Structure of the murine TRAF1 gene

We have cloned, characterized and sequenced the murine TNF Receptor Associa ted Factor 1 (TRAF1) gene. Restriction mapping and Southern blotting analys is revealed that the TRAF1 gene comprises 10 exons and 9 intervening intron s and spreads over 18 kb of genomic DNA. 5'-RACE analysis of the TRAF1 tran script using mRNA from activated spleen B cells revealed several transcript ion start sites between positions -42 to +4 relative to the 5'end of the mu rine TRAF1 cDNA sequence. We also isolated and sequenced the 5'-upstream pr omoter region, which lacks TATA-like and CAAT-like sites but contains GC-ri ch sequences. Taken together, these results suggest that the TRAF1 gene pro moter is a member of the class of Sp-1-dependent promoters. Near the transc ription initiation start site we identified three identical decanucleotide repeats (CCAGCCCAGC) which may play a role in the transcriptional regulatio n of TRAF1 expression. In addition we show that TRAF1 mRNA is not expressed in non-stimulated lymphocytes but can be induced upon activation with diff erent stimuli, including anti-CD3, anti-IgM, anti-CD40 antibodies, LPS, or a combination of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate and ionomycin. (C) 1999 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.