Cross-talk between adherens junctions and desmosomes depends on plakoglobin

Squamous epithelial cells have both adherens junctions and desmosomes. The ability of these cells to organize the desmosomal proteins into a functional structure depends upon their ability first to organize an adherens junction. Since the adherens junction and the desmosome are separate structures with different molecular make up, it is not immediately obvious why formation of an adherens junction is a prerequisite for the formation of a desmosome. The adherens junction is composed of a transmembrane classical cadherin (E-cadherin and/or P-cadherin in squamous epithelial cells) linked to either beta-catenin or plakoglobin, which is linked to alpha-catenin, which is linked to the actin cytoskeleton. The desmosome is composed of transmembrane proteins of the broad cadherin family (desmogleins and desmocollins) that are linked to the intermediate filament cytoskeleton, presumably through plakoglobin and desmoplakin. To begin to study the role of adherens junctions in the assembly of desmosomes, we produced an epithelial cell line that does not express classical cadherins and hence is unable to organize desmosomes, even though it retains the requisite desmosomal components. Transfection of E-cadherin and/or P-cadherin into this cell line did not restore the ability to organize desmosomes; however, overexpression of plakoglobin, along with E-cadherin, did permit desmosome organization. These data suggest that plakoglobin, which is the only known common component to both adherens junctions and desmosomes, must be linked to E-cadherin in the adherens junction before the cell can begin to assemble desmosomal components at regions of cell-cell contact. Although adherens junctions can form in the absence of plakoglobin, making use only of beta-catenin, such junctions cannot support the formation of desmosomes. Thus, we speculate that plakoglobin plays a signaling role in desmosome organization.

In vivo bone strain patterns in the zygomatic arch of macaques and the significance of these patterns for functional interpretations of craniofacial form

It has been proposed that the mammalian facial skeleton is optimized for countering or dissipating masticatory stress. As optimized load-bearing structures by definition exhibit maximum strength with a minimum amount of material, this hypothesis predicts that during chewing and biting there should be relatively high and near uniform amounts of strain throughout the facial skeleton. If levels of strain in certain areas of the facial skeleton are relatively low during these behaviors, this indicates that the amount of bone mass in these areas could be significantly reduced without resulting in the danger of structural failure due to repeated masticatory loads. Furthermore, and by definition, this indicates that these areas are not optimized for countering masticatory stress, and instead their overall morphology and concentration of bone mass has most likely been selected or influenced mainly by factors unrelated to the dissipation or countering of chewing and biting forces. An analysis of in vivo bone strain along the lateral aspect of the zygomatic arch of macaques indicates the clear absence of a high and near uniform strain environment throughout its extent. Instead, there is a steep strain gradient along the zygomatic arch, with the highest strains along its anterior portion, intermediate strains along its middle portion, and the lowest strains along its posterior portion. These data, in combination with earlier published data (Hylander et al., 1991), indicate that levels of functional strains during chewing and biting are highly variable from one region of the face to the next, and therefore it is unlikely that all facial bones are especially designed so as to minimize bone tissue and maximize strength for countering masticatory loads. Thus, the functional significance of the morphology of certain facial bones need not necessarily bear any important or special relationship to routine and habitual cyclical mechanical loads associated with chewing or biting. Furthermore, the presence of these steep strain gradients within the facial skeleton suggests that the amount of bone mass in the low-strain areas may be largely determined by factors unrelated to processes frequently referred to as "functional adaptation," or conversely, that the "optimal strain environment" of bone varies enormously throughout the facial skeleton (cf., Rubin et al., 1994). Based solely on anatomical considerations, it is likely that the zygomatic arch is bent in both the parasagittal and transverse planes and twisted about its long axis. Due to constraints on rosette position, the strain data are incapable of determining if one or more of these loading conditions predominate. Instead, the strain data simply provide limited support for the possible presence of all of these loading regimes. Finally, as the masseter muscle is concentrated along the anterior portion of the zygomatic arch and as the arch has fixed ends, the largest shearing forces and the largest bending and twisting moments are located along its anterior portion. This in turn explains why the largest strains are found along the anterior portion of the zygomatic arch.

