Sequence analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the gene encoding human HOXA-7

We have isolated and characterized the immediate 5'-flanking region (886 bp) of the gene encoding human HOXA-7. When the total sequence was compared with those of mice, 93% of the 3' 518 bp (nt 370-886) sequences were identical, in which the 245 bases just preceding the AUG initiator codon (nt 614) was as highly conserved as in the coding region (nt 614-886). Sequences further upstream (nt 1-370) by comparison were highly diverged. In the 245 bp region, 8 stop and 3 initiation (including the initiator) codons were located, and a 50-aa long presumptive polypeptide was encoded. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed three Sp1 and one AP2 binding sites, as well as one CAAT box. However, there was no consensus sequence for a TATA box in the 5' flanking region. One RARE repeat, one krox20 and three Hox-PBC binding sites were detected. Since many of the factor recognition sites were located in the immediate 5' flanking sequences of a highly-conserved region, it might be speculated that a regulatory mechanism for Hox gene expression is conserved throughout the evolution and one possible mechanism could be at the post-translational level.