Molecular Cloning of a Novel Human Gene (D11S4896E) at Chromosomal Region 11p15.5

A novel gene (GOK) has been cloned from human chromosome region 11p15.5 that is believed to contain a gene or genes associated with a number of pediatric malignancies, including Wilms tumor. A 4-kb cDNA has been cloned and it encodes a predicted protein of ∼84 kDa that could be translatedin vitro.Computer analysis predicted that the protein had a signal peptide and may contain a transmembrane helix. Restriction mapping by pulsed-field electrophoresis indicates thatGOKis located 1.7 kb telomeric ofRRM1,and both genes are transcribed in the same direction.GOKdisplays high evolutionary conservation: cloning and partial sequencing of a mouse genomic clone revealed 90% identity with the human gene at both the nucleotide and the predicted amino acid levels.