HUMAN CYSTEINE DIOXYGENASE TYPE-I (CDO-I EC-1.13.11.20) - 5'-FLANKINGREGION AND INTRON-EXON STRUCTURE OF THE GENE

Aim-The elucidation of the structure of the 5' flanking region and the exonic organisation of the human cysteine dioxygenase type I gene. Me thods-Material for sequence studies was generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods using human genomic DNA, a cosmid clone contain ing the entire gene, and a commercial gene walking kit. Results and Co nclusions-The gene was found to be - 12 kb in length and made up of fi ve exons (418, 78, 155, 170, and 731 base pairs, respectively). The im mediate 5' flanking region did not contain the canonical TATAA box. On e DNA source (Clontech promoter finder kit) contained a liver specific nuclear factor response element approximately 550 base pairs from the transcription start site, whereas a second source did not. This and o ther cis acting factors in the 5' flanking region were identified by c omputer analysis. The physiological significance of such elements requ ires detailed experimental evaluation.