Segmental homology between the promoter region of the human renin gene and the mouse ren1 and ren2 promoter regions.

We have isolated and determined the nucleotide (nt) sequence of the 5' region of the human renin gene (h-ren). Two TATA boxes and a CAAT box were found. Start point determination has shown that only the proximal TATA box was used as the transcription initiation signal, both in the kidney and in a renin-secreting tumor. Comparison of the sequence of the 500-bp region upstream from the transcription start point with the corresponding regions of the ren1 and ren2 genes of the Swiss mouse revealed no overall homology between the human and mouse renin sequences. Only very short sequences of high homology ranging in size from 10 to 18 nt were found in the sequenced regions. By hybridization experiments, we have detected a region upstream from each mouse renin gene related to the h-ren; analysis of the nt sequence of this region reveals that they belong to the Alu family of repetitive DNA.