Isolation and characterization of a rat HSP 27 gene.

A gene encoding the rat heat shock protein 27 protein was isolated and characterized. The gene is composed of three exons and two introns. The proximal 5' untranslated region of this gene contains consensus heat shock elements, multiple SP1 sites, and basal regulatory elements including a CCAAT box and a TATA box. Comparison of this heat shock gene with the murine heat shock protein 25 and human heat shock protein 27 genes revealed the conserved presence of a putative heat shock element in the first intron of these mammalian small M(r) heat shock protein genes. While preliminary expression studies indicate the promoter directs heat shock induced expression of heat shock protein 27, the functional significance of the intronic heat shock element to the expression of this gene remains to be determined.