The intergenic region between the Mouse Recql4 and Lrrc14 genes functions as an evolutionary conserved bidirectional promoter

Mammalian genomes are highly complex, with neighbouring genes arranged in divergent, convergent, tandem, antisense, and interleaving fashions. Despite the vast genomic space, a substantial portion of human genes (∼ 10%) are arranged in a divergent, head-to-head fashion and controlled by bidirectional promoters. Here we define a small core bidirectional promoter that drives expression of the mouse genes Recql4, on one strand, and Lrrc14; a novel member of the LRR gene family, on the opposite strand. Regulation of Lrrc14 expression is highly complex, involving multiple promoters' and alternative splicing. Expression of this gene is predominately restricted to neural tissue during embryogenesis and is expressed in a wide range of tissues in the adult.