Analysis of the size of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene family: isolation and sequencing of N-terminal domain exons.

Five members of the human CEA gene family [human pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (PS beta G); hsCGM1, 2, 3 and 4] have been isolated and identified through sequencing the exons containing their N-terminal domains. Sequence comparisons with published data for CEA and related molecules reveal the existence of highly-conserved gene subgroups within the CEA family. Together with published data eleven CEA family members have so far been determined. Apart from the highly conserved coding sequences, these genes also show strong sequence conservation in their introns, indicating a duplication of whole gene units during the evolution of the CEA gene family.