Open AccessStructure of the human villin gene.
Author(s) -
Eric Pringault,
Sylvie Robine,
Daniel Louvard
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.88.23.10811
Subject(s) - villin , biology , exon , gene , gene duplication , genetics , gene family , chromosome , actin , gene dosage , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression
We have isolated and characterized the complete human villin gene. The villin gene is located on chromosome 2q35-36 in humans and on chromosome 1 in mice. Villin belongs to a family of calcium-regulated actin-binding proteins that share structural and functional homologies. The villin gene is expressed mainly in cells that develop a brush border, such as mucosal cells of the small and large intestine and epithelial cells of the kidney proximal tubules. Villin gene expression is strictly regulated during adult life and embryonic development in the digestive and urogenital tracts and, thus, may be used as a marker of the digestive and renal cell lineages. The human villin gene has one copy per haploid genome, encompasses about 25 kilobases, and contains 19 exons. Analysis of the structural organization of this gene shows that the two mRNAs that encode villin in humans arise by alternative choice of one of the two polyadenylylation signals located within the last exon. The overall organization of the exons reflects the gene duplication event from which this family of actin-binding proteins originated.