Structure and chromosomal localization of the rat salivary Psp and Smgb genes

SMGB and PSP are among the most abundant products of the immature acinar cells in developing rat parotid and submandibular glands and are also products of the sublingual gland serous demilunes. Previous analysis of Smgb and Psp cDNA clones demonstrated a high degree of sequence similarity between the signal peptide-encoding and 3' untranslated regions of these transcripts, although the secreted proteins themselves are more divergent. The current study reports the upstream sequences, genomic organization and localization of the Psp and Smgb genes. Both structural genes contain nine exons and are present at 3q41-3q42, where they are arranged in tandem and separated by 21kb. In addition to the previously observed sequence similarity, Psp and Smgb are highly homologous throughout exon 1 and at 365 of 600bp immediately upstream of the transcription start site. These findings indicate that the Psp and Smgb genes arose by tandem duplication and divergence. The similar neonatal submandibular and parotid gland expression patterns observed for these genes are likely to be due to closely conserved or shared enhancer(s).