Isolation and characterization of the mouse ornithine decarboxylase gene

Mouse ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) genomic clones were isolated from a bacteriophage lambda genomic library representing mouse myeloma 653-1 cells which over-produce ODC due to amplification of an active ODC gene. Sequence analysis of the amplified ODC gene revealed that ODC mRNA is encoded by 12 exons, 10 of which (exons 3 to 12) code for the ODC protein. Exon 12 also corresponds to the 3' noncoding region of the two species of ODC mRNA which are formed by alternative utilization of two polyadenylation signals separated from each other by 422 nucleotides. The transcription initiation site was mapped by S1 nuclease protection and by primer extension analysis. The 5' flanking region is extremely rich in G + C and contains typical promoter motifs such as the TATA box and SP1 transcription factor binding sites. Joining the 5' flanking region to the Escherichia coli chloramphenicol acetyltransferase structural gene and its introduction into mouse cells resulted in the expression of a high level of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity. Comparing the sequence of the ODC gene to our previously published sequence of ODC cDNA revealed a disagreement between the sequences located 5' to the AvaI site and demonstrated that this region of our previously reported cDNA represents a cloning artifact. The portion of the correct 5' noncoding region encoded by exon 1 is extremely rich in G + C and includes potential secondary structures which may be involved in translational regulation of ODC mRNA.