A cluster of oppositely imprinted transcripts at the Gnas locus in the distal imprinting region of mouse chromosome 2

J Peters, SF Wroe, CA Wells, HJ Miller… - Proceedings of the …, 1999 - National Acad Sciences
J Peters, SF Wroe, CA Wells, HJ Miller, D Bodle, CV Beechey, CM Williamson, G Kelsey
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1999National Acad Sciences
Imprinted genes tend to occur in clusters. We have identified a cluster in distal mouse
chromosome (Chr) 2, known from early genetic studies to contain both maternally and
paternally imprinted, but unspecified, genes. Subsequently, one was identified as Gnas,
which encodes a G protein α subunit, and there is clinical and biochemical evidence that the
human homologue GNAS1, mutated in patients with Albright hereditary osteodystrophy, is
also imprinted. We have used representational difference analysis, based on parent-of …
Imprinted genes tend to occur in clusters. We have identified a cluster in distal mouse chromosome (Chr) 2, known from early genetic studies to contain both maternally and paternally imprinted, but unspecified, genes. Subsequently, one was identified as Gnas, which encodes a G protein α subunit, and there is clinical and biochemical evidence that the human homologue GNAS1, mutated in patients with Albright hereditary osteodystrophy, is also imprinted. We have used representational difference analysis, based on parent-of-origin methylation differences, to isolate candidate imprinted genes in distal Chr 2 and found two oppositely imprinted genes, Gnasxl and Nesp. Gnasxl determines a variant G protein α subunit associated with the trans-Golgi network and Nesp encodes a secreted protein of neuroendocrine tissues. Gnasxl is maternally methylated in genomic DNA and encodes a paternal-specific transcript, whereas Nesp is paternally methylated with maternal-specific expression. Their reciprocal imprinting may offer insight into the distal Chr 2 imprinting phenotypes. Remarkably, Gnasxl, Nesp, and Gnas are all part of the same transcription unit; transcripts for Gnasxl and Nesp are alternatively spliced onto exon 2 of Gnas. This demonstrates an imprinting mechanism in which two oppositely imprinted genes share the same downstream exons.
National Acad Sciences