THE MURINE GAP JUNCTION GENE CONNEXIN36 IS HIGHLY EXPRESSED IN MOUSE RETINA AND REGULATED DURING BRAIN-DEVELOPMENT

A new gap junction gene isolated from rat brain cDNA, mouse retina cDN A and mouse genomic DNA, is called connexin36, since it codes for a co nnexin protein of 321 amino acids corresponding to the theoretical mol ecular mass of 36 045 kDa (rat) and 36 084 kDa (mouse), Only one amino acid residue differs between rat and mouse connexin36. In the single murine connexin36 gene, an 1.14-kb intron interrupts the coding region , similar as in the homologous skate connexin35 gene. Because of this unique feature, mouse connexin36 differs from the other 13 murine conn exin genes and is suggested to form a new delta subclass of connexins, Connexin36 mRNA (2.9 kb) is highly expressed in adult retina and less abundant in brain where it gradually increased during fetal developme nt until day 7 post partum, and decreased thereafter. (C) 1998 Federat ion of European Biochemical Societies.