Molecular characterization of the murine argininosuccinate synthetase locus

The cDNA and gene encoding murine argininosuccinate synthetase were cloned and characterized. The cDNA sequence predicts a peptide of 412 amino acids (aa) including the initiator methionine. There is 98% identity with the aa sequence of the human enzyme. The 3'-untranslated region of the cDNA includes two regions of sequence which are conserved between mouse, rat, human and cow. The murine gene contains 16 exons with the start codon occurring in exon 3. Although alternative splicing occurs in primates to include or exclude exon 2, exon 2 sequences were included in the murine mRNA in all tissues and developmental stages examined. The inclusion of exon 2 in murine mRNA, compared to the usual exclusion in human mRNA, may be explained by differences in the donor splice sequences for exon 2.