Characterization of the human jumonji gene

While constructing a cDNA library of human embryos, we have isolated aclone homologous to jumonji, a mouse gene required for neural tubeformation. We have determined the complete coding sequence of the humanhomologue (JMJ) and deduced the amino acid sequence of the putativeprotein. We show here that human and mouse jumonji putative proteins arehomologous and present 90% identity. During human embryogenesis, JMJ mRNAsare predominantly expressed in neurons and particularly in dorsal rootganglion cells. They are also expressed in neurons of human adult cerebralcortex. In view of these observations, we propose JMJ as a candidate genefor developmental defects of the central nervous system in the human. Thehuman JMJ gene maps at position 6p24-6p23.