Structural organization and chromosomal assignment of the human 14-3-3 eta chain gene (YWHAH)

14-3-3 protein, a brain-specific protein, is thought to be a multifunctional protein involved in the activation of tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases, the inhibition or activation of protein kinase C, and the activation of signal transduction. The human 14-3-3 eta chain gene was isolated and its structure was determined. It is composed of two exons separated by one long intron (approximately 8 kb) and spans about 10 kb. A transcription initiation site was identified by a combination of S1 nuclease mapping, primer extension analysis, and RACE methods. In the 5'-flanking region, we found four GC box sequences, four anti-GC box sequences, a TATA box-like sequence, CAAT box-like sequences, a C/EBP element, two AP-2 sequences, an AP-3 sequence, an Oct-6-like sequence, six E boxes, and a CRE sequence. FISH with DNA probes of the human 14-3-3 eta chain gene mapped the 14-3-3 eta chain gene to chromosome 22q12.1-q13.1.