Wilanowski, T.Tuckfield, A.Cerruti, L.O'Connell, S.Saint, R.Parekh, V.Tao, J.Cunningham, J.Jane, S.2007-05-112007-05-112002Mechanisms of Development, 2002; 114(1-2):37-500925-47731872-6356http://hdl.handle.net/2440/28129The Drosophila transcription factor Grainyhead regulates several key developmental processes. Three mammalian genes, CP2, LBP-1a and LBP-9 have been previously identified as homologues of grainyhead. We now report the cloning of two new mammalian genes (Mammalian grainyhead (MGR) and Brother-of-MGR (BOM)) and one new Drosophila gene (dCP2) that rewrite the phylogeny of this family. We demonstrate that MGR and BOM are more closely related to grh, whereas CP2, LBP-1a and LBP-9 are descendants of the dCP2 gene. MGR shares the greatest sequence homology with grh, is expressed in tissue-restricted patterns more comparable to grh and binds to and transactivates the promoter of the human Engrailed-1 gene, the mammalian homologue of the key grainyhead target gene, engrailed. This sequence and functional conservation indicates that the new mammalian members of this family play important developmental roles.enGrainyheadHomologueJournal article002002002410.1016/S0925-4773(02)00046-10001759875000042-s2.0-003601124060678