CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MOUSE FRA-2 GENE

Transcription factor AP-1 is comprised of multiple protein complexes t hat include members of a family of genes related to the proto-oncogene c-fos. In this report, we have extended the analysis of one member of this family, fos-related antigen-2 (fra-2), by isolating and characte rising genomic and cDNA clones encoding:the mouse fra-2 homolog. The o verall gene structure (number and positions of introns) was similar to that of both the chicken fra-2 gene and other members of the fos fami ly, and the relative positions of putative enhancers in the 5' regulat ory region were well conserved between the mouse and chicken fra-2 gen es. High levels of fra-2 mRNA were detected in ovary, stomach, small a nd large intestine, brain, lung and heart. The mouse Fra-2 protein sho wed 94% and 87.5% conservation with human and chicken Fra-2, respectiv ely, and mouse Fra-2, like the chicken homolog, induced transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts. The characterisation of the mouse fra- 2 gene provides a basis for analysis of Fra-2 function in the whole an imal.