Mammalian keratin gene families: organisation of genes coding for the B2 high-sulphur proteins of sheep wool

• Published in: Nucleic acids research 1983-08, Vol.11 (16), p.5327-5346
• Main Authors: Powell, B.C., Sleigh, M.J., Ward, K.A., Rogers, G.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Chromosome Mapping; Cloning, Molecular; DNA Restriction Enzymes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes; Genes. Genome; Keratins - genetics; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Plasmids; RNA - isolation & purification; Sheep - genetics; Sulfur; Wool - physiology
• ISSN: 0305-1048; 1362-4962
• DOI: 10.1093/nar/11.16.5327

We have Isolated two genomic clones containing three B2 high-sulphur keratin genes from a sheep genomic library constructed 1n Charon 4A. These genes do not contain Intervening sequences. Two genes, encoding the B2A and B20 proteins are closely linked in the genome, being separated by 1.9 kb, and are transcribed 1n the same direction. Although there 1s extensive sequence conservation in the 5' non-coding and coding regions, the 3' non-coding regions diverge both in length and sequence. Within the 5' non-coding region adjacent to the Initiating AUG there is a highly conserved 18 bp sequence which is also present in another gene coding for a member of a different, unrelated high-sulphur keratin family. In the B2A-B2D intergene region, tightly linked to the B2D gene, there is a putative, divergently transcribed gene.