ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify and clone the gene encoding human M96 gene and study its expression spectrum in several blood cell lines.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to the sequence of human EST which was highly homologous to the mouse M96 gene, primers used for library screening were synthesized, then the human adult testis and fetal brain cDNA library were screened. The gene was analyzed by making use of BLAST and CLUSTAL W, and its expression spectrum was studied by multiple-cell lines Northern blot analysis. The expression change of M961 in cell differentiation was observed by use of K562 cell line induced by hemin.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two cDNA clones encoding human M96 gene were isolated, identified and named as M961, and M962. They were found to be isoforms of each other. Northern, blot showed that M961 gene was expressed highly in CEM, Hel, Dami and K562 cell lines. However, during K562 cell line differentiation, process the expression of M961 elevated only slightly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>M961 gene was expressed highly in pluripotent cell lines with erythrocytic and megakaryocytic potentials.</p>