Expression of N-cadherin by human squamous carcinoma cells induces a scattered fibroblastic phenotype with disrupted cell-cell adhesion

E-cadherin is a transmembrane glycoprotein that mediates calcium-dependent, homotypic cell-cell adhesion and plays an important role in maintaining the normal phenotype of epithelial cells. Disruption of E-cadherin activity in epithelial cells correlates with formation of metastatic tumors. Decreased adhesive function may be implemented in a number of ways including: (a) decreased expression of E-cadherin; (b) mutations in the gene encoding E-cadherin; or (c) mutations in the genes that encode the catenins, proteins that link the cadherins to the cytoskeleton and are essential for cadherin mediated cell-cell adhesion. In this study, we explored the possibility that inappropriate expression of a nonepithelial cadherin by an epithelial cell might also result in disruption of cell-cell adhesion. We showed that a squamous cell carcinoma-derived cell line expressed N-cadherin and displayed a scattered fibroblastic phenotype along with decreased expression of E- and P-cadherin. Transfection of this cell line with antisense N-cadherin resulted in reversion to a normal-appearing squamous epithelial cell with increased E- and P-cadherin expression. In addition, transfection of a normal-appearing squamous epithelial cell line with N-cadherin resulted in downregulation of both E- and P-cadherin and a scattered fibroblastic phenotype. In all cases, the levels of expression of N-cadherin and E-cadherin were inversely related to one another. In addition, we showed that some squamous cell carcinomas expressed N-cadherin in situ and those tumors expressing N-cadherin were invasive. These studies led us to propose a novel mechanism for tumorigenesis in squamous epithelial cells; i.e., inadvertent expression of a nonepithelial cadherin.

Megencephaly: a new mouse mutation on chromosome 6 that causes hypertrophy of the brain

Megencephaly, enlarged brain, occurs in several acquired and inherited human diseases including Sotos syndrome, Robinow syndrome, Canavan's disease, and Alexander disease. This defect can be distinguished from macrocephaly, an enlarged head, which usually occurs as a consequence of congenital hydrocephalus. The pathology of megencephaly in humans has not been well defined, nor has the defect been reported to occur spontaneously in any other species. In this report we describe a recessive mutation in the mouse that results in a 25% increase in brain size in the first 8 months of life. We have determined that the megencephaly is characterized by overall hypertrophy of the brain, and not by hyperplasia of particular cell types or by hypertrophy of a singular tissue compartment. Edema and hydrocephalus are absent. This mutation has been mapped to mid-distal mouse Chromosome (Chr) 6 in a region homologous with human Chr 12.

A new mouse mutation causing male sterility and histoincompatibility

Male sterility and histoincompatibility, mshi, is an autosomal recessive mutation in BALB/cBy mice that causes reduced testis size and sterility in homozygous males. The testes of homozygous mutants are highly disorganized and appear to have a block in the regulation of male germ cell proliferation. No heterozygous effect is detectable. Reproduction is unaffected in females carrying the mutation. The mutation also affects histocompatibility; most homozygous males and females reject sex-matched skin grafts from BALB/cBy mice. We used an intercross between BALB/cBy and CAST/Ei to map the mshi mutation to the proximal end of Chromosome (Chr) 10. The most likely gene order places the mutation between D10Mit80 and D10Mit16, near the interferon gamma receptor locus, Ifgr, which may be a candidate gene for this mutation.

The catenin/cadherin adhesion system is localized in synaptic junctions bordering transmitter release zones

Molecular mechanisms linking pre- and postsynaptic membranes at the interneuronal synapses are little known. We tested the cadherin adhesion system for its localization in synapses of mouse and chick brains. We found that two classes of cadherin-associated proteins, alpha N- and beta-catenin, are broadly distributed in adult brains, colocalizing with a synaptic marker, synaptophysin. At the ultrastructural level, these proteins were localized in synaptic junctions of various types, forming a symmetrical adhesion structure. These structures sharply bordered the transmitter release sites associated with synaptic vesicles, although their segregation was less clear in certain types of synapses. N-cadherin was also localized at a similar site of synaptic junctions but in restricted brain nuclei. In developing synapses, the catenin-bearing contacts dominated their junctional structures. These findings demonstrate that interneuronal synaptic junctions comprise two subdomains, transmitter release zone and catenin-based adherens junction. The catenins localized in these junctions are likely associated with certain cadherin molecules including N-cadherin, and the cadherin/ catenin complex may play a critical role in the formation or maintenance of synaptic junctions.

Scrambler, a new neurological mutation of the mouse with abnormalities of neuronal migration

A novel spontaneous neurological mutation, scrambler (scm), appeared in the inbred mouse strain DC/Le (dancer) in 1991. Mice homozygous for this recessive mutation are recognized by an unstable gait and whole-body tremor. The cerebella of 30-day-old scrambler homozygotes are hypoplastic and devoid of folia; however, neither seizures nor abnormal brain wave patterns have been observed. Homozygous scrambler mutants have an ataxic gait which in the male may be a contributory factor in the failure to mate. Female homozygotes mate and breed. Life span is not reduced in either sex. Scrambler is similar to the reeler mutation in phenotype and pathology and, like reeler, probably results from defective neuronal migration. We mapped the scrambler mutation to Chromosome (Chr) 4, proving that it is distinct from the recently cloned reeler gene on Chr 5. We also determined the map position of the agrin gene, Agrn, on Chr 4, and on this basis eliminated it as a candidate for scm. Currently there is no known homology of scrambler with human lissencephalies or other human disorders caused by abnormal neuronal migration.

