The expression of the evolutionarily conserved GATA/GACA repeats in mouse tissues

Simple repeated GATA and GACA sequences were initially identified in sex-specific snake satellite DNA. The organization of these sequences in the mouse genome is described in Schäfer et al. 1986. The expression of these simple repeats was studied here in several mouse tissues using a variety of different probes: oligonucleotides and "single-stranded" as well as nick-translated DNA. The transcription of discrete RNA species was found to be differentially regulated in several organs but sex differences in transcription were not observed. GATA- and GACA-containing cDNA clones were isolated and sequenced and a genomic clone was characterized with respect to the transcription of GATA flanking sequences. Functional aspects of GATCA simple DNA repeats are discussed in terms of internally repetitive, hydrophobic translation products.