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Transcriptional Organization of a Drosophila Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Gene
Author(s) -
Newby Laurel M.,
Kulkarni Shankar J.,
Jackson F. Rob
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1993.tb03245.x
Subject(s) - glutamate decarboxylase , drosophila (subgenus) , gene , drosophila melanogaster , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , genetics , neuroscience , biochemistry , enzyme
We previously described the sequence and expression pattern of a Drosophila mRNA ( Gad ) that encodes the major soluble form of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). We now report the transcriptional organization of the Drosophila Gad gene. Based on a combination of DNA sequence, RNase protection, primer extension, and polymerase chain reaction analyses, we conclude that the transcription unit for a 3.1‐kb Gad mRNA is composed of eight exons that span an ∼17‐kb genomic interval. By this analysis, the site of Gad transcript initiation overlaps with a recognition sequence that confers binding of the zeste transcription factor to other promoter elements. We emphasize that our analysis of the Gad transcription unit provides no evidence for alternative RNA splicing as a mechanism for the generation of GAD isoforms. Thus, the several GAD‐immunoreactive proteins (putative GAD isoforms) that can be detected in Drosophila extracts are probably encoded by distinct genes.