Pattern of expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA in the developing rat brain.
The time and pattern of appearance of glutamic acid decarboxylase (glutamate decarboxylase; EC 4.1.1.15) (GAD) mRNA during the development of the rat brain were analyzed. RNA transfer blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA from whole brain shows that a 3.7-kilobase transcript is the most abundant form of the message from embryonic day 15 (E15) through adulthood. By E15 this form is present at about 50% of its adult abundance relative to other poly(A)+ mRNA species. At birth the abundance is approximately the same as in the adult. In contrast, the enzyme activity level is only 8% of the adult level at birth and takes 3 weeks to reach adult levels. There are qualitative changes in GAD mRNA during development. Several large (7-9 kilobases) transcripts with strong homology to GAD are enriched in early developmental stages but are barely detectable in the adult. A nuclease protection assay shows a developmentally regulated heterogeneity in a coding portion of the mRNA.
Bond
R W
RW
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
Jansen
K R
KR
Gottlieb
D I
DI
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase