CLONING OF THE MOUSE GENE FOR D-DOPACHROME TAUTOMERASE

D-Dopachrome tautomerase converts 2-carboxy-2,3-dihydroindole-5,6-quin one (D-dopachrome) into 5,6-dihydroxyindole. The amino acid sequence o f this protein is 27% identical with that of macrophage migration inhi bitory factor, which is known as a cytokine, pituitary hormone, and gl ucocorticoid-induced immunomodulator. In this study, we isolated and s equenced a 3490 bp-long genomic DNA of mouse D-dopachrome tautomerase that consists of three exons and two introns. By two procedures, 5' ra pid amplification of cDNA ends and cap site labeling, we determined th e transcription initiation site, which is located 46 bp upstream of th e translation initiation site. The possible polyadenylation sequence ( AATAAA) is located 180 bp downstream of the termination codon. Compute r-assisted analysis of the nucleotide sequence revealed a number of re gulatory motifs, including multiple sites for Spl, C/EBP, NF-Y, and US F. Although the precise pathophysiological functions of D-dopachrome t automerase remain to be elucidated, the present results will contribut e not only to elucidation of the mechanism of gene expression, but als o to understanding of the molecular function of this protein. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.