Chromosomal mapping of five highly conserved murine homologues of the Drosophila RING finger gene seven-in-absentia.

Seven-in-absentia (sina) is epistatic to all other known genes in the sevenless-ras signaling pathway, which mediates R7 photoreceptor formation in the Drosophila eye. The murine genome contains several closely related sina homologues (Siah1A-D, Siah2) that are also likely to participate in ras signaling. As part of a genetic and biochemical analysis of the mammalian Siah genes, we have used gene-specific probes to map the chromosomal positions of each family member. Here we report their chromosomal positions in relation to a number of known mouse mutations and also describe an analysis of the human Siah genes. By comparing the complexity of the Siah genes in these two mammalian species we have gained further insight into which members of this murine multigene family are likely to be functional.