Neural retina-specific leucine zipper gene NRL (D14S46E) maps to human chromosome 14q11.1-q11.2.

The product of a neural retina-specific gene, NRL, belongs to the "leucine zipper" family of DNA-binding proteins and has a strong similarity to the v-maf oncogene product. The NRL gene maps to human chromosome 14 by Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA from a human-rodent somatic cell hybrid panel. In situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes has further sublocalized the gene to the region 14q11.1-q11.2. D14S46E has now been assigned to the NRL gene. Because of its specific pattern of expression, NRL is a candidate gene for retinal diseases.