Nucleotide sequence of the mouse VEGF 3 ' UTR and quantitative analysis ofsites of polyadenylation

Sequencing of rat and human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) cDNA clones has previously identified a 3' untranslated region of approximately 1.9 kb, although the apparent site of polyadenylation differed in the two s pecies, despite a high degree of sequence conservation in the region. Neith er site is preceded by a canonical AAUAAA polyadenylation signal, a situati on frequently found in genes that are subject to alternative polyadenylatio n. We have sequenced 2.25 kb of the 3' region of the mouse VEGF gene and ma pped the usage of potential polyadenylation sites in fibroblasts cultured u nder both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. We find that two sites for polya denylation are present in the mouse VEGF gene but the majority of transcrip ts contain the longer form of the 3'UTR and that their usage is not effecte d by environmental oxygen tension. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.