Physical mapping and marker development for the porcine glial cells missing homolog 1 <i>(Drosophila)</i> (GCM1) gene

The murine Gcm1 encodes a transcription factor that is required for placental development. It is expressed in the labyrinth beginning at the time of chorioallantoic fusion. The labyrinth fails to develop in Gcm1–/– mice, resulting in death by embryonic day 10 (E10) (Anson-Cartwright et al., 2000). The essential role of GCM1 in embryonic development in mice implies that GCM1 may also serve a vital function in conceptus-uterine interactions in pigs. Most conceptus mortality in pigs occurs within the first 30 days of gestation. Therefore it is important to identify the genes that affect alterations in conceptus, uterine and placental development and to understand their modes of action and interplay in the way of reciprocal signaling between the blastocyst and the uterus (Geisert and Yelich, 1997). Here we report the chromosomal localization of the porcine GCM1 gene and the identification and characterization of a GCM1 associated microsatellite marker.