ALTERNATIVE SPLICING OF THE FMR1 GENE IN HUMAN FETAL BRAIN NEURONS

The alternative splicing expression of the FMR1 gene was reported in s everal human and mouse tissues. Five regions of FMR1 gene can be alter natively spliced, but the combination of them has not been investigate d fully. We reported here the analysis of alternative splicing pattern of the FMR1 gene in cultured fetal human neurons, using a RT-PCR and cloning strategy. Eleven splicing types were cloned and different isof orms were not equally represented, The dominant isoform represents nea rly 40%, and the other isoforms were relatively rare. One isoform has a different carboxyl-terminus. Most of the alternative spliced regions appear hydrophilic; thus, they may locate on the surface of the FMR1 protein. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.