title: Structure, organization, and chromosomal mapping of the gene encoding macrosialin, a macrophage-restricted protein.
abstract: Murine macrosialin and its human homologue CD68 are heavily glycosylated transmembrane proteins expressed specifically in macrophages and macrophage-related cells. Macrosialin is predominantly a late endosomal protein but is also found on the cell surface where it binds oxidized LDL, an important factor in atherogenesis. We have cloned and sequenced the murine macrosialin gene (Cd68) and localized it by linkage analysis to chromosome 11. The gene is 1908 nucleotides long from the start site of transcription to the end of the 3'UTR. It has six exons, which range in size from 79 to 434 nucleotides. The promoter lacks a classical TATA box but contains other protein binding sites consistent with preferential monocyte/macrophage gene expression. Although the function of macrosialin is unknown, it might play a role in lipoprotein regulation given its binding of oxidized LDL in vitro and its colocalization to a region on chromosome 11 involved in the control of HDL levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles 90024, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Y R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lusis
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: de Beer
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: de Villiers
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: van der Westhuyzen
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Beer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015342:DNA Probes; D005091:Exons; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D015698:Genomic Library; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009000:Monocytes; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D015342:DNA Probes; D012313:RNA; C081026:CD68 protein, mouse; D000097382:CD68 Molecule