Elsevier

Genomics

Volume 19, Issue 3, February 1994, Pages 448-453
Genomics

Regular Article
Structure and Diversity of the Murine Cryptdin Gene Family

https://doi.org/10.1006/geno.1994.1093Get rights and content

Abstract

Cryptdins are antimicrobial peptides of the defensin family produced by mouse intestinal Paneth cells. Characterization of genomic and cDNA clones of cryptdins 1-3, 5, and 6 revealed that each of these genes has a two-exon structure. The prepro- and mature peptide coding regions are found on different exons separated by an intron of approximately 550 bp. The 5′ ends of cryptdin mRNAs are distinguished by a 45-nucleotide untranslated sequence (UTS) encoded completely by the first exon. This feature contrasts with the extended 5′ UTS of myeloid defensin mRNAs, which are coded by a third exon that appears to he unique to defensin genes expressed in hematopoietic cells. Sequencing of cryptdin cDNAs from both C3H/HeJ and 129/SVJ mouse small intestine demonstrated the presence of at least 16 different mRNAs, identifying cryptdins as the largest known defensin family. Amplification of these two-exon crypt defensin genes, followed by mutation-induced divergence at a limited number of positions, may have played an important role in the development of a broad-spectrum enteric defense system in the mouse.

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