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Expression and distribution of two alternatively spliced transcripts from the chicken α2(VI) collagen gene
Author(s) -
Wälchli Chantal,
Marcionelli Rosanna,
Odermatt Bernhard F.,
Peltonen Juha,
Vuorio Eero,
Trueb Beat
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4644(19961101)63:2<207::aid-jcb8>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , in situ hybridization , biology , splice , alternative splicing , gene , connective tissue , messenger rna , gene expression , genetics
Abstract Two types of mRNA molecules with different 3′ ends are transcribed from the chicken α2(VI) collagen gene. The major splice variant encodes a polypeptide with a von Willebrand factor A domain at its carboxyl terminus. In the minor splice variant, this A domain is replaced by a novel motif which reveals some similarity to a fibronectin type III repeat. In situ hybridization experiments demonstrate that the major transcript is ubiquitously expressed. Substantial amounts are found in skeletal and cardiac muscle, gizzard, skin, tendon, liver, the wall of blood vessels, and the connective tissue of peripheral nerves. In contrast, the minor transcript is expressed at a very low level and can hardly be detected in any tissue by in situ hybridization. Only the aortic wall contains a considerable amount of this splice variant. However, no difference is observed by Northern blotting and the polymerase chain reaction in the ratio of the two transcripts when aorta and the other tissues are compared. Thus, the minor splice variant is not expressed in a tissue specific manner and, consequently, it is unlikely that it plays a tissue specific role. It might rather serve a general function in the structure and assembly of type VI collagen microfibrils. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.