Mit1/Lb9 and Copg2, new members of mouse imprinted genes closely linked to Peg1/Mest

Two mouse genes, Mit11Lb9 and Copg2, linked to Peg11Mest on mouse chromosome 6, were identified to be imprinted maternally and paternally, respectively. Mit11Lb9 encoding untranslated transcripts resides within the intron 20 of Copg2. The gene is maternally imprinted in adult mouse brain, partially imprinted in other tissues, Copg2 consists of 24 exons within the > 40 kb genomic region, being expressed ubiquitously in mouse tissues with a partial imprinting pattern in embryos, neonates, and adult brain in contrast to maternally imprinted human COPG2, In addition, we identified an antisense transcript of Copg2, Copg2AS, which overlaps 3'-UTRs of Copg2 and Peg11Mest. The Copg2AS transcript is maternally imprinted in embryos, neonates, and adult tissues. (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.