Alternative splicing generates two isoforms of the alpha 2 subunit of the inhibitory glycine receptor.
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.
Kuhse
J
J
Zentrum für Molekulaire Biologie Heidelberg, Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
Kuryatov
A
A
Maulet
Y
Y
Malosio
M L
ML
Schmieden
V
V
Betz
H
H
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
D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D005998:Glycine