[The sequences of intron 50 and 51 of DMD gene and the deletion mechanism of 51st exon].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the structural characters of 50th and 51st introns and deletion mechanisms of 51st exon of DMD gene.


METHODS
We cloned the 3.1 Kb-Hind I human genome DNA fragment containing the 50 and 51 introns of DMD gene, sequenced the fragment completely, and analysed the character of the sequences with computer.


RESULTS
The length of the fragment was 3179, including the entire 51st exon and partial 50th and 51st intron sequences. There were 36 short tandom repeats, 22 direct and inverted repeats, and 8 homologous sequences in the 50th and 51st introns. A TATA box was found in the intron 50 and it may be another new promotor of DMD gene.


CONCLUSIONS
The hypothesis, which the recombination of repeat sequences may result in the deletion of 51st exon, is put forward.
Sheng
W
W
Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou.
Chai
J
J
Liu
Z
Z
D001483:Base Sequence; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000235:genetics*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D016385:TATA Box