Structure of the gene encoding the human differentiation-stimulating factor leukemia inhibitory factor receptor

The human gene encoding the differentiation-stimulating factor (D-factor)/leukemia inhibitory factor (LIP) receptor was cloned and its structure was analyzed, The gene spans more than 70 kilobases and contains 20 exons, The D-factor/LIF receptor can be subdivided into several regions: cytokine receptor homologous domain 1, an Ig-like domain, cytokine receptor homologous domain 2, three fibronectin type III domains, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic region. Each domain of the receptor is encoded by a set of exons, There is a TATA sequence upstream of the transcription initiation site, One unit of the Alu sequence is present in the 5' flanking region, An NF-IL6 site is located 31 bases downstream of the transcription initiation site.