Structural organization of the gene encoding apolipoprotein A-II in an amyloidotic strain of senescence-accelerated...

An inherited polymorphism occurring in the murine apolipoprotein A-II (ApoA-II) transcript seems to be related to the senile amyloidosis which occurs in accelerated-senescence-prone mice (SAM-P). Such being the case, we have determined the entire nucleotide (nt) sequence of the apoA-II gene. The length of the gene is about 1.3 kb and it is interrupted by three introns and the four exons aligned perfectly with the previously sequenced elements of an apoA-II cDNA. Two-nt substitutions [Pro-5(CCA)----Gln(CAG)] in the SAM-P genome were identified in the third exon, hence, we could use a restriction fragment length polymorphism to detect the apoA-II molecular type. Several possible regulatory signals were identified (i) in the 5'-flanking region, including CAAT and TATA boxes, the viral enhancer-like sequence, and the consensus sequences of estrogen response element, and (ii) in the 3'-flanking region, including sequences conserved in the immunoglobulin enhancer, glucocorticoid and estrogen response elements, and a B1 repetitive sequence.