title: Structural analysis of the mouse chromosomal gene encoding interleukin 4 which expresses B cell, T cell and mast cell stimulating activities.
abstract: Based on homology with the mouse interleukin 4 (IL-4) cDNA that expresses B cell, T cell, and mast cell stimulating activities (Lee, F. et al., (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, 2061), we have isolated from a Balb/c mouse liver DNA library the mouse chromosomal gene and analyzed its overall structure. The gene occurs as a single copy in the haploid genome and contains four exons and three introns. The exon sequences almost completely match the cloned cDNA sequence. Interestingly, there is a fairly high degree of homology between mouse IL-4 and mouse IL-2 genes extending more than 200 bp upstream of a "TATA" like sequence located 20 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site. These sequences may play an important role in the regulated expression of this gene in concanavalin A or antigen-stimulated T lymphocytes. The supernatant of COS7 cells transfected with plasmid DNA containing the entire gene exhibited both T cell growth factor and mast cell growth factor activities.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D005796:Genes; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics*; D015847:Interleukin-4; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D008222:Lymphokines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D004247:DNA; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes