Genomic organization and expression of a human gene for Myc-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ).
We have cloned and characterized the genomic structure of the human gene for Myc-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ), which is located on chromosome 16p11.2. This gene is transcribed as an mRNA of 2.7 kilobases (kb) that encodes a 60-kDa MAZ protein. A 40-kb cosmid clone was isolated that includes the promoter, five exons, four introns, and one 3'-untranslated region. All exon-intron junction sequences conform to the GT/AG rule. The promoter region has features typical of a housekeeping gene: a high G + C content (88. 4%); a high frequency of CpG dinucleotides, in particular within the region 0.5 kb upstream of the site of initiation of translation; and the absence of canonical TATA and CAAT boxes. An S1 nuclease protection assay demonstrated the presence of multiple sites for initiation of transcription around a site 174 nucleotides (nt) upstream of the ATG codon and such expression was reflected by the promoter activity of a MAZ promoter/CAT (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) reporter gene. Cis-acting positive and negative elements controlling basal transcription of the human MAZ gene were found from nucleotides (nt) -383 to -248 and nt -2500 to -948. Moreover, positive and negative autoregulatory elements were also identified in the regions from nt -248 to -189 and from nt -383 to -248 after co-transfection of HeLa cells with plasmids that carried the MAZ promoter/CAT construct and the MAZ-expression vector. Our results indicate that the 5'-end flanking sequences are responsible for the promoter activities of the MAZ gene.
Tsukuba Life Science Center, RIKEN, 3-1-1 Koyadai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan.
J
J
Song
H
H
Murakami
H
H
Tsutsui
X
X
Tang
M
M
Matsumura
K
K
Itakura
I
I
Kanazawa
K
K
Sun
K K
KK
Yokoyama
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D002885:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection / Q000235:genetics; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C076035:c-MYC-associated zinc finger protein; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases