CLONING OF THE CDNA FOR THE HUMAN NMDA RECEPTOR NR2C SUBUNIT AND ITS EXPRESSION IN THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM AND PERIPHERY

Several overlapping cDNA clones containing 3995 nucleotides of the hum an 2C NMDA receptor subunit (NR2C) were isolated from human hippocampa l and cerebellar cDNA libraries. The nucleic acid sequence of the over lapping cDNA clones displays 85% identity to that of rat NR2C. The pre dicted protein sequence is 1233 amino acids long and has 88% identity to the amino acid sequence of the rat NR2C. Northern blot analysis has demonstrated a wide distribution pattern of the NR2C transcript in th e brain. While the predominant expression is in the cerebellum, as obs erved in the rat, readily detectable levels are present in the hippoca mpus, amygdala, caudate nucleus, corpus callosum, subthalamic nuclei a nd thalamus. NR2C was also detected in the heart, skeletal muscle and pancreas. Distribution of the mouse NR2C NMDA receptor subunit homolog ue was investigated in mouse brain by in situ hybridization histochemi stry using exonic genomic probes. Expression of the transcript was pri ncipally in the cerebellum, but is also detected in the hippocampus, d entate gyrus, thalamic and subthalamic nuclei, vestibular nuclei and o lfactory bulb. These results demonstrate a widespread expression patte rn of the NR2C gene, both in the CNS and in the periphery.