Multiple preproenkephalin transcriptional start sites are induced by stress and cholinergic pathways.
A major control of gene expression occurs at the level of initiation of RNA transcription. In the nervous system this is reflected in part by 5' end RNA heterogeneity of neural transcripts. We now report the characterization of four preproenkephalin (ppEnk) RNA initiation sites in the rat brain striatum. In the adrenal medulla two ppEnk transcriptional start sites were detected. Moreover, cholinergic induction of ppEnk RNA initiation was observed in the adrenal medulla, but not in the striatum. The converse was true following handling stress. Our observations suggest that selective start site usage and stimulus evoked induction of specific RNA initiation is tissue-specific. We speculate that start site usage and induction may provide separate mechanisms through which neuronal gene expression is controlled in anatomically, as well as functionally distinct neurohumoral structures.
Weisinger
G
G
Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794-8111.
DeCristofaro
J D
JD
LaGamma
E F
EF
D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010095:Oxotremorine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D004745:Enkephalins; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D011498:Protein Precursors; D010095:Oxotremorine; D009538:Nicotine; C033660:preproenkephalin