Dlx5, the mouse homologue of the human-imprinted DLX5 gene, is biallelically expressed in the mouse brain

J Hum Genet. 2004;49(5):273-7. doi: 10.1007/s10038-004-0139-2.

Abstract

The mouse Dlx5 gene encodes a distal-less-related DNA-binding homeobox protein first expressed during early embryonic development in anterior regions of mouse embryo and is located on chromosome 6, which is the syntenic region to the human chromosome 7q21-q31 imprinting cluster. Recently, its human homologue, DLX5, was identified to be imprinted and maternally expressed, at least in normal human lymphoblasts and in brain tissues. In our study, we analyzed the imprinting status of mouse Dlx5 by RT-PCR, first in the F1 of a reciprocal cross between two different mouse strains, and second in heterozygous Dlx5 mutant mice. Both approaches revealed that mouse Dlx5 followed a biallelic pattern of expression in brain tissue and in testis. Our findings suggest that the Dlx5 gene escapes genomic imprinting, at least in mice of certain genetic backgrounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Chromosomes, Mammalian / genetics
  • Exons
  • Gene Expression
  • Genomic Imprinting
  • Heterozygote
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice / genetics*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transcription Factors

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • DLX5 protein, human
  • Dlx5 protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Transcription Factors