K. Kawakubo et Ce. Samuel, Human RNA-specific adenosine deaminase (ADAR1) gene specifies transcripts that initiate from a constitutively active alternative promoter, GENE, 258(1-2), 2000, pp. 165-172
The human ADAR1 gene specifies two size forms of RNA-specific adenosine dea
minase, an interferon (IFN) inducible similar to 150 kDa protein and a cons
titutively expressed N-terminally truncated similar to 110 kDa protein, enc
oded by transcripts with alternative exon 1 structures that initiate from d
ifferent promoters. We have now identified a new class of ADAR1 transcripts
, with alternative 5'-structures and a deduced coding capacity for the simi
lar to 110 kDa protein. Nuclease protection and 5'-rapid amplification of c
DNA ends (5'-RACE) revealed five major ADAR1 transcriptional start sites th
at mapped within the previously identified and unusually large (similar to1
.6 kb) exon 2. These transcripts were observed with RNA from human amnion U
cells and placenta tissue. Their abundance was not affected by IFN-a treat
ment of U cells in culture. Transfection analysis identified a functional p
romoter within human genomic DNA that mapped to the proximal exon 2 region
of the ADAR1 gene. Promoter activity was not affected by IFN. These results
suggest that transcripts encoding the constitutively expressed similar to
110 kDa form of the ADAR1 editing enzyme are initiated from multiple promot
ers, including one within exon 2, that collectively contribute to the high
basal level of deaminase activity observed in nuclei of mammalian cells. (C
) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.