Molecular cloning, genomic structure, and expression analysis of the mouse transcriptional intermediary factor 1 gamma gene

Human transcriptional intermediary factor 1 gamma (TIF1gamma), also known as Ret fused gene 7 (RFG7), is a member of a novel family of transcriptional coregulator-encoding genes which function in cell differentiation and development. Here, we report the structure and expression pattern of the mouse Tif1gamma gene. This gene comprises 20 coding exons spanning about 77 kb of genomic DNA on chromosome 3F2, and encodes a 1142-amino-acid protein with 96% identity to the human protein. The locations of exon/intron boundaries correlated well with those for the regions of conserved amino acid sequences (RBCC motif, PHD finger and bromodomain). In situ hybridization analysis of the Tif1gamma mRNA on sections from staged mouse embryos revealed a low level of ubiquitous expression at midgestation, and higher expression levels within the brain and spinal cord epithelium at later developmental stages. Prominent expression was also found in developing sensory epithelia (cochlea, retina, olfactory epithelium), and in several developing organs including the thymus, lung, stomach, intestine, liver, and kidney cortex. In the adult mouse, Tif1gamma mRNA was detected by Northern blot analysis in all tissues examined, with the highest expression level in testis. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry studies revealed that expression of the Tif1gamma mRNA and protein varied according to the stage of the seminiferous epithelium cycle. Taken together, these results indicate-and serve as a basis for investigating-a possible involvement of Tif1gamma in the control of embryonic development and spermatogenesis. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.