Xy. Chi et al., IDENTIFICATION OF A NOVEL ALTERNATIVELY SPLICED MESSENGER-RNA OF MURINE PULMONARY SURFACTANT PROTEIN-B, American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology, 19(1), 1998, pp. 107-113
An alternatively spliced mRNA of pulmonary surfactant protein B (SP-B)
was identified in murine lung. Sequencing analysis revealed a 69 base
-pair (bp) deletion at the beginning of exon 7 of SP-B, presumably the
result of an alternative splicing event. Reverse transcription-polyme
rase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of mouse, rat, and rabbit lung RNA reveal
ed the existence of full-length and the 69-bp deleted short form. Ribo
nuclease protection assay of the SP-B messenger RNA (mRNA) demonstrate
d expression of both isoforms in five strains of adult and fetal mice
with different genetic backgrounds, as well as in rabbit, but not in h
uman. Splice junction sequences in exon 6 and at the exon 7 splice bou
ndary for the two isoforms are similar, including AG doublet identity,
but sequence differences do not account for species variation in isof
orm abundance. The abundance of the short SP-B mRNA isoform was approx
imately 30% of total SP-B mRNA in mouse and rabbit. Analysis of precur
sor SP-B protein in mouse lung suggested that the two mRNA species are
expressed as stable protein isoforms.