Genomic organization of the rat connexin40 gene: identical transcription start sites in heart and lung

Abstract

Similar to other connexin genes, the Cx40 gene contains two exons. The same exon I sequence is present in all tissues and developmental stages examined and the relative amounts of Cx40 mRNA in these compare well with published data. Together our data suggest that tissue-specific and developmentally regulated expression of the Cx40 gene is controlled within the same promoter region by mechanisms that have yet to be detailed.