Structure of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in Drosophila melanogaster and evidence of alternative promoter usage.

Department de Genètica, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain.

The complete Drosophila melanogaster phenylalanine hydroxylase gene isolated from a genomic library was sequenced. Gene structure consisted of five exons covering a region of around 3 kb. Position of introns in the C-terminal domain was conserved with mammalian aromatic amino acid hydroxylase genes. Putative promoter sequences in the 5'UTR and intron 1 were identified. A novel transcript was detected differing from that previously reported by the inclusion of a part of the intron 1 sequence. It could be produced using an alternative promoter. The deduced open reading frame would code a protein with a small difference at the N-terminus. Expression of the alternative transcripts was examined throughout development.

PMID: 8769124 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]