title: IRAS splice variants.
abstract: The human I(1)-imidazoline receptor candidate gene, iras, has previously been cloned and mapped to locus 3p21.1-9 (also known as Nischarin; accession No. AC006208). By comparison to a database of expressed sequence tags (ESTs), three alternatively spliced transcripts have been deduced. A map of 21 exons was constructed for the medium-length transcript (IRAS-M) containing 5,232 base pairs (bp) and encoding 1,504 amino acids (aas). Introns 13B and 13C are inserted into the two alternative transcripts, forming IRAS-S and IRAS-L mRNA (short and long isoforms). Northern blots confirmed the existence of these mRNA isoforms. In most brain regions the order of mRNA abundance was IRAS-M > IRAS-L > IRAS-S mRNA. Although aas 1 through 510 are theoretically identical, truncated proteins could be derived from IRAS-S (2,678 bp transcript yields 515 aas) and IRAS-L (9,457 bp transcript yields 583 aas). Because exon-16 of the iras gene has been proposed to encode the functional domains of imidazoline and a-5 integrin binding, only IRAS-M is expected to possess I(1) receptor properties. Subtype-selective cDNA expression constructs were therefore generated and used to transfect CHO cells. High-affinity I(1) binding was endowed by IRAS-M and IRAS-L, but not by IRAS-S transfection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Piletz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deleersnijder
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ernsberger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ziegler
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005091:Exons; D006801:Humans; D054755:Imidazoline Receptors; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D054755:Imidazoline Receptors; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C458505:NISCH protein, human; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011955:Receptors, Drug; C410887:imidazoline I1 receptors