title: Structure and sequence of human M/NEI (monocyte/neutrophil elastase inhibitor), an Ov-serpin family gene.
abstract: Human monocyte/neutrophil Elastase Inhibitor (M/NEI) is a proteinase inhibitor that regulates the activity of the neutrophil proteases: elastase, cathepsin G and proteinase-3. Evidence indicates that M/NEI belongs to the Ov-serpin family (ovalbumin-related serpins), functionally diverse proteins with shared structural features. Recombinant lambda phage clones were isolated that encompass the full-length M/NEI gene plus upstream and downstream regions. The gene, 9.5kb long, consists of 7 exons and 6 introns. The 5' transcription start site identified by primer extension corresponds to a 60bp exon 1; the translation start site is in exon 2. Southern blots established a gene copy number of one. The 3' untranslated region (UTR) contains three AATAAA/AATTAA sites; these were shown to function as alternative polyadenylation signals. A 14-nucleotide upstream motif including the atypical TATA box TATAAGAG otherwise occurs only twice in GenBank, in the genes encoding neutrophil elastase and proteinase-3, target proteases inhibited by M/NEI. Comparison of M/NEI and previously characterized related genes strongly suggests that all Ov-serpins, despite a difference in chromosomal localization and exon number, nonetheless, share a common basic gene structure.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Blood Research, 800 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Remold-O'Donnell
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015843:Serpins / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D015843:Serpins; C075177:SERPINB1 protein, human; D010047:Ovalbumin