Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel developmentally regulated gene, Bdm1, showing predominant expression in postnatal rat brain

Postnatal development, such as synapse refinement, is necessary for the est ablishment of a mature and functional central nervous system (CNS). Using d ifferential display analysis, we identified a novel gene, termed Bdm1, that is more abundantly expressed in the adult brain than in the embryonic brai n. The full-length Bdm1 cDNA is 2718 base pairs long and contains an open r eading frame of 1059 base pairs encoding a 38-kDa protein. Northern blot an alysis revealed that expression of Bdm1 mRNA in the brain was weak on embry onic days and increased in the early postnatal period. Bdm1 mRNA was signif icantly expressed in the brain and heart, but there was no or little expres sion in other tissues. During the differentiation of mouse carcinoma cells P19 to neuron-like cells by retinoic acid, Bdm1 mRNA was up-regulated almos t parallel to neurofilament mRNA. Expression of Bdm1 mRNA was observed appr eciably in PC12 cells after neuronal differentiation but not in the nonneur al cell,lines examined. In situ hybridization demonstrated that Bdm1 was ex pressed widely in the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebel lum, thalamus, and medulla oblongata. Taken together, these data suggest th at Bdm1 gene plays a role in the early postnatal development and function o f neuronal cells. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.