Cloning and structural organization of the gene encoding the murine nuclear receptor transcription factor, NURR1.

NURR1 is an immediate early gene product and a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors. Using the NURR1 cDNA as a probe, we isolated the genomic DNA encoding NURR1 from a mouse 129SvEv genomic library. The NURR1 gene is approximately 6.2 kb long and is organized into 7 exons separated by 6 introns. Structural analysis of the NURR1 reveals that this gene shares a similar structure with that of the nuclear receptor NUR77/NGF1-B. As in NUR77, the promoter region of NURR1 lacks an identifiable TATA box, but is GC-rich. The proximal promoter region also contains an ATF/CREB consensus binding site that may participate in cAMP-mediated induction of this immediate early gene product. Isolation and structural characterization of the NURR1 gene provides information for further developmental and transcriptional regulation studies of this gene.