Putative regulatory domains in the human and mouse CVADR genes

The gene for the cellular receptor of coxsackievirus group B and adenoviruses (CVADR) has recently been isolated. The complete cDNA of the human and mouse genes has been published and demonstrated to code for a 46 kDa membrane protein that bears similarity to immunoglobulins. In this study, we present the sequence of the entire human CVADR gene and a 5 kb sequence from the 5′-end of the mouse CVADR gene. A comparison of the human and mouse sequences revealed four conserved sequence elements that may be involved in the regulation of gene expression. In addition, three different splice forms of the mouse CVADR gene were identified by RT-PCR of RNA derived from adult mouse organs. Interestingly, one of the forms was unique to mouse heart. Putative alternative exons corresponding to the two dominant alternately spliced mouse forms were identified in the human genomic HCVADR sequence and shown to most likely be functional. However, a splice acceptor site was not found in an HCVADR exon that is homologous to the mouse heart-specific splice form. Therefore, the presence of this alternative C-terminus in humans is in question. The data thus provide an insight into the structure and regulation of the CVADR genes in humans and mice.