Nd1, a novel murine Kelch family protein, may play the role of a housekeeping gene.
The murine Nd1 gene encodes a novel Kelch family protein and expresses two forms of mRNA, long (Nd1-L) and short (Nd1-S), in various tissues. We characterized the genomic organization of the Nd1 gene, and found that Nd1-L and Nd1-S consist of 16 and nine exons respectively, and that exons I-VIII are shared between them. Three transcription initiation sites were identified in the 5'-flanking region and the most 3' side (+1) is likely to be a major one. Promoter analysis revealed that the region between positions -247 and -86 was sufficient for expression, and that two Sp1-binding sites and one NF-kappaB-binding site in the region were critical for promoter activity. Furthermore, the promoter region lacks a TATA and a CAAT box and has a highly GC-rich region with two important Sp1-binding sites. These characteristics of the Nd1 gene promoter are similar to the properties of housekeeping genes.
Kang
M
M
Department of Developmental Genetics (H2), Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, 260-8670, Chiba, Japan.
Matsudo
Y
Y
Sasagawa
K
K
Tokuhisa
T
T
Hatano
M
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C432129:Nd1 protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA; D008156:Luciferases