Comparison of the Promoter Region of the Human and Porcine Choline Acetyltransferase Genes: Localization of an Important Enhancer Region

Abstract

Genomic clones of human and porcine choline acetyltransferase were obtained by screening genomic libraries with synthetic oligonucleotides. The human and porcine genes exhibit significant conservation of both their intron/exon structure and the nucleotide sequence in their 5' flanking regions. However, the two genes differ in several respects, including the absence of a "TATA" box in the human gene and differences in the position of the methionine start codon. Analysis of the promoter region of the two genes has led to the localization of an enhancer element that appears necessary for efficient transcription of the gene.