Structure and expression of the rat transthyretin (prealbumin) gene

Abstract

The rat transthyretin gene, 7.3 kilobase pairs (kb) long, with 14.5 kb of 5' flanking and 12.2 kb of 3' flanking region was cloned and characterized. The gene contained four exons. A 'TATA box' sequence (5'-TATATAA-3') and a 'CAAT box' sequence (5'-GTCAAT-3') were located 23 and 95 nucleotides upstream, respectively, from the major transcription start site. Nucleotides -51 to -189 were highly conserved (93% homology between rats and humans, 97% homology between rats and mice). Tandem repeats of sequences of 5'-AC-3' and 5'-ACACATGC-3' in the 5' flanking region, of 5'-GAAA-3' in the first intron, and of 5'-GT-3' in the third intron of the gene were observed. Using specific cDNA probes, tissue..