Calcitonin mRNA polymorphism: peptide switching associated with alternative RNA splicing events.

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Abstract
Differential RNA splicing events may be used in expression of genes of the endocrine system to generate alternative polypeptide hormones. Variation in the expression of the gene encoding the small polypeptide hormone calcitonin is associated with the production of a new calcitonin-like or pseudo-calcitonin (.psi.Cal) mRNA. A plasmid containing .psi.Cal c[complementary]DNA sequences was constructed, and calcitonin genomic clones were isolated. Hybridization analysis reveals that calcitonin and .psi.Cal sequences are chromosomally linked and are present in the same nuclear RNA transcripts. Both calcitonin and .psi.Cal mRNA are functional and encode different polypeptide products. Alternative RNA splicing of the transcript(s) of the calcitonin gene ultimately results in the production of different polypeptide products.