The memory gene dunce+ encodes a remarkable set of RNAs with internal heterogeneity

We have previously isolated the region of the Drosophila melanogaster X chromosome which contains the dunce+ gene and mapped the dunce2 mutation by recombination to a 10- to 12-kilobase (kb) interval (R. L. Davis and N. Davidson, Mol. Cell. Biol. 4:358-367, 1984). Here, we examine the expression of the dunce+ chromosomal region and identify the dunce+ gene within that region. A region of ca. 25 kb which contains the 10- to 12-kb interval to which dunce2 was mapped codes for polyadenylated RNAs of 9.6, 7.4, 7.2, 7.0, 5.4, and 4.5 kb in adult flies. These transcripts are encoded by the same DNA strand and share sequences of some exons, indicating that the transcripts arise from the same gene. Some genome probes internal to the ca. 25-kb coding region show transcript-specific hybridization, demonstrating alternate usage of exonic sequence information in the formation of the mature transcripts. The basis for this internal heterogeneity in RNAs is most likely alternative splicing. Two dunce mutants examined show aberrant RNA expression from this coding region, confirming that this region is the dunce gene. The developmental expression of these transcripts has been examined. The 5.4-kb RNA is present at all developmental stages. The 9.6-, 7.4-, 7.2-, and 7.0-kb RNAs are not expressed at detectable levels in embryos, but are detected in late embryogenesis and in later developmental stages. The 4.5-kb species is found in early embryos and adults, but not in intermediate stages. We discuss the remarkable transcript heterogeneity and expression pattern with respect to the important function this gene performs in neurobiological and other physiological processes.