By using the full-length cDNA as a probe, the chromosomal gene for human myeloperoxidase was isolated from a human gene library. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of the chromosomal gene with that of the cDNA has revealed that the human myeloperoxidase gene is composed of 12 exons and 11 introns. S1 mapping analysis of human myeloperoxidase mRNA identified the single transcription initiation site at 180 base pairs upstream of the ATG initiation codon. In the 5'-flanking region of the human myeloperoxidase gene, there are several blocks of sequences which are homologous to the sequences found on the 5'-promoter region of the human c-myc proto-oncogene. The myeloperoxidase gene is expressed in mouse myeloid leukemia WEHI-3B D+ and NFS-60 cells. When these cells were treated with human recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, the steady-state level of myeloperoxidase mRNA declined to zero within 36 h in WEHI-3B D+ cells, but not in NFS-60 cells.