title: Structure of the gene encoding peripherin, an NGF-regulated neuronal-specific type III intermediate filament protein.
abstract: We have cloned the rat gene encoding peripherin, a neuronal-specific intermediate filament protein that is NGF-regulated. Determination of the complete sequence, including 821 nucleotides of the 5'-flanking region, allows us to make conclusions about the evolutionary origin of the peripherin gene, its homology with other intermediate filament proteins, and possible mechanisms of regulation of peripherin expression in neurons. The positions of the eight peripherin gene introns correspond to the intron patterns of desmin, vimentin, and GFAP, with one example of intron sliding. Together with protein sequence homologies, this conclusively demonstrates that peripherin is a type III intermediate filament protein. The peripherin promoter contains sequences homologous to regions of other NGF-regulated promoters, which may function in peripherin induction by NGF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, New York University Medical Center, New York 10016.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Ziff
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007438:Introns; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics*; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D064531:Peripherins; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011487:Protein Conformation; D051381:Rats; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; C578994:PRPH protein, human; D064531:Peripherins