NSPc1, a novel mammalian Polycomb gene, is expressed in neural crest-derived structures of the peripheral nervous system

Anterior-posterior (A-P) patterning is a key element in early embryonic dev elopment. Polycomb group (PcG) genes act as transcriptional repressors to r egulate A-P patterning by either directly or indirectly controlling the coo rdinated expression of the HOM/Hox homeobox (Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 7 (199 7) 488; Trends Genet. 13 (1997) 167). We describe the isolation and charact erization of a novel mammalian PcG gene, termed Nervous System Polycomb-1 ( NSPcl). Human and mouse NSPc1 genes encode proteins with an N-terminal RING finger domain and share homology with Drosophila melanogaster lethal(3)73A h and the mammalian Me118 and Bmi1 genes. Transcripts are observed at 10 dp c in the otic vesicle, urogenital bud and dorsal root ganglia. At 11.5 dpc, transcripts an present in a subset of neural crest cell derivatives of the peripheral nervous system, and in the neural tube. NSPc1 expression is ubi quitous in adult tissue. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.