title: The rat cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV gene family: tissue-specific and hormonal differences in subunit IV and cytochrome c mRNA expression.
abstract: We have isolated three members of the rat cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV gene family: one functional gene and two processed pseudogenes. The pseudogenes appear to represent the only other closely related sequences in this family. The functional gene encodes an isoform which is expressed in all tissues examined and has features characteristic of 'housekeeping' genes. These include multiple transcription start sites mapped to within an approximately 50 bp region and a GC-rich promoter lacking typical CCAAT or TATAA sequences. Although the subunit IV gene is expressed at its highest levels in cardiac and skeletal muscle, consistent with the high energy demand in those tissues, its expression differs from that of cytochrome c in several respects. 1) Subunit IV mRNA abundance in various tissues is relatively uniform when compared to the highly variable levels of cytochrome c mRNAs. 2) Unlike cytochrome c, subunit IV mRNA is expressed at a surprisingly high level in testis. 3) While cytochrome c mRNA levels in liver are increased markedly in response to thyroid hormone treatment, subunit IV mRNA is not significantly affected. Differences in the expression of these two nuclear-encoded respiratory genes are consistent with differences in regulatory elements within their promoters. Therefore, the regulation of nuclear-encoded respiratory genes in response to tissue demands for cellular energy may not be satisfactorily explained by a set of universal regulators common to all such genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell, Molecular and Structural Biology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Virbasius
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Scarpulla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics*; D016385:TATA Box; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV