title: Characterization of human prodynorphin gene transcripts.
abstract: Prodynorphin gene transcripts have been characterized in human tissues with cRNA probes covering parts of the non-coding exon 1 and the main coding exon 4 using Northern blot and RNase protection experiments. A 2.8-kb signal was observed in human brain RNA with both the exon 1 and exon 4 probes. An RNase protection assay with the exon 1 probe, performed to map the 5' end of this transcript, produced protected fragments in the range of 0.11 to 0.15 kb indicating that exon 1 is 1.2 kb shorter than previously proposed. 5'-RACE-PCR and sequencing of amplified cDNA fragments confirmed this assignment. In adrenal gland, testis and the human small cell lung carcinoma cell line, U1690, several prodynorphin-like mRNAs structurally different from the brain prodynorphin mRNA species were observed.
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell; D002460:Cell Line; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C033660:preproenkephalin