Genomic organization and chromosomal localization of the murine epididymal retinoic acid-binding protein (mE-RABP) gene

• Published in: Molecular reproduction and development Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 387 - 395
• Main Authors: Lareyre, J.J, Mattei, M.G, Kasper, S, Ong, D.E, Matusik, R.J, Orgebin-Crist, M.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.08.1998; Wiley-Liss; Wiley
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; amino acid sequences; androgen; Animals; Base Sequence; binding proteins; Biological and medical sciences; Chromosome Mapping; chromosomes; cloning; Cloning, Molecular; DNA, Complementary; epididymal secretory protein; epididymis; ESP I; exons; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genbank/u68381; Gene Dosage; Genes. Genome; Life Sciences; lipocalin; Male; mE-RABP; MEP 10; Mice; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; mouse; nucleotide sequences; promoter regions; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Receptors, Retinoic Acid - genetics; Reproductive Biology; retinoic acid; retinoic acid-binding protein; Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; sequence homology; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; structural genes; Nucleotide sequence; Androgen; Secretion; Rodentia; Chromosome; Male genital duct; Male genital system; Binding protein; Vertebrata; Epididymis; Mammalia; Mouse; Molecular cloning; Sex steroid hormone; Genome; Localization; Southern blotting; Retinoic acid; Hormonal receptor; LIPOCALINE
• ISSN: 1040-452X; 1098-2795
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2795(199808)50:4<387::AID-MRD2>3.0.CO;2-E

The murine epididymal retinoic acid‐binding protein (mE‐RABP) is specifically synthesized in the mouse mid/distal caput epididymidis and secreted in the lumen. In this report, we have demonstrated by Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA that mE‐RABP is encoded by a single‐copy gene. A mouse 129/SvJ genomic bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library was screened using a cDNA encoding the minor form of mE‐RABP. One positive BAC clone was characterized and sequenced to determine the nucleotide sequence of the entire mE‐RABP gene. The molecular cloning of the mE‐RABP gene completes the characterization of the 20.5‐kDa–predicted preprotein leading to the minor and major forms of mE‐RABP. Comparison of the DNA sequence of the promoter and coding regions with that of the rat epididymal secretory protein I (ESP I) gene showed that the mE‐RABP gene is the orthologue of the ESP I gene that encodes a rat epididymal retinoic acid‐binding protein. Several regulatory elements, including a putative androgen receptor binding site, “CACCC‐boxes,” NF‐1, Oct‐1, and SP‐1 recognition sites, are conserved in the proximal promoter. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the mE‐RABP gene revealed the presence of seven exons and showed that the genomic organization is highly related to other genes encoding lipocalins. The mE‐RABP gene was mapped by fluorescent in situ hybridization to the [A3‐B] region of the murine chromosome 2. Our data, combined with that of others, suggest that the proximal segment of the mouse chromosome 2 may be a rich region for genes encoding lipocalins with a genomic organization highly related to the mE‐RABP gene. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 50:387–395, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.