Isolation and chromosomal mapping of a mouse homolog of the Batten disease gene CLN3

We describe the isolation and chromosomal mapping of a mouse homolog of the Batten disease gene, CLN3. Like its human counterpart, the mouse cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1314 bp encoding a predicted protein product of 438 amino acids. The mouse and human coding regions are 82 and 85% identical at the nucleic acid and amino acid levels, respectively. The mouse gene maps to distal Chromosome 7, in a region containing genes whose homologs are on human chromosome 16p12, where CLN3 maps. Isolation of a mouse CLN3 homolog will facilitate the creation of a mouse model of Batten disease.

The neurological mouse mutations jittery and hesitant are allelic and map to the region of mouse chromosome 10 homologous to 19p13.3

Jittery (ji) is a recessive mouse mutation on Chromosome 10 characterized by progressive ataxic gait, dystonic movements, spontaneus seizures, and death by dehydration/starvation before fertility. Recently, a viable neurological recessive mutation, hesitant, was discovered. It is characterized by hesitant, unco-ordinated movements, exaggerated stepping of the hind limbs, and reduced fertility in males. In a complementation test and by genetic mapping we have shown here that hesitant and jittery are allelic. Using several large intersubspecific backcrosses and intercrosses we have genetically mapped ji near the marker Amh and microsatellite markers D10Mit7, D10Mit21, and D10Mit23. The linked region of mouse Chromosome 10 is homologous to human 19p13.3, to which several human ataxia loci have recently been mapped. By excluding genes that map to human 21q22.3 (Pfkl) and 12q23 (Nfyb), we conclude that jittery is not likely to be a genetic mouse model for human Unverricht-Lundborg progressive myoclonus epilepsy (EPM1) on 21q22.3 nor for spinocerebellar ataxia II (SCA2) on 12q22-q24. The closely linked markers presented here will facilitate positional cloning of the ji gene.

Location of the 9257 and ataxia mutations on mouse chromosome 18

The location of three mutations on proximal Chromosome (Chr) 18 was determined by analysis of the offspring of several backcrosses. The results demonstrate that ataxia and the insertional mutation TgN9257Mm are separated by less than 1 cM and are located approximately 3 cM from the centromere, while the balding locus is 7 cM more distal. Previous data demonstrated that the twirler locus also maps within 1 cM of ataxia. The corrected locations will contribute to identification of appropriate candidate genes for these mutations. Two polymorphic microsatellite markers for proximal Chr 18 are described, D18Umi1 and D18Umi2. The Lama3 locus encoding the alpha 3 subunit of nicein was mapped distal to ataxia and did not recombine with Tg9257.

Structure and chromosomal location of the mouse medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase-encoding gene and its promoter

Medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (MCAD; mouse gene Acadm; human gene ACADM) catalyzes the initial step of fatty acid beta-oxidation in mitochondria. Inherited MCAD deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder that occurs at high frequency in humans and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. We have cloned and characterized mouse Acadm which spans approximately 25 kb and contains 12 exons. The promoter region does not contain TATA or CAAT boxes and is G + C-rich (60%) within 200 bp of the cap site. A CpG island extends from 5' of the transcription start point into intron 1. The 5' regulatory region and a portion of intron 1 contain several Sp1 consensus sites and three regions containing hexamer DNA sequences that match the binding consensus for steroid/thyroid nuclear receptors. These putative nuclear receptor response elements (NRRE) share DNA sequence homology and electrophoretic mobility shift characteristics with known NRRE in the human ACADM promoter [Carter et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268 (1993) 13805-13810]. We have mapped mouse Acadm to the distal end of chromosome 3. Sequences previously localized to chromosome 8 are shown to be a pseudogene, and an additional pseudogene was identified on chromosome 11.

Mapping of the ARIX homeodomain gene to mouse chromosome 7 and human chromosome 11q13

The recently described homeodomain protein ARIX is expressed specifically in noradrenergic cell types of the sympathetic nervous system, brain, and adrenal medulla. ARIX interacts with regulatory elements of the genes encoding the noradrenergic biosynthetic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase, suggesting a role for ARIX in expression of the noradrenergic phenotype. In the study described here, the mouse and human ARIX genes are mapped. Using segregation analysis of two panels of mouse backcross DNA, mouse Arix was positioned approximately 50 cM distal to the centromere of chromosome 7, near Hbb. Human ARIX was positioned through analysis of somatic cell hybrids and fluorescence in situ hybridization of human metaphase chromosomes to chromosome 11q13.3-q13.4. These map locations extend and further define regions of conserved synteny between mouse and human genomes and identify a new candidate gene for inherited developmental disorders linked to human 11q13.

