Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Nav1.6

Title: Multiple transcripts of sodium channel SCN8A (Na(V)1.6) with alternative 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions and initial characterization of the SCN8A promoter.

Authors: Valerie L Drews, Andrew P Lieberman, Miriam H Meisler

Journal, date & volume: Genomics, 2005 Feb , 85, 245-57

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15676283

Abstract
To identify the transcriptional start sites of the neuronal channel SCN8A, we carried out 5'-RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) with RNA from human and mouse brain. We recovered four mutually exclusive 5'-untranslated exons (exon 1a to exon 1d) that map to a 1.8-kb region of genomic DNA located approximately 70 kb upstream of the first coding exon. The same 5'-untranslated exons are expressed in central, peripheral and sympathetic nervous system and in embryonic and adult brain. A 4.8-kb genomic fragment containing these 5' exons demonstrated promoter activity in transfected MN-1 cells. In transgenic mice, transcription of the 4.8-kb promoter was restricted to brain and spinal cord. The 4.8-kb promoter contains eight consensus Sp1-binding sites and two Inr sites. A potential NRSE/RE-1 site is located nearby. Two active polyadenylation sites identified by 3'-RACE are conserved in human, mouse, and chicken SCN8A. Sequence comparison of human and mouse SCN8A identified 12 conserved noncoding elements whose effect on transcription was tested in transfected cells.