Monoallelic yet combinatorial expression of variable exons of the protocadherin-alpha gene cluster in single neurons.
Nat Genet
; 37(2): 171-6, 2005 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15640798
ABSTRACT
Diverse protocadherin-alpha genes (Pcdha, also called cadherin-related neuronal receptor or CNR) are expressed in the vertebrate brain. Their genomic organization involves multiple variable exons and a set of constant exons, similar to the immunoglobulin (Ig) and T-cell receptor (TCR) genes. This diversity can be used to distinguish neurons. Using polymorphisms that distinguish the C57BL/6 and MSM mouse strains, we analyzed the allelic expression of the Pcdha gene cluster in individual neurons. Single-cell analysis of Purkinje cells using multiple RT-PCR reactions showed the monoallelic and combinatorial expression of each variable exon in the Pcdha genes. This report is the first description to our knowledge of the allelic expression of a diversified receptor family in the central nervous system. The allelic and combinatorial expression of distinct variable exons of the Pcdha genes is a potential mechanism for specifying neuron identity in the brain.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Variação Genética
/
Caderinas
/
Neurônios
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nat Genet
Assunto da revista:
GENETICA MEDICA
Ano de publicação:
2005
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Japão