Identification of two further splice variants of GABABR1 characterizes the conserved micro-exon 4 as a hot spot for regulated splicing in the rat brain.
type: Dataset
description: Inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian brain is principally mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) acting through different subtypes of cell membrane GABA receptor (GABAR). The expression of one GABAR gene, GABABR1, is distinguished by the expression of multiple splice variants that encode different isoforms of the receptor. In the present study, we have identified two novel GABABR1 variants, GABABR1h (R1h) and GABABR1i (R1i), which appear to arise from alternative splicing of the GABABR1 gene. The expression of R1h and R1i is differentially regulated in brain and peripheral tissues, but expression is not altered in the brain of a genetic model of absence epilepsy (GAERS rat [genetic absence epilepsy rat from Strasbourg]). Both the R1h and R1i variants exhibit a novel 80-bp insert downstream of exon 4 that is flanked by consensus splice sites, and both encode C-terminal-truncated proteins. The new insight into the family of GABABR1 variants gained from this study identifies exon 4 as a preferred locus, or hot spot for regulated splicing in the GABABR1 gene. This finding correlates with the micro-exonic nature of exon 4 (21 bp). Bioinformatic analysis of micro-exon 4 and its flanking pre-mRNA sequences has revealed multiple, potentially competitive, exonic splicing enhancers that provide a mechanistic basis for the preponderance of alternative splicing events at this locus. Conservation of GABABR1 micro-exon 4 across species suggests a conserved functional role, facilitating either N-terminal protein production or post-transcriptional gene regulation through regulated splicing coupled to transcript decay.
landing page: 0895-8696
keyword: acm
keyword: gaba-receptor-gabar
keyword: gaers-rat
keyword: gamma-aminobutyric-acid-gaba
keyword: infoeu-reposemanticsarticle
keyword: isoforms
keyword: journal-articles
keyword: sdvneusclife-sciences-q-bioneurons-and-cognition-q-bionccognitive-sciences
issued: 2026-05-09T16:18:05.054799
modified: 2026-05-09T16:18:05.054804
language: en
contact point: Organization
  fn: CCSD

test_moissonnage_selune
type: Agent

Identification of two further splice variants of GABABR1 characterizes the conserved micro-exon 4 as a hot spot for regulated splicing in the rat brain.
type: Distribution
format: HTML
access URL: https://hal.science/hal-00086416
issued: 2026-05-09T16:18:05.059340
modified: 2026-05-09T16:18:05.046226