ALTERNATIVE SPLICING LEADS TO 2 CHOLINERGIC PROTEINS IN CAENORHABDITIS-ELEGANS

被引:89
作者
ALFONSO, A
GRUNDAHL, K
MCMANUS, JR
ASBURY, JM
RAND, JB
机构
[1] OKLAHOMA MED RES FDN,PROGRAM MOLEC & CELL BIOL,OKLAHOMA CITY,OK 73104
[2] UNIV OKLAHOMA,HLTH SCI CTR,DEPT BIOCHEM & MOLEC BIOL,OKLAHOMA CITY,OK 73104
关键词
CHA-1; UNC-17; CHOLINE ACETYLTRANSFERASE; ACETYLCHOLINE TRANSPORTER; ALTERNATIVE SPLICING;
D O I
10.1006/jmbi.1994.1538
中图分类号
Q5 [生物化学]; Q7 [分子生物学];
学科分类号
071010 ; 081704 ;
摘要
The cha-1 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans encodes choline acetyl-transferase (the acetylcholine synthetic enzyme). The C. elegans unc-17 gene encodes a synaptic vesicle-associated acetylcholine transporter. The two genes thus define sequential biochemical steps in the metabolism of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Cloning, sequencing, and molecular analysis of the unc-17 region indicate that cha-1 and unc-17 transcripts share a 5' untranslated exon, and the rest of the unc-17 transcript is nested within the long first intron of cha-1. Thus, two proteins with related functions but with no sequences in common are produced as a result of alternative splicing of a common mRNA precursor. The structure of this transcription unit suggests a novel type of coordinate gene expression, and a temporal processing model is proposed for the regulation of cha-1 and unc-17 expression.
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页码:627 / 630
页数:4
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