title: Neuroendocrine secretory protein 55 (NESP55): alternative splicing onto transcripts of the GNAS gene and posttranslational processing of a maternally expressed protein.
abstract: Recent studies established a novel genomically imprinted gene located 45 kb upstream of the human GNAS1 locus. This locus encoded for the Neuroendocrine Secretory Protein with an apparent molecular weight of 55,000 (NESP55), which is transcribed exclusively from the maternal allele. We sequenced rat and human NESP55 and investigated tissue-specific splicing of its mRNA and posttranslational modifications of the protein in various tissues. Alternative mRNA splicing of NESP55 was analyzed by sequencing of cDNA clones, RT-PCR and Northern blotting. Two main splice variants, which were generated in a tissue-specific manner, were identified: The open reading frame encoding NESP55 was spliced onto exons 2-13 of Gsalpha in the adrenal medulla, pituitary and the brain. In addition, in the pituitary a second shorter, prominent mRNA transcript was generated by splicing of NESP55 onto exons 2, 3 and N1 of Gsalpha. Several of the cDNA clones isolated contained inverted repeats of 50-150 bp at their 5' or 3' termini, which might form hairpin stems and thus alter mRNA stability. The NESP55 open reading frame encoded a hydrophilic protein of 28,018 Da (human) and 29,218 Da (rat), respectively, which resembled the class of acidic, neuroendocrine secretory proteins collectively called chromogranins. NESP55 is highly conserved among mammalian species. It is posttranslationally acidified by the addition of keratan sulfate glycosaminoglycan chains and differentially processed by endopeptidases in various endocrine and neuronal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ischia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lovisetti-Scamihorn
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fischer-Colbrie
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002864:Chromogranins; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002864:Chromogranins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C406732:GNAS protein, human; C498644:GNAS1 protein, Bos taurus; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C498643:Gnas protein, rat; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins