Nucleotide sequence of the coding region of the mouse N-myc gene

A genomic clone for the mouse N-myc gene was isolated and the total nucleotide sequence (4807 bp) of the two coding exons and an intron located between them was determined. The amino acid sequence of the N-myc protein was deduced from the DNA sequence. This protein is composed of 462 amino acids, slightly larger than human and mouse c-myc proteins, and is rich in proline like the c-myc protein. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the mouse N-myc and c-myc proteins showed that conserved sequences are located in eight regions: four regions are in the N-terminal half of the N-myc protein and are separated from each other by regions poorly homologous to those of the c-myc protein, and the four others are located in the C-terminal half, throughout which certain homology exists. A remarkable sequence containing 13 successive acidic amino acids is present in one of the conserved regions located in the middle of the N-myc protein.