Rapid changes in the exon/intron structure of a mammalian thrombin inhibitor gene.
The genomic organization of the heparin cofactor II (HCII) gene from rat and mouse was investigated and compared with their human counterpart. The genes share a common core structure consisting of five exons interrupted by four introns, but the mouse and rat gene reveal individual additional features. A unique differentially spliced exon is present in the 5'-untranslated region of the rat gene, which most probably has arisen de novo by point mutations in intronic sequences of the ancestor gene. In the mouse HCII gene, a novel intron/exon boundary has been created due to the presence of an additional DNA segment, which simultaneously provides a 3'-splice site and a polypyrimidine stretch leading to an alternatively used exon of increased size. Our data suggest that, in contrast to most other mammalian genes, the exon/intron pattern of the gene coding for HCII is in dynamic evolution.
Kamp
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PB
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, University of Bielefeld, D-33501, Bielefeld, Germany.
Ragg
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D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005091:Exons; D015844:Heparin Cofactor II / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000235:genetics; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*
D000991:Antithrombins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D015844:Heparin Cofactor II