title: Identification of GFR alpha-2 isoforms in myenteric plexus of postnatal and adult rat intestine.
abstract: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-2 (GFR alpha-2) is a GPI-linked receptor that preferentially binds neurturin (NTN), a member of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family. Three splice isoforms of GFR alpha-2 have been identified previously in mouse tissues, but the occurrence of splice isoforms in rats has not been described. The aim of this study was therefore to identify GFR alpha-2 splice isoforms in rat tissues using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and gene cloning. Three isoforms were identified and sequenced, and named GFR alpha-2(a), (b) and (c), according to the nomenclature used for the previously identified mouse isoforms. The GFR alpha-2(a) and (b) isoforms were identical to those previously described in mice. The GFR alpha-2(c) isoform was novel. Sequences for GFR alpha-2(b) and (c) were deposited in the GenBank database (accession numbers GI: 16797788 and 16797786, respectively). All three isoforms were expressed in the brain, kidney, and intestine of both postnatal and adult rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK.
authors.forename: Nazanin F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Dolatshad
authors.forename: Ayona T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: M Jill
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Saffrey
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D007422:Intestines / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C494992:Gfra2 protein, rat; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C416649:Ret protein, Drosophila