title: The structures of the mouse and human urocortin genes (Ucn and UCN).
abstract: The mouse and human urocortin genes (Ucn and UCN, respectively) have been isolated, characterized, and found to have very similar structures. Each has two exons, and the entire coding region is located in the second exon, as is the case for the gene of the related peptide, corticotropin-releasing factor. Several putative transcription factor-binding sites were identified in each of the urocortin promoters, including a TATA box, a cyclic AMP response element (CRE), GATA-binding sites, and a C/EBP-binding site as well as a Brn-2-binding site(s). Sequence analyses of the mouse and human genes also revealed the presence of a previously identified gene, Mpv17, in the 5' region upstream of the urocortin gene. Functional studies following transient transfection of urocortin reporter plasmids in PC12 cells revealed that the urocortin promoter is controlled by both positive and negative elements; the CRE is important for basal activity as well as responsiveness to forskolin stimulation.
authors.affiliation: The Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, The Salk Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Vale
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D005091:Exons; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D014162:Transfection / Q000235:genetics; D054832:Urocortins
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C065292:Mpv17 protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D054832:Urocortins; D005576:Colforsin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone