title: Molecular mechanisms governing Pcdh-gamma gene expression: evidence for a multiple promoter and cis-alternative splicing model.
abstract: The genomic architecture of protocadherin (Pcdh) gene clusters is remarkably similar to that of the immunoglobulin and T cell receptor gene clusters, and can potentially provide significant molecular diversity. Pcdh genes are abundantly expressed in the central nervous system. These molecules are primary candidates for establishing specific neuronal connectivity. Despite the extensive analyses of the genomic structure of both human and mouse Pcdh gene clusters, the definitive molecular mechanisms that control Pcdh gene expression are still unknown. Four theories have been proposed, including (1) DNA recombination followed by cis-splicing, (2) single promoter and cis-alternative splicing, (3) multiple promoters and cis-alternative splicing, and (4) multiple promoters and trans-splicing. Using a combination of molecular and genetic analyses, we evaluated the four models at the Pcdh-gamma locus. Our analysis provides evidence that the transcription of individual Pcdh-gamma genes is under the control of a distinct but related promoter upstream of each Pcdh-gamma variable exon, and posttranscriptional processing of each Pcdh-gamma transcript is predominantly mediated through cis-alternative splicing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaozhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D000070585:Cadherin Related Proteins; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015723:Gene Library; D015321:Gene Rearrangement / Q000235:genetics*; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D005807:Genes, Overlapping; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000070585:Cadherin Related Proteins; D015820:Cadherins; C464785:Gamma-protocadherins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins