Complete cDNA sequence,expression, alternative splicing,and genomic organization of the mouse Nfat5 gene

Members of the NFAT (nuclear factors of activated T cells) gene family have been investigated in numerous organisms, including man and mouse. All NFATs may be synthesized in several isoforms differing in amino or carboxy termini due to 5' and 3' alternative splicing of the corresponding mRNA. Recently, we mapped the murine Nfat5 gene to chromosome 8D. In the present paper we describe for the first time the complete sequence and primary structure of murine Nfat5, two new spliced isoforms, and the expression of murine Nfat5 in embryonic and adult mouse tissues.     

The human XPG gene: gene architecture, alternative splicing and single nucleotide polymorphisms

Defects in the XPG DNA repair endonuclease gene can result in the cancer-prone disorders xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) or the XP-Cockayne syndrome complex. While the XPG cDNA sequence was known, determination of the genomic sequence was required to understand its different functions. In cells from normal donors, we found that the genomic sequence of the human XPG gene spans 30 kb, contains 15 exons that range from 61 to 1074 bp and 14 introns that range from 250 to 5763 bp. Analysis of the splice donor and acceptor sites using an information theory-based approach revealed three splice sites with low information content, which are components of the minor (U12) spliceosome. We identified six alternatively spliced XPG mRNA isoforms in cells from normal donors and from XPG patients: partial deletion of exon 8, partial retention of intron 8, two with alternative exons (in introns 1 and 6) and two that retained complete introns (introns 3 and 9). The amount of alternatively spliced XPG mRNA isoforms varied in different tissues. Most alternative splice donor and acceptor sites had a relatively high information content, but one has the U12 spliceosome sequence. A single nucleotide polymorphism has allele frequencies of 0.74 for 3507G and 0.26 for 3507C in 91 donors. The human XPG gene contains multiple splice sites with low information content in association with multiple alternatively spliced isoforms of XPG mRNA.     

Complete nucleotide sequence and gene organization of plasmid NTP16.

We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the 8.3-kb multicopy plasmid NTP16 and produced a functional map of its gene organization. Sixty percent of the plasmid DNA comprises transposon-derived sequences; in the remaining 3320 bp, we have identified three protein coding regions. NTP16 has a ColE1-type replication system, a cis-acting stability locus and a mobilization system comprising an oriT site and one mobilization protein. The roles of the other two protein products of this plasmid are unknown, but they are possibly involved in the plasmid incompatibility system.     

Complete nucleotide sequence of the human corticotropin-beta-lipotropin precursor gene.

The nucleotide sequence of an 8658-base-pair human genomic DNA segment containing the entire corticotropin-beta-lipotropin precursor gene has been determined, and some sequence features of the gene and its flanking regions have been analysed. The gene is composed of 7665 base pairs including two introns of 3708 and 2886 base pairs. Comparison of the 5'-flanking sequences of the human, bovine and mouse corticotropin-beta-lipotropin precursor genes reveals the presence of a highly conserved region, which contains sequences of 14-15 base pairs homologous with sequences located upstream of the mRNA start site of other glucocorticoid-regulated genes.     

Complete nucleotide sequence of the Escherichia coli recB gene.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the Escherichia coli recB gene which encodes a subunit of the ATP-dependent DNase, Exonuclease V, has been determined. The proposed coding region for the RecB protein is 3543 nucleotides long and would encode a polypeptide of 1180 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 133,973. The start of the recB coding sequence overlaps the 3' end of the upstream ptr gene, and the recB termination codon overlaps the initiation codon of the downstream recD gene, suggesting that these genes may form an operon. No sequences which reasonably fit the consensus for an E. coli promoter could be identified upstream of the proposed recB translational start. The predicted RecB amino acid sequence contains regions of homology with ATPases, DNA binding proteins and DNA repair enzymes.     

The exon sequence TAGG can inhibit splicing.

The fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 gene contains a pair of alternative exons, K-SAM and BEK, which are spliced in a cell type specific manner. We have shown previously that a 10 nucleotide sequence within the K-SAM exon exerts a negative effect on K-SAM exon splicing independent of cell type. We demonstrate here that this sequence works autonomously, as it can repress splicing of a heterologous exon, the EIIIb alternative exon of the rat fibronectin gene. By introducing point mutations into the 10 nucleotide sequence, we have shown that the functional portion is limited to 4 nucleotides, TAGG, the dinucleotide AG of which is particularly important. This short sequence may participate in the control of splicing of exons carrying it, provided that they carry weak splice sites.