The human ASCL2 gene escaping genomic imprinting and its expression pattern

The mouse achaete-scute homolog-2 gene (Ascl2 or Mash2) encodes a transcription factor playing a role in the development of the trophoblast. The Ascl2 is an imprinted gene with maternal expression and assigned to an imprinting gene cluster region (ICR) at a distal region of mouse chromosome 7. We previously isolated a phage clone carrying the human homolog, ASCL2, and mapped it to human chromosome 11p15.5, a human ICR. In the present study, we demonstrate the expression patterns of the human ASCL2 in the fetus at a stage between first and second trimesters and in the placental tissues. In addition, it has been shown that the human ASCL2 gene escapes genomic imprinting.