Abstract
BackgroundOverlapping genes share same genomic regions in parallel (sense) or anti-parallel (anti-sense) orientations. These gene pairs seem to occur in all domains of life and are best known from viruses. However, the advantage and biological significance of overlapping genes is still unclear. Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) analysis enabled us to uncover an overlapping gene pair in the human genome.ResultsBy using in silico analysis of previous experimental documentations, we reveal a new form of overlapping genes in the human genome, in which two genes found on opposite strands (Pou5f1 and Tcf19), share two exons and one intron enclosed, at the same positions, between OCT4B3 and TCF19-D splice variants.ConclusionsThis new form of overlapping gene expands our previous perception of splicing events and may shed more light on the complexity of gene regulation in higher organisms. Additional such genes might be detected by ESTs analysis also of other organisms.
Highlights
When two genes share same genomic region(s), these genes are defined as overlapping genes [1]
In the present study we report a new form of overlapping gene in the human genome, in which two exons and an enclosed intron of two neighboring genes (Pou5f1 (Oct4) and Tcf19) on different strands and opposite directions are shared and, are overlapping, a phenomenon that has not been documented so far
By using in silico analysis, we have noticed that one of our recently discovered OCT4 novel variants, OCT4B3, has two exons overlapped with parts of four expressed sequence tags (ESTs) that have been registered on GenBank under accession number-BG192353, −BG194808, −BG203640, and -BG218902 (Fig. 2)
Summary
When two genes (either on same strand or opposite strands) share same genomic region(s), these genes are defined as overlapping genes [1]. In order to better understand the complexity of an organism, understanding the complexity of the genome and its product are inevitable To reach this goal, moving beyond already annotated RNAs and proteins is needed. Research is more appreciating the genomic regions which previously were thought to be junk or outside of annotated regions [6, 7], which may help in better understanding of the genomic architecture and sophisticated gene regulations of higher eukaryotes. Overlapping genes share same genomic regions in parallel (sense) or anti-parallel (anti-sense) orientations. These gene pairs seem to occur in all domains of life and are best known from viruses. Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) analysis enabled us to uncover an overlapping gene pair in the human genome
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