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Organization of a gene coding for an oviduct‐specific glycoprotein (oviductin) in the hamster
Author(s) -
Merlen Yannick,
Bleau Gilles
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2795(200011)57:3<238::aid-mrd5>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - biology , tata box , hamster , coding region , genetics , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , promoter
Hamster oviductin, a high molecular weight glycoprotein secreted by the oviducts, is believed to participate in fertilization and protection of the tubal epithelium. Expression of the oviductin gene is confined strictly to nonciliated secretory cells of the oviduct and is regulated by hormones. The objective of this study was to characterize the genomic organization and to identify potential regulatory elements implicated in the control of transcription of the oviductin gene. Polymerase chain reaction was performed on hamster genomic DNA, yielding 2.2 kb of the 5′ flanking region as well as 13.6 kb of genomic sequence comprising the entire coding sequence of the oviductin gene distributed in 11 exons. Sequencing of the 5′ flanking region revealed, among other elements, an almost perfect estrogen‐responsive element (GGTCACTGTGAC T ), an atypical TATA box (TAT T AA), and a perfect inverted Sp1 site located between the transcription start site and the atypical TATA box. Primer extension analyses indicated that the hamster oviductin transcript possesses an unusually short 5′ untranslated region of only 14 nucleotides. The distinct organization of the hamster oviductin gene in the vicinity of the transcription start site provides an interesting ground for further functional studies. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 57:238–246, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.