Structure of the mouse tyrosine hydroxylase gene

The mouse tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene was isolated from a genomic library by cross-hybridization with human TH cDNA probe. Nucleotide sequence analysis of two overlapping genomic clones showed that this gene is split into 13 exons distributed about 7.5 kb in length. The transcription initiation site was determined by primer extension analysis with mouse adrenal gland poly(A)⁺RNA. The structure of the mouse TH gene was similar to that of the human TH gene, but it contained neither the alternative splice donor site around the 3′-end of the first exon nor an independent exon corresponding to the second exon of the human TH gene. There were the canonical TATA and GC boxes, cyclic AMP responsive element (CRE), and AP1 binding site in the 5′-flanking region of the mouse TH gene.