Promoter Choice Determines Splice Site Selection in Protocadherin α and γ Pre-mRNA Splicing

• Bosiljka Tasic ^[1] ; Christoph E. Nabholz ^[1] ; Kristin K. Baldwin ^[2] ; Richard Axel ^[2] ; Tom Maniatis ^[1]
  1. [1] Harvard University

     Harvard University

     City of Cambridge, Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] Columbia University

     Columbia University

     Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Molecular cell, ISSN 1097-2765, Vol. 10, Nº 1, 2002, págs. 21-33
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • A family of mammalian protocadherin (Pcdh) proteins is encoded by three closely linked gene clusters (α, β, and γ). Multiple α and γ Pcdh mRNAs are expressed in distinct patterns in the nervous system and are generated by alternative pre-mRNA splicing between different “variable” exons and three “constant” exons within each cluster. We show that each Pcdh variable exon is preceded by a promoter and that promoter choice determines which variable exon is included in a Pcdh mRNA. In addition, we provide evidence that alternative splicing of variable exons within a gene cluster occurs via a cis-splicing mechanism. However, virtually every variable exon can engage in trans-splicing with constant exons from another cluster, albeit at a far lower level.