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Biosynthesis of rat preprosomatostatin
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Researchers sequenced the rat somatostatin gene, identifying regulatory elements like a promoter and a Z-DNA forming region. This provides insights into how somatostatin gene expression is controlled.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Neuroendocrinology
Background:
- Biologically active somatostatins (somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-28) are derived from prosomatostatin, which originates from preprosomatostatin.
- Previous work established the cDNA sequence for rat preprosomatostatin, revealing SS-14 and SS-28 at the precursor's C-terminus and a leader sequence at the N-terminus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulatory factors controlling rat somatostatin gene expression.
- To determine the structure and sequence of the rat somatostatin gene.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and sequencing of the rat somatostatin gene from recombinant bacteriophage libraries.
- Analysis of nucleotide sequences to identify regulatory elements and structural features.
- Edman degradations of cell-free translation products in the presence of microsomal membranes to study protein processing.
Main Results:
- The rat somatostatin gene spans 1.2 kilobases and contains a single 630-base intron within the prosomatostatin coding sequence.
- A variant Goldberg-Hogness promoter (TTTAAA) was identified 31 bases upstream of the transcriptional start site.
- A 42-base alternating GT repetitive sequence with Z-DNA forming potential was found in the 5' region, potentially influencing gene expression.
Conclusions:
- The identified promoter and Z-DNA forming sequence are key regulatory elements of the rat somatostatin gene.
- Understanding these elements is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms governing somatostatin gene expression.
- This study provides a foundation for further research into somatostatin gene regulation in eukaryotes.