Transcription of the rat and mouse proenkephalin genes is initiated at distinct sites in spermatogenic and somatic cells.

摘要: Abstract During spermatogenesis, several genes are expressed in a germ cell-specific manner. Previous studies have demonstrated that rat and mouse spermatogenic cells produce 1,700-nucleotide proenkephalin RNA, while somatic express the gene contain 1,450-nucleotide transcript. Using cDNA cloning, RNA protection, primer extension analyses, we showed transcription of spermatogenic-cell RNAs is initiated downstream from promoter first intron (intron As). In both species, cell cap site region consists multiple start sites distributed over length approximately 30 base pairs. Within As, upstream GC rich lacks TATA sequences. A consensus binding for factor SP1 was identified As region. These features characteristic previously described promoters lack Homologies were also between cytochrome c promoters, including absence box, region, common This motif thus may be shared with other male cells.