Conserved structure and promoter sequence similarity in the mouse and human genes encoding the zinc finger factor BERF-1/BFCOL1/ZBP-89

We have characterized the genomic structure of the mouse Zfp148 gene encodi ng Beta-Enolase Repressor Factor-1 (BERF-1), a Kruppel-like zinc finger pro tein involved in the transcriptional regulation of several genes, which is also termed ZBP-89, BFCOL1. The cloned Zfp148 gene spans 110 kb of genomic DNA encompassing the 5'-end region, 9 exons, 8 introns, and the 3'-untransl ated region. The promoter region displays the typical features of a houseke eping gene: a high G+C content and the absence of canonical TATA and CAAT b oxes consistent with the multiple transcription initiation sites determined by primary extension analysis. Computer-assisted search in the human genom e database allowed us to determine that the same genomic structure with ide ntical intron-exon organization is conserved in the human homologue ZNF 148 . Functional analysis of the 5'-flanking sequence of the mouse gene indicat ed that the region from nucleotide -205 to +144, relative to the major tran scription start site, contains cis-regulatory elements that promote basal e xpression. Such sequences and the overall promoter architecture are highly conserved in the human gene. Furthermore, we show that the complex transcri ption pattern of the Zfp148 gene might be due to a combination of alternati ve splicing and differential polyadenylation sites utilization. (C) 2001 Ac ademic Press.