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Title: Gene encoding the human. beta. -hexosaminidase. beta. chain: Extensive homology of intron placement in the. alpha. - and. beta. -chain genes

Journal Article · · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA)
 [1]
  1. National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD (USA)

Lysosomal {beta}-hexosaminidase is composed of two structurally similar chains, {alpha} and {beta}, that are the products of different genes. Mutations in either gene causing {beta}-hexosaminidase deficiency result in the lysosomal storage disease GM2-gangliosidosis. To enable the investigation of the molecular lesions in this disorder and to study the evolutionary relationship between the {alpha} and {beta} chains, the {beta}-chain gene was isolated, and its organization was characterized. The {beta}-chain coding region is divided into 14 exons distributed over {approx}40 kilobases of DNA. Comparison with the {alpha}-chain gene revealed that 12 of the 13 introns interrupt the coding regions at homologous positions. This extensive sharing of intron placement demonstrates that the {alpha} and {beta} chains evolved by way of the duplication of a common ancestor.

OSTI ID:
6827771
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA), Vol. 85:6; ISSN 0027-8424
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English