Characterization of a Cerebellar Granule Cell-Specific Gene Encoding the γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptor α6 Subunit |
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Authors: | Alison Jones Sabine Bahn Andrea L Grant Martin Khler William Wisden |
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Institution: | Alison Jones,Sabine Bahn,Andrea L. Grant,Martin Köhler,William Wisden |
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Abstract: | Abstract: The α6 subunit of γ-aminobutyric type A receptors is a marker for cerebellar granule cells and is an attractive candidate to study cell-specific gene expression in the brain. The mouse α6 subunit gene has nine exons and spans ~14 kb. The largest intron (intron 8) is ~7 kb. For a minority of mRNAs, a missplice of the first exon was identified that disrupts the signal peptide and most likely results in the production of nonfunctional protein. The gene is transcribed from a TATA-less promoter that uses multiple start sites. Using transgenic mice, it was found that the proximal 0.5 kb of the rat α6 gene upstream region confers expression on a β-galactosidase reporter gene. One founder gave rise to a line with cerebellar granule cell-specific expression, although expression varied with lobule region. Other founders had ectopic but neuron-specific expression, with β-galactosidase found in cerebellar Purkinje cells, neocortex, thalamus, hippocampus, caudate-putamen, and inferior colliculi. Thus, we have defined a region containing the basal promoter of the α6 subunit gene and that confers neuron-specific expression. |
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Keywords: | Granule cell Cerebellum Transgenic mice Promoter α 6 subunit |
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