Structure and lens expression of the gene encoding chicken βA3/A1-crystallin

Joan B. McDermott, Charlotte A. Peterson, Joram Piatigorsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The βA1- and βA3-crystallins are major polypeptides in the lenses of vertebrates. We present evidence that a single βA3/A1 gene encodes these two proteins in the chicken. The βA3/A1 gene has been sequenced and its functional promoter identified in transfection experiments. The chicken βA3/A1 gene has the same structure as the human orthologue: six exons with standard splice sites and two alternative start codons from which the protein products are apparently translated. Northern analysis revealed an abundant 0.9-kb transcript in the lenses of 1-2-day-old chickens and no detectable transcripts in the rest of the eye, brain, heart, kidney, liver or skeletal muscle. The 5′ -flanking sequence of the chicken βA3/A1 gene is very similar to that of the human and mouse genes, suggesting conservation of important putative regulatory sequences in addition to the TATA box. A thymidine-rich element (bp -218 to -163) and a potential AP-1-binding site (bp -264 to -258) 3re present within the chicken 5′ -flanking region. A DNA fragment from -382 to +22 of the chicken βA3/A1 gene is sufficient to promote expression of the bacterial cat gene in transfected chicken primary lens epithelial cells, but not in transfected dermal fibroblasts. Moreover, the sequence from positions -382 to -143 of the chicken βA3/A1 promoter appears to be critical for proper transcription and expression in the transfected lens cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)193-200
Number of pages8
JournalGene
Volume117
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 1992

Keywords

  • Genomic sequence
  • human
  • murine
  • primer extension
  • promoter
  • transcriptional regulation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

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