Pham D Q, Brown S E, Knudson D L, Winzerling J J, Dodson M S, Shaffer J J
Department of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha 53141-2000, USA.
Eur J Biochem. 2000 Jun;267(12):3885-90. doi: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2000.01428.x.
We have isolated and sequenced a genomic clone encoding the 24- and 26-kDa ferritin subunits in the mosquito Aedes aegypti (Rockefeller strain). The A. aegypti gene differs from other known ferritin genes in that it possesses an additional intron and an unusually large second intron. The additional intron is located within the 5' untranslated region, between the CAP site and the start codon. The second intron contains numerous putative transposable elements. In addition, unlike the human and rat ferritin genes, the A. aegypti ferritin gene is a single copy gene, located at 88.3% FLpter on the q-arm of chromosome 1. Primer extension analysis indicates that the A. aegypti ferritin gene has multiple transcriptional start sites. A differential usage of these sites is observed with varied cellular iron concentrations.
