EVIDENCE FOR A NOVEL SPLICE VARIANT OF THE ALPHA-SUBUNIT OF G(O) IN RAT MALE HAPLOID GERM-CELLS

Northern analysis shows that Goα mRNA is highly expressed in immature germ cells from rat. Whereas αo2 mRNA is the major form in pachytene spermatocytes, a message of shorter chain length is present in large amount in haploid germ cells. This mRNA was detected with an oligonucleotide specific for the 3′-coding region of αo2, but did not hybridize to oligonucleotides specific for the 5′-untranslated and 5′-coding regions. The results indicate the presence of a novel splice variant of αo mRNA, which may code for a Goα protein important for germ cell development. © 1992.