Human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene: Molecular characterization of its two mRNA species

Levana Sherman*, Ditsa Levanon, Judy Lieman-Hurwitz, Naomi Dafni, Yoram Groner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) mRNAs of about 0.7 and 0.9 kilobases (Kb.) were previously found in a variety of human cells. The two SOD-1 mRNAs are transcribed from the same gene and the major 0.7 Kb. species is approximately four times more abundant than the minor 0.9 Kb. mRNA. These two mRNAs differ in the length of their 3′-untranslated region and both have multiple 5′-ends. The longer transcript contains 222 additional nucleotides beyond the 3′-polyadenylated terminus of the short mRNA. S1 nuclease mapping and sequence analysis showed that these extra 222 nucleotides are specified by sequences contiguous to those shared by the two SOD-1 mRNAs. The 5′-termini of the two SOD-1 mRNAs were identified and mapped by both primer extension and S1 mapping. The majority of SOD-1 mRNA molecules (90-95%) have a 5′-start site located 23 base pairs (b.p.) downstream of the hexanucleotide -TATAAA-. The rest of the SOD-1 mRNA molecules have 5′-termini 30, 50 and 65 b.p. upstream from the major start region.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9349-9365
Number of pages17
JournalNucleic Acids Research
Volume12
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Dec 1984
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Biotechnology General Corp.
U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation

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