Identification of multiple species of calmodulin messenger RNA using a full length complementary DNA

Poly(A) RNA from eel electroplax was used to construct a full length cDNA complementary to calmodulin (CaM) mRNA which was cloned in the PstI site of pBR322 DNA. Recombinant plasmids containing sequences complementary to CaM mRNA were identified by hybridization using a 32P-labeled CaM cDNA (pCM109). Nucleotide sequence analysis reveals that the clone from the plasmid pCM116 contains a 5' nontranslated region of 26 nucleotides, the entire coding region, and a 3' nontranslated region of 408 nucleotides. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence is similar to those previously reported for CaM from other species. Comparison between the nucleotide sequence of the functional domains of the protein shows extensive homology between all four domains. pCM116 was utilized to determine and compare the populations of RNA present in different tissues. In eel electroplax, three species of cytoplasmic RNAs at 820, 1100, and 2000 nucleotides hybridize to the cDNA probe. The nucleus contains an additional CaM RNA molecule of 5500 nucleotides which may represent a primary transcript of the calmodulin gene. Sequence analysis of the 3' noncoding region of pCM116 reveals 3 possible polyadenylation sites (AATAAA) at positions 573, 580, and 855. The mRNA of 820 nucleotides was derived by polyadenylation at the first site whereas the mRNA of 1100 nucleotides was derived by poly(A) addition at position 855. These data are compatible with the idea that at least 2 of the 3 CaM mRNAs in eel electroplax tissue are derived from a single nuclear transcript by differential polyadenylation during processing.