Characterization of the mouse neutrophil elastase gene and localization to Chromosome 10

Neutrophil elastase (NE), a serine proteinase, is considered to play a role in normal tissue turnover and host defense. NE may also cause tissue damage in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. We have isolated and characterized the gene for mouse NE and determined its chromosomal location. The mouse NE gene has been localized by interspecific backcross analysis to Chromosome (Chr) 10. The gene for mouse NE is composed of 5 exons and 4 introns, similar to the human NE. Mouse NE shares the highly conserved exon size and intron-exon borders with human NE. The coding exons of the mouse NE gene predict a translation product in a pre-pro form, similar to human NE. Knowledge of the genomic organization and chromosomal location of mouse NE may allow us to further define mechanisms responsible for cell and tissue-specific expression of mouse NE.