Tissue‐specific expression of splice variants of the mouse voltage‐gated calcium channel α2/δ subunit

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Abstract
Five different splice variants of mouse α2/δ subunit isoforms (α2/a‐e), which arose from various combinations of three alternatively spliced regions, were cloned with a combination of cDNA library screening and RT‐PCR. Expression patterns and relative abundance of the various isoforms in mouse tissues were determined with an RNAse protection assay. Skeletal muscle and brain expressed single isoforms, α2a and α2b, respectively; however, the cardiovascular system expressed all five isoforms. Heart expressed mainly isoforms α2c and α2d while, in contrast to other species, aorta expressed predominantly α2a, the ‘skeletal muscle’ isoform. Smooth muscle‐containing tissues expressed α2d and α2e. Thus, α2/δ isoforms are restricted in their tissue expression, suggesting an important functional role for the differentially spliced variants.