title: cDNA sequence and differential mRNA regulation of two forms of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in Schwann cells and rat skeletal muscle.
abstract: Total RNA from rat Schwann cells grown in culture and adult rat skeletal muscle was reverse transcribed, amplified for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) messenger RNA (mRNA) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the PCR products sequenced. Two forms of GDNF were detected in the PCR step, one of a predicted size (GDNF633) and a second smaller form missing a 78-base pair sequence (GDNF555). Sequence analysis demonstrated that GDNF633 is similar to the published sequence of GDNF differing only at three nucleotides. Southern and Northern blot analyses reveal that the two forms are probably derived from a single RNA species that is alternatively spliced. Interestingly, GDNF633 mRNA was found to be selectively upregulated in denervated rat skeletal muscle at 1-2 weeks following axotomy, providing evidence that the innervation status of the muscle may determine the expression profile of the two alternatively spliced forms. Given these findings, we suggest that GDNF may function as a target-derived trophic factor for neuronal populations innervating skeletal muscle, including sensory neurons and spinal cord motoneurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Springer
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Seeburger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabrea
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Blankenhorn
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Bergman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; C495041:Gdnf protein, rat; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger