Two novel N-terminal coding exons of Prkar1b gene of mouse: Identified using a novel approach of in silico and molecular biology techniques

The Prkar1b gene encodes regulatory type 1 beta subunit of protein kinase A. Here we report that mouse R1β gene produces three alternative splice variants (designated as mR1β1, mR1β2 and mR1β3) that have different N-terminal protein structures. New splice variants were identified using combinatorial approach of bioinformatics pipeline involving online available tools and databases, and molecular biology techniques involving RT-PCR, semi-nested PCR and sequencing. Except mR1β3, which was not detected by RT-PCR in brain and muscle tissues of 3 day old mice, all three spliced isoforms were found to be ubiquitously expressed in tissues and postnatal developmental stages examined. The presence of different N-termini in isoforms may be important for unique docking interactions with A kinase anchoring proteins.

► Identification of two novel splice variants of mouse R1 beta gene. ► In silico approach was confirmed by molecular biology techniques. ► N-terminal splice variants can help in docking interactions with AKAPs.