Gene structure of mouse cathepsin B

Abstract
The structure of a genomic DNA fragment encoding mouse cathepsin B was characterized. The genomic insert spans 15 kbp and contains 9 exons encoding the 339 amino acid residues of mouse preprocathepsin B. Intron break‐points are not found at the junctions of the pre‐peptide, pro‐peptide and mature enzyme. Like other cysteine proteinase genes, the region around the cysteinyl active site is split by an intron, but in contrast with cathepsins L and H the intron break‐point is located immediately after the active site.