Alternative RNA splicing generates transcripts encoding a thorax-specific isoform of Drosophila melanogaster myosin heavy chain.

Authors:
  • CHC J Hansen
    C J Hansen
  • KBK D Becker
    K D Becker
  • DWD R Wassenberg
    D R Wassenberg
  • ERE S Roche
    E S Roche
  • JDJ J Donady
    J J Donady
  • CEC P Emerson
    C P Emerson
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Genomic and cDNA sequencing studies show that transcripts from the muscle myosin heavy-chain (MHC) gene of Drosophila melanogaster are alternatively spliced, producing RNAs that encode at least two MHC isoforms with different C termini. Transcripts encoding an MHC isoform with 27 unique C-terminal amino acids accumulate during both larval and adult muscle differentiation. Transcripts for the second isoform encode one unique C-terminal amino acid and accumulate almost exclusively in pupal and adult thoracic segments, the location of the indirect flight muscles. The 3' splice acceptor site preceding the thorax-specific exon is unusually purine rich and thus may serve as a thorax-specific splicing signal. We suggest that the alternative C termini of these two MHC isoforms control myofilament assembly and may play a role in generating the distinctive myofilament organizations of flight muscle and other muscle types.

This publication has 60 references indexed in Scilit: