THE STRUCTURES OF THE MOUSE AND HUMAN UROCORTIN GENES (UCN AND UCN)

The mouse and human urocortin genes (Ucn and UCN, respectively) have b een isolated, characterized, and found to have very similar structures . Each has two exons, and the entire coding region is located in the s econd exon, as is the case for the gene of the related peptide, cortic otropin-releasing factor. Several putative transcription factor-bindin g sites were identified in each of the urocortin promoters, including a TATA box, a cyclic AMP response element (CRE), GATA-binding sites, a nd a C/EBP-binding site as well as a Brn-2-binding site(s). Sequence a nalyses of the mouse and human genes also revealed the presence of a p reviously identified gene, Mpv17, in the 5' region upstream of the uro cortin gene. Functional studies following transient transfection of ur ocortin reporter plasmids in PC12 cells revealed that the urocortin pr omoter is controlled by both positive and negative elements; the CRE i s important for basal activity as well as responsiveness to forskolin stimulation. (C) 1998 Academic Press.