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Sequence Similarities of Myelin Basic Protein Promoters from Mouse and Shark: Implications for the Control of Gene Expression in Myelinating Cells
Author(s) -
Fors Lance,
Hood Leroy,
Saavedra Raul A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1993.tb03179.x
Subject(s) - promoter , biology , enhancer , gene , myelin basic protein , tata box , transcription (linguistics) , conserved sequence , consensus sequence , microbiology and biotechnology , nucleic acid sequence , transcription factor , exon , genetics , regulatory sequence , peptide sequence , gene expression , myelin , linguistics , philosophy , neuroscience , central nervous system
To better understand the cell type‐specific and coordinated regulation of the myelin protein genes, we cloned and sequenced the shark myelin basic protein (MBP) promoter. An alignment of the shark sequence with the corresponding mouse sequence showed striking similarities. These similarities, together with the results from expression experiments, define two major regions (A and B) within the MBP promoter. Region A is located immediately 5’to the transcription initiation sites and includes five sequences thought to be cis ‐acting domains. These domains include two boxes of 13 and 12 nucleotides, respectively, separated from each other by 10 nucleotides, an MBP enhancer, and GC, CCAAT, and TATA boxes. Region A also contains a putative exon that codes for 35 amino acids of an unidentified polypeptide. Region B, which is located adjacent to the 5’end of region A, contains two boxes that are 10 and 11 nucleotides long, respectively, and are identical in mouse and shark. We have previously cloned and sequenced the shark glycoprotein zero (P 0 ) promoter. A comparison between the sequences of the rat and shark P 0 promoters shows three conserved regions in addition to CCAAT and TATA boxes. The shark P 0 promoter is active in the CNS and PNS, and contains a sequence of 13 nucleotides that is located at ‐159 from the initiation of transcription and is similar to that of the MBP enhancer. The mammalian P 0 promoter is active exclusively in the adult PNS and contains a sequence similar to that of the MBP enhancer located adjacent to the 3′ side of the transcription initiation site. Sequence similarities and differences between the promoters of the mammalian and shark myelin protein genes will help to identify the basis for the cell type‐specific and coordinated expression of these genes.