Characterization of cloned cDNA representing rat myelin basic protein: Absence of expression in brain of shiverer mutant mice

Arthur Roach, Kevin Boylan, Suzanna Horvath, Stanley B. Prusiner, Leroy E. Hood

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

301 Scopus citations

Abstract

A cDNA library was constructed from mRNA isolated from the brains of 18-day-old rats, the age at which myelin biosynthesis is maximal. A synthetic DNA probe synthesized based on reverse translation of the amino acid sequence of rat myelin basic protein (MBP) was used to select two cDNA clones encoding MBP. A 1.5 kb Eco RI fragment from one clone was completely sequenced. When translated, a portion of this sequence was identical at 126 of 127 positions with the reported amino acid sequence for small MBP from the rat. Brains from mice of the homozygous shiverer genotype contained neatly reduced amounts of MBP mRNA relative to wild type. A deletion of MBP sequences in the genome of shiverer mice was also demonstrated. cDNAs for MBP will allow molecular investigation of the role this gene plays in both dysmyelinating and demyelinating diseases, as well as questions of MBP biosynthesis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)799-806
Number of pages8
JournalCell
Volume34
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1983

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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