Comparative structural and functional analysis of the olfactory receptor genes flanking the human and mouse beta-globin gene clusters

By sequencing regions flanking the beta-globin gene complex in mouse (Hbbc) and human (HBBC), we have shown that the beta-globin gene cluster is surrounded by a larger cluster of olfactory receptor genes (ORGs). To facilitate sequence comparisons and to investigate the regulation of ORG expression, we have mapped 5' sequences of mRNA from olfactory epithelium encoding beta-globin-proximal ORGs. We have found that several of these genes contain multiple noncoding exons that can be alternatively spliced. Surprisingly, the only common motifs found in the promoters of these genes are a "TATA" box and a purine-rich motif. Sequence comparisons between human and mouse reveal that most of the conserved regions are confined to the coding regions and transcription units of the genes themselves, but a few blocks of conserved sequence also are found outside of ORG transcription units. The possible influence of beta-globin regulatory sequences on ORG expression in olfactory epithelium was tested in mice containing a deletion of the endogenous beta-globin locus control region, but no change in expression of the neighboring ORGs was detected. We evaluate the implications of these results for possible mechanisms of regulation of ORG transcription.

Organization of human and mouse skeletal myosin heavy chain gene clusters is highly conserved

Myosin heavy chains (MyHCs) are highly conserved ubiquitous actin-based motor proteins that drive a wide range of motile processes in eukaryotic cells. MyHC isoforms expressed in skeletal muscles are encoded by a multigene family that is clustered on syntenic regions of human and mouse chromosomes 17 and 11, respectively. In an effort to gain a better understanding of the genomic organization of the skeletal MyHC genes and its effects on the regulation, function, and molecular genetics of this multigene family, we have constructed high-resolution physical maps of both human and mouse loci using PCR-based marker content mapping of P1-artificial chromosome clones. Genes encoding six MyHC isoforms have been mapped with respect to their linear order and transcriptional orientations within a 350-kb region in both human and mouse. These maps reveal that the order, transcriptional orientation, and relative intergenic distances of these genes are remarkably conserved between these species. Unlike many clustered gene families, this order does not reflect the known temporal expression patterns of these genes. However, the conservation of gene organization since the estimated divergence of these species (approximately 75-110 million years ago) suggests that the physical organization of these genes may be significant for their regulation and function.

The current status of laboratory data processing

The CAP Laboratory Computer Applications and Data Processing Committee surveyed recently a random sample of participants in the CAP Survey Program to determine the current status of data processing in clinical laboratories. The results of the study, which confirm that laboratory computerization is a still new but growing movement, are presented in the following pages.