Abstract

We have searched the human genome for genes encoding new proteins that may be involved in three nuclear gene expression processes: transcription, pre-messenger RNA splicing and polyadenylation. A plethora of potential new factors are implicated by sequence in nuclear gene expression, revealing a substantial but selective increase in complexity compared with Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. Although the raw genomic information has limitations, its availability offers new experimental approaches for studying gene expression.

1. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Programs in Gene Function and Expression and Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation St, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA
2. Biologia Generale e Genetica Medica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Forlanini 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy
3. University of Bologna, Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica e Sperimentale, 40126, Via Selmi 3, Bologna, Italy

Correspondence to: Michael R. Green¹ Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to M.R.G. (e-mail: Email: michael.green@umassmed.edu).