Cloning and sequencing of the mouse Gli2 gene: localization to the Dominant hemimelia critical region.

The GLI family of zinc finger genes has been implicated in both neoplastic and developmental disorders. We have cloned and sequenced the mouse homolog of the zinc finger gene Gli2 and demonstrated significant similarity to the human GLI3 gene. We have also localized Gli2 to mouse chromosome 1, in the vicinity of the morphogenetic mutation Dominant hemimelia (Dh), which is characterized by tibial hemimelia, poly/oligodactyly, and a number of visceral abnormalities, most strikingly absence of the spleen. Using a Gli2-associated microsatellite, we demonstrated no recombination between Dh and Gli2 in a Dh intraspecific backcross. Gli2 is expressed in Dh heterozygotes and homozygotes. However, using a combination of mismatch analysis and direct sequencing, we have failed to identify any mutations in the coding sequence of Gli2 from Dh. We have also demonstrated that it is unlikely that there are any Gli genes in the mouse genome in addition to the previously described Gli, Gli2, and Gli3.