Larger intercellular variation in (Q/R) editing of GluR6 than GluR5 revealed by single cell RT-PCR

RNA editing of the pre-mRNA encoding the kainate receptor subtypes determin es the Ca2+ permeability and the rectifying properties of the receptors in which these are assembled. GluR6 pre-mRNA contains three characterized edit ing sites: Q/R, I/V and the Y/C, whereas GluR5 pre-mRNA contains only the ( Q/R) site. Single cell RT PCR was used on cultured cortical neurons to dete rmine the relative expression and editing levels of the kainate receptor su bunits encoding mRNA. The analysis showed a large intercellular variation i n editing efficiency. The overall lower level of GluR5 editing, in the cult ure, compared to GluR6 editing is a result of an similar to 60% lower editi ng efficiency of GluR5 pre-mRNA, within single cells, compared with GluR6. NeuroReport 11:3577-3582 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.