This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Amara, S G Articles by Rosenfeld, M G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Amara, S G Articles by Rosenfeld, M G

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Mol Cell Biol. 1984 October; 4(10): 2151-2160

Calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide transcription unit: tissue-specific expression involves selective use of alternative polyadenylation sites.

ABSTRACT

Different 3' coding exons in the rat calcitonin gene are used to generate distinct mRNAs encoding either the hormone calcitonin in thyroidal C-cells or a new neuropeptide referred to as calcitonin gene-related peptide in neuronal tissue, indicating the RNA processing regulation is one strategy used in tissue-specific regulation of gene expression in the brain. Although the two mRNAs use the same transcriptional initiation site and have identical 5' terminal sequences, their 3' termini are distinct. The polyadenylation sites for calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide mRNAs are located at the end of the exons 4 and 6, respectively. Termination of transcription after the calcitonin exon does not dictate the production of calcitonin mRNA, because transcription proceeds through both calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide exons irrespective of which mRNA is ultimately produced. In isolated nuclei, both polyadenylation sites appear to be utilized; however, the proximal (calcitonin) site is preferentially used in nuclei from tissues producing calcitonin mRNA. These data suggest that the mechanism dictating production of each mRNA involves the selective use of alternative polyadenylation sites.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Druker, R., Bruxner, T. J., Lehrbach, N. J., Whitelaw, E. (2004). Complex patterns of transcription at the insertion site of a retrotransposon in the mouse. Nucleic Acids Res 32: 5800-5808 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Simonneaux, V., Ribelayga, C. (2003). Generation of the Melatonin Endocrine Message in Mammals: A Review of the Complex Regulation of Melatonin Synthesis by Norepinephrine, Peptides, and Other Pineal Transmitters. Pharmacol. Rev. 55: 325-395 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tverberg, L. A., Gustafson, M. F., Scott, T. L., Arzumanova, I. V., Provost, E. R., Yan, A. W., Rawie, S. A. (2000). Induction of Calcitonin and Calcitonin Receptor Expression in Rat Mammary Tissue during Pregnancy. Endocrinology 141: 3696-3702 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Connelly, S, Manley, J L (1988). A functional mRNA polyadenylation signal is required for transcription termination by RNA polymerase II.. Genes Dev. 2: 440-452 [Abstract]  
• Amara, S., Arriza, J., Leff, S., Swanson, L., Evans, R., Rosenfeld, M. (1985). Expression in brain of a messenger RNA encoding a novel neuropeptide homologous to calcitonin gene-related peptide. Science 229: 1094-1097 [Abstract]  
• Hsu, L.-S., Chen, G.-D., Lee, L.-S., Chi, C.-W., Cheng, J.-F., Chen, J.-Y. (2001). Human Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase Kinase beta Gene Encodes Multiple Isoforms That Display Distinct Kinase Activity. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 31113-31123 [Abstract] [Full Text]