Molecular cloning of a mammalian ABC transporter homologous to Drosophila white gene

Pigmentation of Drosophila eyes requires the concerted action of several genes, most of which have been cloned and characterized. Three of them, white, brown, and scarlet, have been directly implicated in the import of pigment precursors into the cells. These three genes encode similar proteins, belonging to the evolutionary conserved family of ATP Binding Cassette transporters. The identification of a novel mouse gene, ABC8, closely related to white is reported here, together with an analysis of its expression profile and its comparative mapping in mouse and human genome.