Characterization of a widely expressed gene (LUC7-LIKE; LUC7L) defining the centromeric boundary of the human alpha-globin domain

We have identified the first gene lying on the centromeric side of the alph a -globin gene cluster on human 16p13.3. The gene, called 16pHQG;16 (HGMW-a pproved symbol LUC7L), is widely transcribed and lies in the opposite orien tation with respect to the alpha -globin genes, This gene may represent a m ammalian heterochromatic gene, encoding a putative RNA-binding protein simi lar to the yeast Luc7p subunit of the U1 snRNP splicing complex that is nor mally required for 5' splice site selection. To examine the role of the 16p HQG;16 gene in delimiting the extent of the alpha -globin regulatory domain , we mapped its mouse orthologue, which we found to lie on mouse chromosome 17, separated from the mouse alpha -cluster on chromosome 11. Establishing the full extent of the human 16pHQG;16 gene has allowed us to define the c entromeric limit of the region of conserved synteny around the human alpha -globin cluster to within an 8-kb segment of chromosome 16. (C) 2001 Academ ic Press.