Gene encoding human growth hormone-releasing factor precursor: structure, sequence, and chromosomal assignment.

Abstract
Overlapping clones from phage .lambda. and cosmid human genomic libraries that predict the entire structure of the gene encoding the precursor to human growth hormone-releasing factor [GFR] were isolated and characterized. The gene includes 5 exons spanning 10 kilobase pairs of human genomic DNA. There appears to be a segregation of distinct functional regions of the GRF precursor and its mRNA into the 5 exons of the gene. The DNA sequences of all exons, intron/exon boundaries and 5'' and 3'' flanking regions are presented. Dot-blot analysis of DNA from high resolution dual laser-sorted human chromosomes indicates that the single-copy GRF gene is located on human chromosome 20.