Lm. Muglia et al., The 5 '-flanking region of the mouse adenylyl cyclase type VIII gene imparts tissue-specific expression in transgenic mice, J NEUROSC, 19(6), 1999, pp. 2051-2058
The calcium-stimulated adenylyl cyclases (ACs) play a central role in stimu
lus-dependent modification of synaptic function. The type VIII AC (AC8) is
one of three mammalian calcium-stimulated isoforms, each of which is expres
sed in a region-specific manner in the CNS. To delineate the DNA sequences
responsible for appropriate targeting of AC8 expression, we report here the
complete structure of the AC8 gene and define the pattern of expression of
the full-length cDNA and its splice variants. In addition to expression wi
thin the brain, robust expression of AC8 was also found in the lung. By in
situ hybridization, we have found the highest expression of AC8 mRNA within
the olfactory bulb, thalamus, habenula, cerebral cortex, and hypothalamic
supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. By generating transgenic mice whose
expression of beta-galactosidase is controlled by the AC8 5'-flanking DNA s
equences, we demonstrate that the DNA sequences within the 10 kb preceding
exon 1 are critical for establishment of this region-specific pattern. This
spectrum of sites of production is unique to AC8 among the calcium-stimula
ted adenylyl cyclases and suggests nonredundant functions with other adenyl
yl cyclases in neuroendocrine regulation and/or behavior.