A clone encoding mouse glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was isolated from a cDNA library constructed so as to express the cloned sequences. The library was screened using a GFAP-specific polyclonal antiserum; a single bacterial colony expressing GFAP was identified. The complete sequence of the cDNA insert in this clone is presented, encompassing 2.5 kilobases and specifying >97% of the GFAP amino acid sequence. The clone includes a long (1.4-kilobase) (GFAP). This protein is of particular interest because it represents a specific marker in the development of the central nervous system, its presence distinguishing astrocytes from other glial cell types. Here we describe the isolation and complete sequence of a 2.5-kilobase (kb) cDNA clone encoding mouse GFAP. The structural and evolutionary implications of the predicted amino acid sequence of mouse GFAP are discussed.
We report the complete sequence of the gene encoding mouse glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the intermediate filament (IF) protein specific to astrocytes. The 9.8 kb gene includes nine exons separated by introns ranging in size from 0.2 to 2.5 kb. A comparison of the organization of the GFAP gene with that of genes encoding other IF proteins reveals that the structure of IF genes is highly conserved in spite of considerable divergence at the amino acid level. Thus, most of the evolutionary events leading to the placement of introns in IF genes must have occurred prior to the duplication and subsequent divergence of IF genes from a presumptive common ancestral sequence. The conserved gene organization is unrelated to structural features of IF proteins. A curious feature of the GFAP gene is the large number of repeated sequences found in the introns. Six tracts of reiterated di- or trinucleotides are present, plus tandem repeats of two different novel sequences. One repeat is unique to the GFAP gene; the other occurs elsewhere in the mouse genome, although at relatively low frequency.
We have isolated cDNA clones representing cyclic AMP (cAMP)-specific phosphodiesterases (PDEases) from a human monocyte cDNA library. One cDNA clone (hPDE-1) defines a large open reading frame of ca. 2.1 kilobases, predicting a 686-amino-acid, ca. 77-kilodalton protein which contains significant homology to both rat brain and Drosophila cAMP PDEases, especially within an internal conserved domain of ca. 270 residues. Amino acid sequence divergence exists at the NH2 terminus and also within a 40- to 100-residue domain near the COOH-terminal end. hPDE-1 hybridizes to a major 4.8-kilobase mRNA transcript from both human monocytes and placenta. The coding region of hPDE-1 was engineered for expression in COS-1 cells, resulting in the overproduction of cAMP PDEase activity. The hPDE-1 recombinant gene product was identified as a low-Km cAMP phosphodiesterase on the basis of several biochemical properties including selective inhibition by the antidepressant drug rolipram. Known inhibitors of other PDEases (cGMP-specific PDEase, cGMP-inhibited PDEase) had little or no effect on the hPDE-1 recombinant gene product. Human genomic Southern blot analysis suggests that this enzyme is likely to be encoded by a single gene. The presence of the enzyme in monocytes may be important for cell function in inflammation. Rolipram sensitivity, coupled with homology to the Drosophila cAMP PDEase, which is required for learning and memory in flies, suggests an additional function for this enzyme in neurobiochemistry.
[35S]-GTPgammaS binding has been used to study the function of cloned human 5-HT1D receptor subtypes stably expressed in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. 5-HT stimulated [35S]-GTPgammaS binding to membranes from cells expressing 5-HT1Dalpha or 5-HT1Dbeta receptors. In membranes containing 5-HT1Dbeta receptors, 5-CT and sumatriptan stimulated binding to a similar extent as 5-HT while yohimbine, metergoline and 8-OHDPAT were partial agonists. The order of potency for agonists was 5-CT > 5-HT > metergoline > sumatriptan > yohimbine > 8-OHDPAT. The stimulation of binding by 5-HT in membranes containing 5-HT1Dbeta receptors was potently antagonised by methiothepin (pA2 8.9 +/- 0.1). The overall pharmacological profile for the human 5-HT1Dbeta receptor, defined using [35S]-GTPgammaS binding, agreed well with that reported for inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase. In addition, methiothepin and ketanserin inhibited basal [35S]-GTPgammaS binding to membranes containing 5-HT1Dalpha or 5-HT1Dbeta receptors, suggesting that these compounds show negative efficacy at 5-HT1D receptor subtypes. The data show that [35S]-GTPgammaS binding is a suitable method for studying the interaction between cloned human 5-HT1D receptors and G-proteins.
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