Characterization of the 5′ flanking region and gene encoding the mouse interferon-gamma receptor

The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the gene that encodes the receptor for mouse interferon-γ (IFN-γR), including determination of its size, intronic boundaries and its transcription start points (tsp). The mouse IFN-γR gene is 22-kb long, with six introns that range in size from approx. 1 to 7 kb. The first six exons encode the extracellular and transmembrane (TM) domains of the protein, while the last exon of about 1 kb encodes most of the intracellular domain. No canonical TATA box can be found in the 5′ flanking sequence of the gene, and primer extension analysis indicates multiple tsp. In addition, the gene's 5′ promoter region was sequenced to identify candidate responsive elements that might regulate expression of the gene. Among the putative regulatory motifs identified by computer-assisted analysis are multiple SP1 and AP-2 sites, an NF1 and CCAAT box, as well as a potential cyclic AMP-responsive element (CRE).