Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kir2.1 , Kir2.3 , Kir3.1

Title: Three functional isoforms of GAR-2, a Caenorhabditis elegans G-protein-linked acetylcholine receptor, are produced by alternative splicing.

Authors: S J Suh, Y S Park, Y S Lee, T J Cho, B K Kaang, N J Cho

Journal, date & volume: Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 2001 Nov 16 , 288, 1238-43

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11700045

Abstract
We have previously isolated a cDNA clone from Caenorhabditis elegans that encodes a novel form of G-protein-linked acetylcholine receptor, termed GAR-2. GAR-2 is similar to but pharmacologically distinct from muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Here we report the identification of two gar-2 cDNA clones that are different from the previous one. These newly identified cDNAs encode polypeptides of 664 and 627 amino acids, whereas the previous one encodes a polypeptide of 614 amino acids. The three GAR-2 isoforms, which differ only in the third intracellular loop, arise from alternative splicing. Electrophysiological analyses using the Xenopus oocyte system showed that all three GAR-2 isoforms couple to the activation of G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK1) channel with similar drug specificity. Our results indicate that alternative splicing plays an important role in promoting molecular diversity of G-protein-linked acetylcholine receptors in C. elegans.