GENE STRUCTURE AND SEQUENCE-ANALYSIS OF MOUSE CENTROMERE PROTEIN-A AND PROTEIN-C

We have determined the genomic structure and organization of the mouse Cenpa and Cenpc genes. CENPA is a member of the histone H3-like prote ins and is thought to replace histone H3 in centromeric nucleosomes. C ENPC is a DNA-binding protein that is located at the inner kinetochore plate of active mammalian centromeres. The Cenpa cDNA encodes a 134-a mino-acid product that is 70% identical and 84% similar to its human h omolog. The mouse Cenpa gene is approximately 8 kb in length and conta ins five exons. Sequence analysis of the 5' DNA sequence of the gene r evealed two consensus CAAT boxes, a putative TFIID-binding site, an Sp 1-binding domain, and two cell cycle regulatory motifs, but no consens us TATA element. The mouse Cenpc gene spans 60 kb and contains 19 exon s that range in size from 44 to 602 bp. Sequence analysis of the C+G-r ich promoter region showed the presence of known promoter elements, in cluding a CpG island, a CAAT box, and several GC boxes, but the absenc e of a consensus TATA element. (C) 1998 Academic Press.