Multiple non-coding exons and alternative splicing in the mouse Mas protooncogene

作者：Alenina Natalia; Boehme Ilka; Bader Michael; Walther Thomas^*

来源：Gene, 2015, 568(2): 155-164.

DOI：10.1016/j.gene.2015.05.043

• Mas gene structure
• G protein-coupled receptor
• Tissue-specific promoter

The Mm protooncogene encodes a G protein-coupled receptor with the common seven transmembrane domains, expressed mainly in the testis and brain. We provided evidence that Mas is a functional angiotensin-(1-7) receptor and can interact with the angiotensin II type1 (AT1) receptor. The gene is transcriptionally regulated during development in the brain and testis, but its structure was unresolved. In this study we used 5'- and 3'-RACE, RTPCR, and RNase-protection assays to elucidate the complete Mm gene structure and organization.
We identified 12 exons in the mouse Mm gene with 11 in the 5' untranslated mRNA, which can be alternatively spliced. We also showed that Mm transcription can start from 4 tissue-specific promoters, whereby testis-specific Mm mRNA is transcribed from two upstream promoters, and the expression of Mm in the brain starts from two downstream promoters. Alternative splicing and multiple promoter usage result in at least 12 Mm transcripts in which different 5' untranslated regions are fused to a common coding sequence. Moreover, termination of Mm mRNA is regulated by two different polyadenylation signals. The gene spans approximately 27 kb, and the longest detected mRNA contains 2451 bp.
Thus, our results characterize the Mm protooncogene as the gene with the most complex gene structure of all described members of the gene family coding for G protein-coupled receptors.

• 出版日期2015-9-1