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Characterization of 5S rRNA genes from mouse

1994; Elsevier BV; Volume: 142; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0378-1119(94)90277-1

1879-0038

Charlotte Hallenberg, Jens SNM Nederby Nielsen, Sune Frederiksen,

Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research

In order to characterize the transcriptional regulation of the 5S rRNA genes we have isolated a bona fide gene and a pseudogene from mouse cells. These 5S rRNA genes contain a 12-bp sequence designated as the D-box, located in position -33 to -22 bp, and two Sp1-binding sites in the 5'-flanking region. The D-box is conserved in human and hamster 5S rRNA genes although in slightly different upstream positions. The bona fide mouse 5S rRNA gene was transcribed in a HeLa S-100 extract. The transcriptional activity of this gene was only 50% of that of the human gene, indicating the involvement of species-specific transcription factors and/or polymerases. The pseudogene which contains the D-box, but with position +25 to +35 bp deleted, showed no transcriptional activity. Deletion of the D-box in the 5'-flanking sequence abolished transcriptional activity, indicating that this conserved sequence is of importance for gene expression.