Genomic structure of the gene for mouse germ cell nuclear factor (GCNF)

Abstract

Background: The germ cell nuclear factor (GCNF, also known as retinoid acid receptor-related testis-associated receptor, neuronal cell nuclear receptor or NR6A1) is an orphan receptor in the nuclear receptor superfamily found in mammals, amphibians and fish. The mouse Gcnf gene is expressed in the placenta and the developing nervous system and germ cells, and responds to retinoic acid.

Results: We have defined the intron-exon structure of the mouse Gcnf gene and found that it contains 11 exons. Exons 1-4 encode the 75 amino acid amino-terminal domain and exon 4 also encodes the core DNA-binding domain. The carboxy-terminal extension is encoded by exon 5, exons 6 and 7 encode the hinge region, and exons 7-11 encode the putative ligand-binding domain. Unusually, the two zinc-finger motifs in the DNA-binding domain are encoded by separate exons.

Conclusions: The protein-coding region of GCNF is contained in 11 exons. The genomic structure of this nuclear receptor gene will be useful for further studies.

Figure 1

The location of the different exons in the GCNF amino-acid sequence. The core DNA-binding domain is underlined.

Figure 2

Sequence of exon 1 of Gcnf. The location of the EcoRI site (GAATTC) marking the 5'-end of the Gcnf cDNA (GenBank entry MMU09563) and the putative translational start codon (ATG) are underlined.