Genomic organization and characterization of the promoter region of the round-spotted pufferfish (Tetraodon fluviatilis) JAK1 kinase gene

Abstract Seventeen kilobases of genomic DNA containing the promoter and the coding region of the round-spotted pufferfish JAK1 gene was isolated and completely sequenced. This gene consists of 25 exons and 24 introns spanning about 13.5 kb, compared to >30 kb in carp JAK1 gene. Primer extension analysis revealed one transcription initiation site which was 376 bp upstream of the translation initiation site. The sequence of the 2.9 kb region upstream of the transcription initiation site contains numerous potential binding sites for transcription factors including HNF-5, GCF, Sp1, CRE, AP2, GATA, GAGA, E2A, p53, and NF-IL6. When this region was placed upstream of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene and transfected into a carp CF cell line, it could drive the synthesis of CAT enzyme three times more efficiently than could the common carp JAK1 promoter.