Molecular cloning, characterization, and chromosomal mapping of a novel human gene (GTF3A) that is highly homologous to Xenopus transcription factor IIIA.

We have isolated a novel human cDNA that is highly related to Xenopus transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA). This clone contains an open reading frame of 1,269 nucleotides encoding 423 amino acids, including nine repeats of the Cys2His2-type of zinc-finger domain. A comparison of its sequence with Xenopus TFIIIA revealed 63% identity in nucleic acids and 58% identity in amino acids over a large portion of the gene and predicted peptide, indicating that the human homologue is likely to function as a transcription factor. The zinc-finger domains of the predicted protein also showed homology with those of human genes such as WT1, transcriptional repressor YY1, and MYC-associated zinc-finger protein (MAZ). Northern analysis showed expression in various tissues examined. The human TFIIIA gene (GTF3A) was localized to chromosome band 13q12.3-->q13.1 by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH).