Alternative splicing of the FMR1 gene in human tissues of fetal and adult

To study the time- and tissue-specificity of alternative splicing of the FM R1 gene, we analyzed the alternative splicing pattern of the FMR1 gene in h uman tissues from adult and fetus using RT-PCR coupled with capillary elect rophoresis. Seven alternative splicing variants of FMR1 were found in adult liver and lung. The major three alternative splicing variants of the FMR1 gene in all analyzed fetal tissues were same, though the number of minor is oforms and the relative abundance of major isoforms were different. The maj or difference of the alternative splicing pat tem between adult and fetus w as in exon 12 and 17. The results suggest that the alternative splicing pat tern of the FMR1 gene is non-tissue-specific in the same developmental stag e and a developmental switch may be present.