Identification of a long variant of mRNA encoding the NR3 subunit of the NMDA receptor: its regional distribution and developmental expression in therat brain

A longer variant of rat mRNA encoding the NR3 subunit of the NMDA receptor has been identified. It contains a 60-bp insertion at the nucleotide positi on 3007 in the intracellular domain of the C-terminal of the previously clo ned variant. Therefore, the NR3 mRNA exists in at least two variants - with the insert (NR3-long; NR3-1) and without the insert (NR3-short; NR3-s), Th e NR3-1 variant is expressed throughout the adult rat brain. Moreover, this variant predominates in the occipital and entorhinal cortices, thalamus an d cerebellum. Analysis of NR3-1 development indicates that it is regulated in a region-specific manner. (C) 1998 Federation of European Biochemical So cieties.