Cloning and developmental expression of human 66 kd neurofilament protein

The complete human 66 kd neurofilament cDNA was isolated and its sequence was determined. Both the DNA and the predicted amino acid sequences showed a high degree of homology to the rat NF-66. This was substantiated by cross hybridization between the human NF-66 probe and rat NF-66 mRNA. Single gene copy was suggested from Southern blot analysis. RNase protection assay indicated that NF-66 was expressed in human fetal brain as early as the 16th gestational week. On the other hand, NF-L message was not detected until the 20th gestational week. NF-M message was not detectable up to the 24th gestational week.