title: Alternative splicing generates two isoforms of the alpha 2 subunit of the inhibitory glycine receptor.
abstract: The inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) is a ligand-gated chloride channel protein which displays developmental heterogeneity in the mammalian central nervous system. Here we describe 2 novel cDNA variants of the rat GlyR alpha 2 subunit and demonstrate that alternative splicing generates these 2 isoforms. The deduced protein sequences (alpha 2A and alpha 2B) exhibit 99% identity with the previously characterized human alpha 2 subunit. In situ hybridization revealed expression of both alpha 2A and alpha 2B mRNAs in the prenatal rat brain, suggesting that these variant proteins may have a role in synaptogenesis. Heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes showed that the more abundantly expressed alpha 2A subunit forms strychnine-sensitive ion channels which resemble human alpha 2 subunit GlyRs in their electrophysiological properties.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Molekulaire Biologie Heidelberg, Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuhse
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuryatov
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maulet
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Malosio
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schmieden
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Betz
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000235:genetics; D012326:RNA Splicing; D051381:Rats; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D005998:Glycine