Analysis of the structure and expression of the augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) gene.
BACKGROUND
The gene encoding the hepatotrophic factor Augmenter of Liver Regeneration (ALR) has recently been cloned in the rat. The availability of the mouse form of ALR would allow the analysis of the role of this factor in the physiology of liver and other organs, while the identification of the human homolog would allow the transfer of the great wealth of information that has been generated in animal models to clinically oriented pilot trials, and eventually the therapeutic application of this information.


METHODS
Standard molecular biology approaches have been used to determine the genomic structure of the ALR gene in the mouse, and to characterize the ALR transcript and its protein product. The human ALR cDNA was also isolated and the amino acid sequence of the human gene product deduced. The mapping of mouse and human ALR genes on mouse and human chromosomes was then completed.


RESULTS
The protein coding portion of the mouse ALR gene is comprised of three exons, the first containing the 5' untranslated sequence and the initial 18 bases after the ATG translation initiation codon, the second exon encompasses 198 bases, and the third exon contains the remaining portion of the protein coding sequence. Rat, mouse, and human ALR genes (and protein products) were found to be highly conserved and preferentially expressed in the testis and in the liver. The ALR gene maps to the mouse chromosome 17, in a region syntenic with human chromosome 16, where the T/t region has also been mapped.


CONCLUSIONS
ALR appears to be a protein with important physiologic properties, not exclusively limited to liver regeneration, with roles that are involved in the synthesis or stability of the nuclear and mitochondrial transcripts that are present in actively regenerating cells, particularly the germ cells of the testes.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
R
R
Giorda
M
M
Hagiya
T
T
Seki
M
M
Shimonishi
H
H
Sakai
J
J
Michaelson
A
A
Francavilla
T E
TE
Starzl
M
M
Trucco
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002885:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011506:Proteins; D051381:Rats; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics; D050862:Oxidoreductases Acting on Sulfur Group Donors
D017931:DNA Primers; D006133:Growth Substances; D011506:Proteins; C088825:GFER protein, rat; D050862:Oxidoreductases Acting on Sulfur Group Donors