Alternative exon splicing of cyclic amp response element-binding protein in peripheral sensory and sympathetic ganglia of the rat

Alternative splicing patterns of cyclic AMP response element-binding protei n (CREB) in dorsal root ganglia, lumbar sympathetic ganglia and several per ipheral tissues of the rat have been investigated by an exon-flanking polym erase chain reaction strategy. A series of RT-PCR with primer pairs flankin g all possible alternative splicing sites (corresponding to a genomic regio n with at least one full exon and two flanking introns) has revealed multip le tissue specific splice variants. These include some novel transcripts th at lack the phosphorylation site and part of the leucine zipper region whic h is crucial for dimerization and DNA binding. Some isoforms previously rep orted as testis-specific were also detected in rat peripheral ganglia and o ther tissues. Notably, splicing patterns are specific for some regions. Som e of the splice variants indicate inhibitory functions due to lacking phosp horylation sites or partially missing DNA-binding or leucine zipper domains . These findings suggest a complex expression and functional regulation of CREB in peripheral tissues including dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia.