A long-range cis-regulatory element for class I odorant receptor genes
Abstract
Individual olfactory sensory neurons express a single odorant receptor gene from either class I genes residing in a single cluster on a single chromosome or class II genes spread over multiple clusters on multiple chromosomes. Here, we identify an enhancer element for mouse class I genes, the J element, that is conserved through mammalian species from the platypus to humans. The J element regulates most class I genes expression by exerting an effect over 3 megabases within the whole cluster. Deletion of the trans J element increases the expression frequencies of class I genes from the intact J allele, indicating that the allelic exclusion of class I genes depends on the activity of the J element. Our data reveal a long-range cis-regulatory element that governs the singular class I gene expression and has been phylogenetically preserved to retain a single cluster organization of class I genes in mammals.
- Publication:
-
Nature Communications
- Pub Date:
- October 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1038/s41467-017-00870-4
- Bibcode:
- 2017NatCo...8..885I