| First Author | Huttner KM | Year | 1994 |
| Journal | Genomics | Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 3 | Pages | 448-53 |
| PubMed ID | 8188287 | Mgi Jnum | J:16918 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:64976 | Doi | 10.1006/geno.1994.1093 |
| Citation | Huttner KM, et al. (1994) Structure and diversity of the murine cryptdin gene family. Genomics 19(3):448-53 |
| abstractText | Cryptdins are antimicrobial peptides of the defensin family produced by mouse intestinal Paneth cells. Characterization of genomic and cDNA clones of cryptdins 1-3, 5, and 6 revealed that each of these genes has a two-exon structure. The prepro- and mature peptide coding regions are found on different exons separated by an intron of approximately 550 bp. The 5' ends of cryptdin mRNAs are distinguished by a 45-nucleotide untranslated sequence (UTS) encoded completely by the first exon. This feature contrasts with the extended 5' UTS of myeloid defensin mRNAs, which are coded by a third exon that appears to be unique to defensin genes expressed in hematopoietic cells. Sequencing of cryptdin cDNAs from both C3H/HeJ and 129/SVJ mouse small intestine demonstrated the presence of at least 16 different mRNAs, identifying cryptdins as the largest known defensin family. Amplification of these two-exon crypt defensin genes, followed by mutation-induced divergence at a limited number of positions, may have played an important role in the development of a broad-spectrum enteric defense system in the mouse. |
