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Sequence analysis of hypothalamic parathyroid hormone messenger ribonucleic acid
M T Nutley1, S A Parimi, S Harvey
1Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Endocrinology
|December 1, 1995
Summary
The parathyroid hormone (PTH) gene is expressed in the brain, not just the parathyroid glands. This suggests PTH may have roles in neural function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Parathyroid hormone (PTH)-like peptides and messenger RNA (mRNA) have been detected in neural tissues.
- The origin of these neural PTH-like molecules (PTH gene transcription vs. related gene) remained unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the PTH gene is transcribed in neural tissues.
- To confirm the identity of PTH-like molecules in the brain.
Main Methods:
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of complementary DNA (cDNA) from brain and pituitary RNA.
- Restriction endonuclease digestion and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE).
- Southern analysis, nucleotide sequencing, Northern blotting, and Western blotting (immunoreactivity).
Main Results:
- PTH-like cDNA fragments of predicted sizes were generated from brain and pituitary RNA.
- Analysis confirmed complete homology between neural and parathyroidal PTH cDNA sequences.
- PTH mRNA was detected in the brain but at very low abundance (<0.01% of parathyroid levels).
- A PTH-immunoreactive protein was found in the rat hypothalamus.
Conclusions:
- The brain is an extraparathyroidal site of PTH gene expression.
- PTH mRNA and protein are present in neural tissues.
- PTH may play autocrine or paracrine roles in neural function.