STRUCTURE AND EXPRESSION OF THE MOUSE OXYTOCIN RECEPTOR GENE

To determine the structure of the mouse oxytocin receptor (OTR) gene, we have screened a mouse genomic library and confirmed cDNA sequence w ith rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Southern blot using human OTR cD NA probes indicated that the mouse genome has a single copy of the gen e. The predicted amino acid sequence is 91% identical to human OTR. Th e gene contains 4 exons and 3 introns. Exons 1 and 2 contain the 5' un translated region, with exons 3 and 4 encoding the amino acids of the receptor. Intron 3 interrupts the coding region at the same location, after transmembrane domain 6, as in OTR genes of other species. The pr omoter region lacks an apparent TATA box but contains multiple putativ e interleukin-response elements and estrogen responsive elements. Expr ession of OTR gene in the uterus during pregnancy reached maximum at d ay 20 of gestation. The information obtained from the mouse OTR gene f acilitates further comparative and biochemical analysis for protein st ructure-function relationships and gene regulatory mechanisms. Copyrig ht (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.