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Structural analysis of the chicken max gene
K G Sollenberger1, T L Kao, E J Taparowsky
1Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1392.
Oncogene
|February 1, 1994
Summary
Researchers sequenced the avian max gene, revealing its structure and high conservation with human Max. This finding aids in understanding the Myc oncoprotein
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Max is a nuclear phosphoprotein that dimerizes with Myc proteins.
- Myc oncoprotein is a sequence-specific DNA binding protein and gene transcription regulator.
- Understanding Max's role is crucial for studying Myc's function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the nucleotide sequence of the avian max gene.
- To analyze the structure and conservation of the chicken Max protein.
- To investigate the regulatory elements of the chicken max gene.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of avian max gene using lambda EMBL3 genomic library.
- DNA sequencing and sequence analysis.
- Gene expression analysis via transfection of mouse fibroblasts.
Main Results:
- The complete chicken max transcription unit is 5.7 kbp.
- Chicken max mRNA is 1.5 kb and expressed after transfection.
- Chicken and human Max coding sequences show 85% nucleotide and 96% amino acid identity.
- Key functional regions (bHLH/LZ, CKII sites, NLS) are 100% conserved across vertebrates.
- The 5' flanking region lacks TATA/CAAT but contains GC-rich elements.
Conclusions:
- The chicken max gene structure is conserved across vertebrates.
- The identified sequence and conserved domains provide insights into Max and Myc functions.
- GC-rich elements in the 5' flanking region suggest constitutive gene expression.