[A novel alternative splicing mode of the erythropoietin receptor gene in rats]

To detect new alternative splicing mode of erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) gene in normal rats.

Total RNAs were isolated from bone marrow mononuclear cells of normal Wistar rats. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the total RNAs was done and the amplified products were sequenced.

After RT-PCR with a pair of primers (sense: 637/657 bp, and antisence: 903/882 bp), two bands were detected, the expected band (267 bp) and a longer one (346 bp) which had a 79 bp insert between 736th and 737th bases from the first ATG of the rat EpoR nucleotide. Sequence analysis showed that the 79 bp insert was the retaining intron 5 with a C-to-T point mutation at 16th base and an insertion of G base between 49th and 50th base. The insertion of G base caused a shift in reading frame and resulted EpoR with a truncated intracellular domain.

A new alternative splicing of EpoR mRNA encoding truncated intracellular domain was identified in normal Wistar rats. Its implication in rat erythropoiesis remains to be determined.