ID sequences in the genes of three brain-specific proteins

We characterized the brain-specific gene coding for rat S-100 protein beta-subunit and found three "brain identifier (ID)" elements, which have been proposed to regulate the gene expression in rat brain. The nucleotide sequences of these elements corresponded well with that of the consensus ID element and were clearly different from those of "ID-like" elements in rat beta B1-crystallin gene, etc. ID elements were also observed in the flanking regions of rat neuron-specific enolase and cholecystokinin genes, which were expressed in the neuronal cells. Direct repeats were observed in the regions flanking ID elements.