Sequence analyses of the olfactory receptor gene cluster mOR37 on mouse chromosome 4

The olfactory receptor multigene family is organized in clusters spread thr oughout the genome. In the present study, we have sequenced two subregions of the mOR37 gene cluster on mouse chromosome 4. The resulting 100 kb of se quence revealed seven odorant receptor coding regions and one gene fragment . Sequence analyses reveal that the mOR37 gene cluster may represent a rath er ancient cluster. The mOR37 genes exhibit a complex intron/exon structure , and some appear to be differentially spliced. All genes in the cluster sh are conserved sequence motifs 5' of their putative initial exons, which rep resent potential binding sites for transcription factors. The clustered org anization and conserved sequence motifs suggest common expression control m echanisms for these genes. (C) 2000 Academic Press.