Quantitative PCR analysis of different splice forms of NFAT5 revealed specific gene expression in fetal and adult brain

To investigate sequences or mutations associated with neurodegenerative dis orders, we performed analyses for the NFAT5 gene, which is located in the c andidate region for the autosomal dominantly inherited spinocerebellar atax ia type 4 (SCA4). PCR based expression analyses detected NFAT5 transcripts with alternative splicing in 27 fetal and adult human tissues. Interestingl y, by using quantitative methods on cDNA from fetal and adult human brain a significant difference at the expression level fur one splice form could b e shown. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.