Genomic structure and chromosomal localization of the mouse Hsf2 gene and promoter sequences

The mouse heat shock factor 2 (HSF2) cDNA was previously cloned by homology to HSF1, the heat shock factor involved in the cellular response to stress [Sarge, K.D., Zimarino, V., Helm, K., Wu, C., Morimoto, R.I., Cloning and characterization of two mouse heat shock factors with distinct inducible an d constitutive DMA-binding ability. Genes Dev. 5 (1991) 1902-1911]. HSF2 is active in restricted cell types during pre- and post-implantation stages o f development, and only in male germ cells of adult mice. However, the func tion of this factor remains elusive. We report here the cloning of the mous e Hsf2 gene and its genomic structure. We show that the gene is composed of 13 exons of variable sizes spanning at least 43 kb in the genome. The tran scription start site has been determined, and upstream sequences with promo ter activity have been identified by their ability to direct the expression of a luciferase reporter gene in transfected cells. A preliminary analysis of the proximal promoter sequence determined that the TATA box is absent, but that a CC-rich region with several potential binding sites for transcri ption factors is present. The gene has been mapped to mouse chromosome 10 b y in-situ hybridization on metaphase chromosomes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.