title: Genomic structure and chromosomal mapping of the human site-1 protease (S1P) gene.
abstract: Site-1 protease (S1P) is a subtilisin-related enzyme that cleaves sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) in the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum, thereby initiating the release of transcriptionally active NH2-terminal fragments of SREBPs from membranes. In the experiments reported here, we localized the human S1P gene to chromosome 16q24 by fluorescent in situ hybridization and radiation-hybrid mapping, and determined its genomic structure. This gene is more than 60 kb long and contains 23 exons and 22 introns. Its transcription-initiation site within exon 1 is separate from the initiation codon in exon 2. Analysis of the exon/intron structure revealed that the S1P gene consists of a mosaic of functional units: exon 1 encodes the 5' non-translated region; exon 2 encodes the NH2-terminal signal sequence; and exons 2 and 3 encode the pro-peptide sequence that is released when S1P is self-activated by intramolecular cleavage. Exons 5-10 encode the subtilisin-homology domain that is critical for catalytic activity, and exon 23 encodes the transmembrane region. Analysis of the putative promoter region revealed a highly G/C-rich region containing a binding site for ADD1/SREBP-1, as well as Sp1 and AP2 sites. Therefore, expression of the S1P gene may be under the control of SREBP-1, a key regulator of the expression of genes essential for intracellular lipid metabolism. Our data establish a basis for investigations to detect molecular variants in this gene that may alter levels of plasma lipoproteins and/or otherwise disrupt intracellular lipid metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Nippon Medical School, Kawasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Inazawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emi
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D005091:Exons; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007438:Introns; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020161:Physical Chromosome Mapping; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C115575:membrane-bound transcription factor peptidase, site 1