Abstract.
We have isolated a 6.5-kb human genomic fragment that encodes the MCL-1 gene. Comparison of the coding region with the published full-length cDNA reveals that the gene contains three exons and two introns, and that our clone contains 370 bp of the 3′-untranslated region. We have mapped a major transcriptional start site to 80 residues upstream of the translation initiation codon. Reporter gene assays indicate that regulatory sequences responsible for phorbol ester (PMA)-stimulated activity and granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-stimulated activity were located within the first 294 bp of the 5′-flanking region upstream from the transcription start site. A deletion mutant was generated that lacked 47 bp between residues −215 and −168: in this mutant, six out of seven GGCCCC repeats and two GCTCA repeats were deleted. Serum-stimulated and GM-CSF-stimulated reporter activity were greatly decreased in this deletion mutant and PMA-stimulated activity was slightly decreased. While the coding and 3′-untranslated regions of the human and mouse genes have significant sequence similarity, there was very little sequence similarity in the 5′-flanking regions of the genes from these two species. Nevertheless, some consensus sequences for a number of transcription-factor-binding sites were detected in the two genes, indicating that transcription may be regulated by similar signalling pathways in these different species.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received 20 January 2000; received after revision 28 February 2000; accepted 28 February 2000
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Akgul, C., Turner, P., White, M. et al. Functional analysis of the human MCL-1 gene . CMLS, Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 57, 684–691 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00000728
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00000728