Abstract |
L-Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) catalyses the decarboxylation of L-Dopa. It has been shown that the DDC gene undergoes alternative splicing within its 5'-untranslated region (UTR), in a tissue-specific manner, generating identical protein products. The employment of two alternative 5'UTRs is thought to be responsible for tissue-specific expression of the human DDC mRNA. In this study, we focused on the investigation of the nature of the mRNA expression in human cell lines of neural and non-neural origin. Our results show the expression of a neural-type DDC mRNA splice variant, lacking exon 3 in all cell lines studied. Co-expression of the full length non-neural DDC mRNA and the neural-type DDC splice variant lacking exon 3 was detected in all cell lines. The alternative DDC protein isoform, Alt-DDC, was detected in SH-SY5Y and HeLa cells. Our findings suggest that the human DDC gene undergoes complex processing, leading to the formation of multiple mRNA isoforms. The study of the significance of this phenomenon of multiple DDC mRNA isoforms could provide us with new information leading to the elucidation of the complex biological pathways that the human enzyme is involved in.
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Authors | Ioanna Chalatsa, Eleftheria Nikolouzou, Emmanuel G Fragoulis, Dido Vassilacopoulou |
Journal | Molecular biology reports
(Mol Biol Rep)
Vol. 38
Issue 2
Pg. 1005-11
(Feb 2011)
ISSN: 1573-4978 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 20535562
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- 5' Untranslated Regions
- DNA Primers
- DNA, Complementary
- Protein Isoforms
- RNA, Messenger
- Dopa Decarboxylase
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Topics |
- 5' Untranslated Regions
- Cell Line, Tumor
- DNA Primers
(genetics)
- DNA, Complementary
(metabolism)
- Dopa Decarboxylase
(biosynthesis)
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- Exons
- Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- HeLa Cells
- Humans
- Models, Biological
- Protein Isoforms
- RNA, Messenger
(metabolism)
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