The cystatin superfamily of cysteine protease inhibitors consists of three major families, including the stefins, cystatins and kininogens. However, the recent identification of several genes that possess sequence similarity with the cystatins but have different gene or protein structures indicates that several new cystatin families or subgroups of families might exist. We previously identified the cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic (Cres) gene, which is related to the family 2 cystatins but exhibits highly tissue-specific expression in the reproductive tract. In the studies presented here, an analysis of gene structure as well as chromosomal mapping studies suggest that the Cres gene might represent a new subgroup within the family 2 cystatins. Although the Cres gene possesses an additional exon encoding 5ʹ untranslated sequences, its coding exons are similar in size to the three coding exons of the cystatin family 2 genes, and the Cres exon/intron splice junctions occur in identical locations as in the cystatin C gene. Furthermore, chromosomal mapping studies show that the Cres gene co-segregates with the cystatin C gene on mouse chromosome 2. Similar to the cystatin family 2 proteins, the Cres protein possesses the type A and B disulphide loops that are necessary for cystatin folding. Interestingly, Cres protein also possesses half of a type C disulphide loop. Although probably related to the cystatin genes, the Cres gene is distinct in that its promoter contains consensus motifs typical of regulated genes. Finally, reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR studies and the identification of new Cres cDNA clones indicate that the Cres mRNA is alternatively spliced, resulting in two Cres
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May 1999
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Research Article|
May 10 1999
Structure, alternative splicing and chromosomal localization of the cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic gene
Gail A. CORNWALL;
Gail A. CORNWALL
1
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail [email protected]).
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Nelson HSIA;
Nelson HSIA
1Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, U.S.A.
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H. Gayle SUTTON
H. Gayle SUTTON
1Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, U.S.A.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
September 14 1998
Revision Received:
January 25 1999
Accepted:
February 23 1999
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
The Biochemical Society, London © 1999
1999
Biochem J (1999) 340 (1): 85–93.
Article history
Received:
September 14 1998
Revision Received:
January 25 1999
Accepted:
February 23 1999
Citation
Gail A. CORNWALL, Nelson HSIA, H. Gayle SUTTON; Structure, alternative splicing and chromosomal localization of the cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic gene. Biochem J 15 May 1999; 340 (1): 85–93. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bj3400085
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