Isolation and characterization of the gene encoding rat class theta glutathione S-transferase subunit yrs.

The rat gene encoding the class theta glutathione S-transferase (GST) subunit Yrs has been isolated from a rat lambda EMBL4 DNA library and completely sequenced. The gene spans approximately 4 kb comprising 5 exons separated by 4 introns, the smallest number of the gene components among known rat genes encoding GST subunits. Sequence analysis of the 5' flanking region of the GST Yrs gene indicated the absence of both TATA and CAAT boxes. However, potential binding sites for the transcription factors SP1, PU1, PEA3, and AP-2 were present in this region. Primer extension and 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends studies demonstrated the existence of multiple transcription initiation sites distributed over 58 bp in the upstream sequence from the translation initiation codon. The present study provides the first evidence for the primary structure of the gene encoding a class theta GST subunit.