Structure and chromosome location of Smtn, the mouse smoothelin gene

Smoothelins are cytoskeleton-associated proteins that are found in contract ile smooth muscle. Two isoforms have been identified: smoothelin-A, express ed in visceral tissues and smoothelin-B, found in vascular tissues. The mou se smoothelin gene (Smtn) was isolated and characterized. It was assigned t o chromosome 11 band A2-A3 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The gene consists of 20 exons and spans 23 kb. Its structure is conserved between mo use and human. The proximal promoter of both smoothelin-A and smoothelin-B contains several transcription factor-binding sites but lacks a consensus T ATA box. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG. Basel.