Alternative splicing generates two isoforms of the β3-adrenoceptor which are differentially expressed in mouse tissues

Abstract

1. The β3-adrenoceptor (AR) differs from the β1-AR and β2-ARs in having introns within and downstream of the coding block. This study demonstrates two splice variants of the mouse β3-AR which differ within the coding region. 2. Reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction with intron-spanning primers was used to demonstrate the splice variant of the mouse β3-adrenoceptor. The novel β(3b)-AR has 17 amino acids encoded by exon 2 (SSLLREPRHLYTCLGYP) which differ from the 13 in the known β(3a)-AR (RFDGYEGARPFPT). 3. β(3b)-AR mRNA is differentially expressed in mouse tissues, with levels relative to β(3a)-AR mRNA highest in hypothalamus, cortex and white adipose tissue, and lower in ileum smooth muscle and brown adipose tissue.