Elsevier

Developmental Brain Research

Volume 123, Issue 2, 28 October 2000, Pages 143-150
Developmental Brain Research

Research report
Developmental differences in alternative splicing of the NR1 protein in rat cortex and cerebellum

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Abstract

Expression of the C-terminal cassettes of the NR1 protein was examined using a quantitative Western blot method with cassette-specific antibodies. Measurements were made of the percent of total NR1 protein that contained a specific cassette in both the cerebellum and cortex over development. In the cortex, the C1 cassette was shown to be present in about half of total NR1 protein with no change over development. While about half of total NR1 in the cerebellum at postnatal day 42 (P42) contained the C1 cassette, little NR1 protein with this cassette was seen at young ages. In both the cerebellum and cortex, the C2 and C2′ cassettes showed opposite developmental patterns, with the C2 cassette decreasing and the C2′ cassette increasing over age. Together with previous data on the expression of the N1 cassette, this study describes the alternatively spliced forms of NR1 protein that are dominant at different ages. In the young cerebellum, the NR1001 form appeared dominant, while in the young cortex there appeared to be a mix of NR1001 and NR1011. The most common splice forms of NR1 protein in the adult cerebellum appeared to be NR1111 and NR1100. In the adult cortex, there appeared to be a mix of NR1001 and NR1011. These data on the expression of the alternatively spliced forms of NR1 allow predictions on the possible characteristics of NMDA receptors in different regions at specific ages.

Neurotransmitters, modulators, transporters, and receptors
Excitatory amino acid receptors, physiology, pharmacology and modulation

Keywords

Glutamate receptor
Immunoblot
Western blot

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