Structure of the human prealbumin gene

Using cloned human prealbumin cDNA as a probe, Southern blot hybridization of human genomic DNA revealed that the prealbumin gene consists of an unique, single-copy DNA. The nucleotide sequences of the entire human prealbumin gene, including both 581 base pairs of the 5'- and 95 base pairs of the 3'-flanking sequences, were determined. The gene spans about 7.0 kilobase pairs and consists of four exons and three introns. As in most eukaryotic genes, the consensus TATA and CAAT sequences were found 30 and 101 nucleotides, respectively, upstream from the putative cap site, and a polyadenylation signal sequence AATAAA is found in the 3'-untranslated region. Unexpectedly, two independent open reading frames provided with respective regulatory sequences were found within the gene: one in the first intron and the other in the third intron.