title: Structure and expression of the human L-myc gene reveal a complex pattern of alternative mRNA processing.
abstract: We analyzed in detail the structure of the L-myc gene isolated from human placental DNA and characterized its expression in several small-cell lung cancer cell lines. The gene is composed of three exons and two introns spanning 6.6 kilobases in human DNA. Several distinct mRNA species are produced in all small-cell lung cancer cell lines that express L-myc. These transcripts are generated from a single gene by alternative splicing of introns 1 and 2 and by use of alternative polyadenylation signals. In some mRNAs there is a long open reading frame with a predicted translated protein of 364 residues. Amino acid sequence comparison with c-myc and N-myc demonstrated multiple discrete regions with extensive homology. In contrast, other mRNA transcripts, generated by alternative processing, could encode a truncated protein with a novel carboxy-terminal end.
authors.affiliation: NCI-Navy Medical Oncology Branch, Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Battey
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nau
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seifter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Greve
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birrer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sausville
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minna
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA