Molecular cloning and the nucleotide sequence of cDNA for neuron-specific enolase messenger RNA of rat brain

The cDNAs to mRNA for rat gamma gamma enolase (neuron-specific enolase; NSE; EC 4.2.1.11) were isolated from a cDNA library by using differential colony hybridization and a hybrid-selected translation assay. By overlapping of the nucleotide sequences of several cDNA inserts, it was found that they spanned 2232 base pairs (bp) which included 1299 bp of the complete coding region, 68 bp of the 5' noncoding region, and 848 bp of the 3' noncoding region, including a polyadenylylation signal. In addition, the poly(A) tail was also found. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence was composed of 433 amino acids. Southern blot analysis with a cDNA insert detected one hybridizing fragment in rat genomic DNA digested with several different restriction enzymes. Dot-blot and transfer hybridization analyses of poly(A)+ RNA from developing rat brains showed an increase of NSE mRNA 10-30 days after birth.