Genomic organization of mouse Fc_γ receptor genes

We have isolated and characterized the gene coding for the mouse Fc receptor that is termed Fc_γRIIa. The gene contains five exons and spans approximately 9 kilobases. Unlike most members of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily, this gene utilizes multiple exons to encode its leader peptide. The first exon encodes the hydrophobic region of the signal sequence; the second exon, which contains only 21 base pairs, encodes a segment of the signal peptidase recognition site; and the beginning of the third exon encodes the predicted site of peptidase cleavage. The third and fourth exons each code for immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains. The fifth exon encodes the hydrophobic transmembrane domain and the cytoplasmic tail. Partial characterization of the Fc_γRIIb gene indicates that it also contains multiple leader exons, including a 21-base-pair exon and two exons coding for homologous immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains. However, the Fc_γRIIb gene uses four exons to encode its intracytoplasmic region. Analysis using contour-clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) gels indicates that the Fc_γRIIa and Fc_γRIIb genes are linked within 160 kilobases on mouse chromosome 1.