Nucleotide sequence and tissue distribution of the human mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase mRNA

The cDNA of human mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.1.) was isolated from a human liver cDNA library using a rat mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase cDNA as probe. The sequence of this cDNA gives a predicted aminoacid sequence for the human presequence and for the human mature protein exhibiting respectively 93% and 95% homology with rat sequences. A Northern blot of total RNA, isolated from various human tissues and hybridized with this cDNA, revealed a single 2.4 Kb RNA band. Mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase RNA was clearly detected in human kidney, placenta, stomach and spleen as well as in both fetal and adult liver.     

Developmental and tissue-specific expression of the rod photoreceptor cGMP-gated ion channel gene

Probes against the retinal cGMP-gated cation channel were generated by PCR amplification of cDNA from rat and bovine retina. Southern and Northern analyses showed that the channel is encoded by a single gene that gives rise to a single mRNA species of 3.2 kb. Low levels of cGMP-gated channel RNA were detected in postnatal day 1 (PN 1) retinas and the amount increased to adult levels over the next two weeks of development. Screening of a number of tissues by Northern blot hybridization and by PCR amplification showed the channel to be expressed by heart and kidney as well as retina, but not by cerebellum, cerebral cortex, liver, muscle, olfactory bulb, spleen, testes or thymus.