Cloning of 5′-flanking region and a polymorphic CTT trinucleotide repeat within 5′-untranslated region of mouse R-type calcium channel α1-subunit (Cchra1) gene, and its genetic mapping

Abstract The 5′-flanking region of the mouse R-type calcium channel ( Cchra1 ) gene was cloned, and a transcriptional start point ( tsp ) was determined by rapid amplification of 5′-cDNA end (5′RACE) method. The putative promoter region of the gene contained no obvious TATA or CCAAT element in the expected positions, but multiple putative binding sites for transcriptional factors, such as Sp1, AP-1, AP-2, AP-3, EGR-1, EGR-2, NF-κB and HIP1, were detected. We found the existence of a tandem CTT trinucleotide repeat within the 5′-untranslated region ( UTR ) of the gene, and its polymorphism between C57BL/6J and Mus spretus . Using this polymorphism, the Cchra1 was mapped to the region of chromosome 1 where the synteny to human chromosome 1q was conserved.