Cloning and chromosome mapping of human and chicken Iroquois (IRX) genes

Abstract

Three highly homologous homeobox genes (<i>caupolican, araucan </i>and <i>mirror</i>) have been identified in Drosophila. These genes belong to the novel <i>Iroquois </i>complex, which acts as a pre-pattern molecule in Drosophila neurogenesis. Recently several vertebrate <i>Iroquois </i>homologues <i>(Irx) </i>were isolated and found to be involved in pattern formation of various tissues. Here we report cytogenetic mapping of four human and five chicken <i>Iroquois </i>genes by FISH. Our findings revealed that vertebrate <i>Irx </i>genes are clustered at two different loci.