The structure of two fast-white myosin heavy chain promoters. A comparative study

Two complete myosin heavy chain genes were isolated from chicken genomic libraries, and shown to code for fast-white isoforms. Isoform specific probes were developed from the 5' nontranslated regions of the two genes and used to identify the developmental stages at which each of the genes are expressed. One of the genes is transcribed in the embryo and the other only in the adult. The 5' flanking regions of the two genes were sequenced along with the first three exons. The 5' untranslated sequences in both genes are not contiguous, one intron is present in the adult gene while the embryonic gene contains two. The promoters of both genes contain the conserved CAAT and TATA box elements observed in other eucaryotic genes. A computer assisted comparison was performed on the two genes at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. No homology could be detected in the 5' flanking regions of the genes except in and around the CAAT and TATA elements, however, structural sequences at the 5' ends were highly conserved as well as the position of the first three introns. The amino acids in and around the ATP binding site are completely conserved between the two isoforms.