PEG5 NEURONATIN IS AN IMPRINTED GENE LOCATED ON SUB-DISTAL CHROMOSOME-2 IN THE MOUSE/

We have established a systematic screen for imprinted genes using a su btraction-hybridization method with day 8.5 fertilized and parthenogen etic embryos, Two novel imprinted genes, Peg1/Mest and Peg3, were iden tified previously by this method, along with the two known imprinted g enes, lgf2 and Snrpn. Recently three additional candidate imprinted ge nes, Peg5-7, were detected and Peg5 is analyzed further in this study, The cDNA sequence of Peg5 is identical to Neuronatin, a gene recently reported to be expressed mainly in the brain, Two novel spliced forms were detected with some additional sequence in the middle of the know n Neuronatin sequences. All alternatively spliced forms of Peg5 were e xpressed only from the paternal allele, confirmed using DNA polymorphi sm in a subinterspecific cross. Peg5/Neuronatin maps to sub-distal Chr 2, proximal to the previously established imprinted region where impr inted genes cause abnormal shape and behavior in neonates.