title: Alternative splicing of the Brn-3a and Brn-3b transcription factor RNAs is regulated in neuronal cells.
abstract: The closely related and functionally antagonistic POU family transcription factors Brn-3a and Brn-3b are encoded by two distinct genes that are expressed primarily in neuronal cells. In addition, however, the primary transcript of each of these genes is alternatively spliced to produce two distinct mRNAs encoding long and short isoforms that differ at the N-terminus of the protein. We show that this process is regulated so that different proportions of the mRNAs encoding the long and short forms of either Brn-3a or Brn-3b are produced in different rat tissues. Similarly, the ratio of each of these forms can be modulated by specific stimuli in both a neuronal cell line and primary neurons. The significance of these effects is discussed in relation to the functional differences between the two forms of each factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology, University College London Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: Y Z
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Latchman
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D050818:Transcription Factor Brn-3; D050820:Transcription Factor Brn-3B; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012322:RNA Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050818:Transcription Factor Brn-3; D050820:Transcription Factor Brn-3B; D014157:Transcription Factors