title: Differential expression of two neural cell-specific beta-tubulin mRNAs during rat brain development.
abstract: We recently demonstrated that beta-tubulin mRNA expression is regulated during rat brain development. This is manifested by a dramatic decrease in both 1.8- and 2.9-kilobase (kb) mRNAs when extensive neurite elongation is occurring. Coincident with these decreases is the increased production of a 2.5-kb mRNA. (J.F. Bond and S.R. Farmer, Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:1333-1342, 1983). In the present study, we have isolated and characterized three different cDNAs corresponding to beta-tubulin mRNAs (R beta T.1, R beta T.2, and R beta T.3). Hybridization of 3' untranslated region subclones of R beta T.1 and R beta T.2 cDNAs to RNA from a variety of rat tissues and cells revealed that these two cDNAs are neural cell specific. R beta T.1 corresponds to an abundant 1.8-kb mRNA expressed only at early stages of rat brain development. R beta T.2 corresponds to the 2.5-kb mRNA expressed at later stages. These data strongly suggest that there is differential expression of the beta-tubulin multigene family during rat brain development.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D002460:Cell Line; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000254:growth & development; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014404:Tubulin; D004247:DNA; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes