title: Organization of the MASP2 locus and its expression profile in mouse and rat.
abstract: The mouse, rat, and human MASP2 loci are situated on syntenic chromosome regions and are highly conserved. They comprise the genes for MASP-2/ MAp19, TAR DNA binding protein of 43 kDa, FRAP kinase, CDT6, Polymyositis-Scleroderma 100-kDa autoantigen, spermidine synthase, and TERE which were analyzed by annotation of available gene transcript data and cross-species comparison of available genomic sequences. The human and rat genes for spermidine synthase have an additional intron compared to the mouse gene. The mouse and rat genes for Polymyositis-Scleroderma 100-kDa autoantigen have an additional exon compared to the human gene. We find support for the hypothesis that the MAp19-specific exon within the MASP2 gene may have originated in a transposable element. Blocks of highly conserved intronic sequences were found in the MASP2 gene and the TARDBP gene. The expression of all genes within the MASP2 locus was analyzed in mouse and rat. The restricted expression of MASP-2 and MAp19 mRNA in liver contrasts with the ubiquitous expression of all neighboring genes studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 9HN, United Kingdom. cms13@le.ac.uk
authors.forename: Cordula M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Stover
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Windbichler
authors.forename: Simon G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Wilhelm J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Schwaeble
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005091:Exons; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D050606:Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D026801:Synteny
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; C491340:MASP-2 protein, mouse; D050606:Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases; C491338:Masp2 protein, rat; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases