Molecular characterization of the mouse gene encoding cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein

To clone and characterize the mouse gene encoding cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP). CRALBP appears to modulate enzymatic generation and processing of 11-cis-retinol and regeneration of visual pigment in the vertebrate visual cycle. Mutations in human CRALBP segregate with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa.

A genomic clone encompassing the 5' end of the CRALBP gene through exon 6 was isolated from a mouse 129/Sv genomic DNA library. Exons 7 and 8 were PCR amplified from mouse eye cDNA and 129/SvJ genomic DNA. The gene structure was determined by automated DNA sequence analysis.

The sequence of 6855 nucleotides was determined, including all 8 exons, 3 introns plus 3932 and 629 bases from the 5'- and 3'-flanking regions, respectively. The lengths of introns 3-6 were determined by PCR amplification. Northern analysis identifies a approximately 2.1 kb transcript in mouse eye; Southern analysis supports a single copy gene.

The mouse CRALBP gene is similar to the human gene; the coding sequence is approximately 87% identical, the non-coding sequence approximately 65% identical. In contrast to the human gene, the mouse gene contains a consensus TATA box. One of two photoreceptor consensus elements important for CRALBP expression in human retinal pigment epithelium is also present in the mouse gene. Additional conserved and species-specific consensus sequences are identified. The mouse CRALBP genomic clones and structure provide valuable tools for developing an in vivo model to study protein function and gene regulation.