Isolation and analysis of the rat genomic sequence encoding Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase.

A rat genomic DNA (SOD1) encoding Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) (superoxide; superoxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.15.1.1) was cloned and sequenced. The rat SOD1 gene consisted of five exons and four introns spanning about 6 kb. The transcription start point (tsp) was observed 93 bp upstream from the ATG codon by primer extension analysis. The 5'-flanking sequence of SOD1 contained two CCAAT box motifs, a TATA box and four GC-like boxes. In the 3'-flanking region of SOD1, a polyadenylation signal, consensus sequence YGTGTTYY, and a G/T cluster were observed. A rat identifier (ID) sequence, a repetitive element of the rat genome, was located at between 569 and 484 bp upstream from the tsp.