Genomic structure and chromosomal mapping of the mouse VE-cadherin gene (Cdh5)

Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) is located strictly at endothelial junctions and appears to be a major adhesive component of cell to cell contacts. Genomic clones spanning 36 kb and encompassing the mouse VE-cadherin gene have been isolated and characterized. The gene is composed of 12 exons that exhibit conventional vertebrate splicing. The first exon is entirely untranslated, and both exons 2 and 12 contain untranslated regions. A single major transcriptional start site was identified and located 75 bases upstream of the translation initiation codon in the cDNA sequence. The proximal 5'-flanking domain lacks consensus TATA and CAAT boxes at the usual positions. Exon-intron boundaries are similar to those of other cadherin genes, with some exceptions that may have a functional significance in VE-cadherin behavior. The VE-cadherin gene (locus Cdh5) maps to mouse chromosome 8, where it colocalizes with E-cadherin (locus Cdh1), P-cadherin (locus Cdh3), and M-cadherin (locus Cdh14) genes, suggesting that it might be part of a larger cluster of cadherin sequences.