Figure 2

The sequence of the Cd36 promoter. A. Promoter sequences were extracted from UCSC genome browser upstream of Cd36 exon 1a from mouse [GenBank:BC010262] and human [GenBank:CB958830] and aligned to the previously described rat promoter [GenBank:AF317787] and the sequence obtained in this study [GenBank:EF116603]. Base numbers for [GenBank:AF317787] and [GenBank:EF116603] are specific to the respective sequences. For others, transcription start site of exon 1a (+1) is referred to as the first base of the sequence. The reverse strand is shown in mouse sequences. Corresponding exon sequences for the different species are shadowed. In rat, the exon 1a region was determined by aligning the promoter sequence with [GenBank:AB005743], where the first three bases were excluded due to inconsistency. B. Summary of murine Cd36 gene structure which consists of 15 exons. Exons 1a, 1b and 2, first part of exon 3, and exon 15 are untranslated regions (UTR). The sequences of exon 1a and its promoter as well as exon 1b were identified in this study (shaded area). The use of these two alternative first exons is mutually exclusive. The degree of sequence conservation among human, mouse and rat in the promoters (200 bp upstream) of exon 1a and exon 1b are presented. Approximate distances between exon 2 and the alternative first exons in mouse are also indicated. Arrows represent the position of exon-specific primers for real-time PCR analysis.