Structural organization of human genomic DNA encoding the pro-opiomelanocortin peptide.

Abstract

A human genomic DNA segment encoding the corticotropin-.beta.-lipotropin precursor peptide was isolated from a fetal DNA library using previously cloned bovine c[complementary]DNA for this peptide as a probe. The human genomic DNA was studied by EM heteroduplex analysis and gel blotting methods, and its nucleotide sequence was determined and compared with that of cDNA corresponding to bovine pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA. From this sequence, segments of interspecies conservation and divergence, punctuated by pairs of the basic amino acid residues lysine and arginine, were identified. No noncoding intervening sequence was observed over an 830 base pair DNA segment extending from a position near the 5'' end of the structural pro-opiomelanocortin gene through the 3'' terminus of the cDNA and including sequences for the component peptide hormones corticotropin and .beta.-lipotropin.