Primary structure of human pancreatic α-amylase gene: its comparison with human salivary α-amylase gene

We have determined the entire structure of the human pancreatic α-amylase (Amy2) gene. It is approx. 9 kb long and is separated into ten exons. This gene ( amy2) has a structure very similar to that of human salivary α-amylase (Amyl) gene [Nishide et al. Gene 41 (1986a) 299–304] in the nucleotide sequence and the size and location of the exons. The major difference lies in the fact that amyl has one extra exon on the 5' side. Other differences are at the 5' border of exon 1 and the 3' border of exon 10. The close similarity of these two genes, as compared with mouse pancreatic and salivary amylase genes, suggests that during evolution, the divergence into the two amylase genes may have occurred after the divergence of mice and man.