IDENTIFICATION OF A LONG HUNTINGTIN MESSENGER-RNA TRANSCRIPT IN MOUSE-BRAIN

Two mRNA species of the Huntington disease (HD) gene that share identi cal protein coding sequences but differ in their 3' untranslated regio n have been identified in human. Although a similar situation has been suggested to occur in mouse, only one cDNA has been isolated to date. We report the isolation of a novel partial cDNA of the mouse HD gene that is identical in its protein coding sequence to the previously rep orted cDNA, although it differs in the distal portion of the 3' untran slated region. Northern blotting assays indicate that this mRNA transc ript is preferentially expressed in brain, with highest levels in cere bellum, cerebral cortex and striatum.