Structure and expression of the human erythropoietin receptor gene.

摘要

rythropoietin (EPO) mediates the growth and differentiation of erythroid progenitors through its interaction with a specific receptor. Using a partial cDNA clone for the murine erythropoietin receptor, I isolated a human genomic clone containing the erythropoietin receptor gene. The coding region of the human EPO receptor gene is contained within 8 exons spanning approximately 6kb. The human gene has a great deal of structural similarity and sequence homology with the murine gene. The murine gene also has 8 exons, though the size of each intron is somewhat different. The locations at which the introns interrupt the coding sequence are conserved precisely. The genomic organization of the EPO receptor gene is also shown to be homologous to the genomic organization of the IL-2 receptor