Map3k11, which have inde pendently been mapped with low resolution to the centromeric region of mous e chromosome 19, are shown here to lie close to each other and to the Kcnk6 gene, which has not previously been mapped. This gene cluster maps to the vicinity of the Dancer (Dc) mutation, which involves inner ear abnormalitie s and circling phenotypes. Since potassium channels have been implicated in deafness disorders, we have analysed the Kcnk6 gene, which encodes a two-P domain potassium channel, in the Dc mutant. No De-causing mutation in the Kcnk6 coding region could be identified. However, we detected a polymorphis m in the Kcnk6 gene that leads to a C-terminal extension of the encoded pro tein by eight amino acids. Copyright(C)2000S.KargerAG,Basel.