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Title: Organization of the murine and human interleukin-7 receptor genes: Two mRNAs: Two mRNAs generated by differential splicing and presence of a type I-interferon-inducible promoter

Journal Article · · Molecular and Cellular Biology; (United States)

To better understand the regulation of interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) expression, the authors have pursued a detailed analysis of the structure of the murine and human IL-7R genes. The genes consist of eight exons, the sizes of which are conserved in mouse and human cells, spread out over 24 kbp (murine) and 19 kbp (human). A differential splicing event results in an mRNA encoding a secreted form of the human IL-7R gene. Primer extension and S1 nuclease analysis show a single transcriptional start site for the murine IL-7R gene. The 5{prime}-flanking region of the murine IL-7R gene contains TATA- and CAAT-like sequences. The promoter region also contains a functional interferon regulatory element, to which the interferon-induced nuclear factors IRF-1 and IRF-2 are capable of binding and which is able to confer interferon-inducible expression on a heterologous gene. There are also potential binding sites for the transcription factors Ap-1 and Ap-2 as well as multiple glucocorticoid response elements. Comparison of the murine and human IL-7R exon/intron boundaries with those of other hematopoietin receptor superfamily members whose exon/intron boundaries are also known reveals a conserved evolutionary structure.

OSTI ID:
5090026
Journal Information:
Molecular and Cellular Biology; (United States), Vol. 11:6; ISSN 0270-7306
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English