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The GLI gene is a member of the Kruppel family of zinc finger proteins

Nature volume 332, pages 371–374 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

Many studies have established that a select subset of normal cellular genes are altered in cancer by point mutations, translo-cations or gene amplification1. However, the vast majority of genetic changes that occur in neoplastic cells have not yet been identified. In an attempt to identify some of these other genetic changes, we have recently isolated a gene, GLI, by virtue of its amplification in a human glioblastoma2. Subsequently, GLI was found to be amplified in other human glioblastomas (ref. 3 and unpublished data). To understand better the role of GLI in human neoplasia, we have now cloned the GLI complementary DNA (cDNA) and determined its nucleotide sequence. Analysis of the predicted translation product reveals that it contains five repeats of a DNA binding consensus sequence (zinc finger) originally described in Xenopus Transcription Factor III A (TFIIIA) 4. Furthermore, these zinc fingers contain sequence elements that suggest the GLI gene product is a member of the recently described Kruppel family of zinc finger proteins5,6. Additional experiments demonstrate that GLI is an evolutionary conserved gene that is expressed in embryonal carcinoma cells but not in most adult tissues. The link between the developmentally important Kruppel family of genes and GLI is interesting considering the similarities between developing embryonic and neoplastic tissue.

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Author notes

  1. Sandra H. Bigner: Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham NC 27710, USA

  2. Bert Vogelstein: Oncology Research Laboratories, The Johns Hopkins Oncology Onter, 424 N. Bond Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.

  3. Bert Vogelstein: To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Oncology and Pharmacology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Kenneth W. Kinzler, John M. Ruppert, Sandra H. Bigner & Bert Vogelstein

Authors
  1. Kenneth W. Kinzler
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  2. John M. Ruppert
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  3. Sandra H. Bigner
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  4. Bert Vogelstein
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Kinzler, K., Ruppert, J., Bigner, S. et al. The GLI gene is a member of the Kruppel family of zinc finger proteins. Nature 332, 371–374 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/332371a0

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