A rat brain-derived neurotrophic factor-encoding gene generates multiple transcripts through alternative use of 5' exons and polyadenylation sites.
As a first step toward clarification of the transcriptional controls of the gene encoding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), we cloned and sequenced a rat genomic DNA fragment carrying this gene. RNA blotting analysis using a probe derived from the 3'-flanking region of BDNF revealed that alternative use of 3'-polyadenylation sites generates at least two BDNF transcripts that differ in the size of the 3'-noncoding region. Furthermore, sequence analysis of the 5'-end of the BDNF cDNA revealed the presence of at least six different types of transcripts which were probably derived through alternative use of the multiple 5'-exons. Therefore, a single BDNF gene could produce multiple types of transcripts with different noncoding sequences through alternative use of both 5'-exons and 3'-transcription termination sites.
Ohara
O
O
Shionogi Research Laboratories, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Osaka, Japan.
Gahara
Y
Y
Teraoka
H
H
Kitamura
T
T
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011061:Poly A / Q000378:metabolism; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D015183:Restriction Mapping
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011061:Poly A; D004247:DNA