Structure and deduced amino acid sequence of the human fibromodulin gene

We have determined the structure and partially sequenced the human fibromodulin gene. The translated region of the gene is composed of two exons. An exon in the 5'-non translated region is separated from the next exon by a 1 kb intron. This exon, which encodes the major part of the translated region, is 983 bp and is followed by an approx. 5 kbp intron. The last 50 nucleotides of the translated region as well as the 3'-nontranslated region are located on the last exon. This exon arrangement is different from the arrangement reported for the gene of the structurally related biglycan. The translated region of the gene was sequenced and compared with bovine fibromodulin. The amino acid sequences of human and bovine fibromodulin show an overall homology of 90%.