RGD Reference Report - Role of the 5' untranslated region (UTR) in the tissue-specific regulation of rat tryptophan hydroxylase gene expression by stress. - Rat Genome Database

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Role of the 5' untranslated region (UTR) in the tissue-specific regulation of rat tryptophan hydroxylase gene expression by stress.

Authors: Chamas, F  Sabban, EL 
Citation: Chamas F and Sabban EL, J Neurochem 2002 Aug;82(3):645-54.
RGD ID: 625621
Pubmed: PMID:12153488   (View Abstract at PubMed)

There are tissue specific discrepancies in expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) between the pineal gland and brainstem. TPH mRNA levels in the pineal are much higher than in the brainstem, however, the two tissues contain comparable protein levels. This discrepancy could result from different translation efficiency of two of the TPH mRNA isoforms. Using PCR-based methods, we analyzed the relative expression, in pineal and brainstem, of two TPH mRNA isoforms differing in the length of their untranslated region (5'UTR). The levels of the TPHalpha were found to be 960-fold more abundant than the 51-nucleotide longer TPHbeta, in the pineal. TPHbeta was also detected for the first time in the brainstem, where TPHbeta/TPHalpha was about five-fold higher than in the pineal. To study the role of the different 5'UTRs, each was cloned in-frame upstream of luciferase, and transfected into PC12 cells. Both 5'UTRs enhanced luciferase activity, with TPHbeta 5'UTR being more effective than TPHalpha 5'UTR, indicating selective regulation of translation efficiency. We also examined whether physiological manipulations alter the distribution of the TPH mRNA isoforms. Repeated stress had no effect in pineal, but led to a marked preferential induction of TPHbeta in brainstem. Modulation of TPH gene expression in serotonergic neurons could result from selective and tissue specific regulation of its mRNA isoforms.



Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process

  
Object SymbolSpeciesTermQualifierEvidenceWithNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Tph1Ratserotonin biosynthetic process from tryptophan  TAS  RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Tph1  (tryptophan hydroxylase 1)


Additional Information