Cloning and characterization of mouse glial cell line-derived neurotrophic growth factor (GDNF)

Abstract

We have cloned two unique forms of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic growth factor transcripts (GDNF-α and GDNF-β) from adult mouse brain. The GDNF-α form is similar to GDNF-α except for a 78 bp deletion in the ORF. The deduced amino acid sequences of the mouse GDNF-α are highly homologous to those of rat and human GDNF. Reverse-transcription PCR from various mouse tissues snowed extensive expression of both forms of GDNF. GDNF-α is coded by at least two distinct exons. The 3′-UTR is entirely encoded in a single exon.