title: Identification and characterization of multiple isoforms of a murine and human tumor suppressor, patched, having distinct first exons.
abstract: Mutations in mouse and human patched (PTCH) genes are associated with birth defects and cancer. PTCH, a 12-pass transmembrane protein, is a receptor for Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling proteins. Shh proteins activate transcription of target genes, including PTCH, via GLI transcription factors. Here we identified seven and five isoforms of human and mouse PTCH mRNA, respectively, which are generated by the complex alternative use of five exons as the first exon (exons 1a to 1e in the 5'-to-3' order). Although expression profiles of these isoforms were highly variable among human tissues, three of them, PTCHa, PTCHb, and PTCHd, were predominantly expressed in most tissues, PTCHd being most ubiquitous. In contrast, PTCHb was always predominant and reached a maximum at E10.5 during mouse development. These three mRNA isoforms encode three PTCH proteins with distinct N-termini, PTCH(L), PTCH(M), and PTCH(S). The expression of these three isoforms was regulated by GLI transcription factors, and at least two functional GLI-binding sequences were identified, one in exon 1a and the other between exon 1a and exon 1b. PTCH(L) and PTCH(M) were equally active in terms of suppressing GLI-mediated transcription and inducing apoptosis. PTCH(S) protein (encoded by PTCHd), lacking the first transmembrane domain, was more unstable than the other two, resulting in a reduced activity. This study may shed light on the mechanism whereby a single PTCH gene plays a role in both tumor cell growth and embryonic development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Ohkura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi-Inoue
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyashita
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D005091:Exons; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; C000606236:PTCH1 protein, human; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C000606240:Ptch1 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1