Plakoglobin domains that define its association with the desmosomal cadherins and the classical cadherins: identification of unique and shared domains

Two cell-cell junctions, the adherens junction and the desmosome, are prominent in epithelial cells. These junctions are composed of transmembrane cadherins which interact with cytoplasmic proteins that serve to link the cadherin to the cytoskeleton. One component of both adherens junctions and desmosomes is plakoglobin. In the adherens junction plakoglobin interacts with both the classical cadherin and with alpha-catenin. Alpha-catenin in turn interacts with microfilaments. The role plakoglobin plays in the desmosome is not well understood. Plakoglobin interacts with the desmosomal cadherins, but how and if this mediates interactions with the intermediate filament cytoskeleton is not known. Here we compare the domains of plakoglobin that allow it to associate with the desmosomal cadherins with those involved in interactions with the classical cadherins. We show that three sites on plakoglobin are involved in associations with the desmosomal cadherins. A domain near the N terminus is unique to the desmosomal cadherins and overlaps with the site that interacts with alpha-catenin, suggesting that there may be competition between alpha-catenin and the desmosomal cadherins for interactions with plakoglobin. In addition, a central domain is shared with regions used by plakoglobin to associate with the classical cadherins. Finally, a domain near the C terminus is shown to strongly modulate the interactions with the desmosomal cadherins. This latter domain also contributes to the association of plakoglobin with the classical cadherins.

Shifts in cadherin profiles between human normal melanocytes and melanomas

Direct contacts between keratinocytes and melanocytes play an important role in conserving the characteristic phenotype and biologic behavior of melanocytic cells. Although the mechanisms involved remain unclear, given the role of adhesion molecules in controlling cellular interactions, disturbances in normal keratinocyte-melanocyte adhesion mediated by cadherin may contribute to malignant transformation by releasing melanocytes from a variety of contact-mediated regulatory controls. To determine the potential clinical relevance of cadherin profiles in melanomas and to study their possible involvement in the phenotypic plasticity of melanocytic cells, we used immunostaining, biochemical, and co-culture techniques. Double immunofluorescence demonstrated expression of cadherins and their associating proteins, alpha- and beta-catenin, in melanocytes in situ. Melanomas were heterogeneous when evaluated immunohistochemically, with positive rates of four of 14, eight of 12, and 12 of 16 to anti-E-, anti-P-, and anti-N-cadherin monoclonal antibodies, respectively. Flow cytometry indicated abundant expression of E-cadherin but marginal P- and N-cadherin in cultured melanocytes. In contrast, only one (WM1232) of 16 melanoma cell lines tested was positive for E-cadherin, none was positive for P-cadherin, and all but one were positive for N-cadherin. Western blot confirmed E-cadherin expression in melanocytic cells. Immunoprecipitation further revealed complexes of E-cadherin with catenins in WM1232 melanoma cells. Co-culture studies indicated that only melanoma cells expressing E-cadherin (WM1232) were susceptible to keratinocyte-mediated control of the expression of the melanoma cell adhesion molecule, Mel-CAM. The results suggest downregulation of E-cadherin but upregulation of N-cadherin in melanoma cells. Such a shift in cadherin profiles may endow melanocytic cells with new adhesive properties and altered spatial relations that favor uncontrolled proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Dense incisors (din): a new mouse mutation on chromosome 16 affecting tooth eruption and body size

Dense incisors (din) is a new autosomal recessive mutation in the mouse that interferes with complete eruption of the incisors. The initial eruption of incisors through the gingiva does not differ in mutants and normal littermates, but subsequent further eruption of incisors is arrested in mutants. Radiographic examinations show that, because the incisors do not erupt, continued dentin formation gradually occludes the pulp chambers of these teeth creating as dense incisor. The arrested eruption of the incisor results in an anterior open bite. The pleiotropic phenotype of din/din mutant mice also includes small body size, reduced ear pinna size, and coat color dilution. The din mutation was mapped to Chr 16 near the pituitary transcription factor gene Pit1, but din is not a mutation in Pit1.

The differential expression of N-cadherin and E-cadherin distinguishes pleural mesotheliomas from lung adenocarcinomas

Malignant mesotheliomas are highly aggressive tumors that develop most frequently in the pleura of patients chronically exposed to asbestos. The distinction between malignant mesotheliomas and tumors of epithelial origin, particularly peripheral lung adenocarcinoma, can be difficult despite the use of immunocytochemical markers and other diagnostic tools. During embryonic development the cadherin cell-cell adhesion molecules participate in the segregation of cells into different tissues. As a result of complex mechanisms of tissue selectivity, N-cadherin is expressed by the developing pleural mesothelial cells and E-cadherin is expressed by the epithelial cells of the lung. Thus, we postulated that N-cadherin could be used as a marker of mesothelial cells and mesothelial tumors, in contrast to adenocarcinomas of the lung that are tumors of epithelial origin. We studied the expression of N-cadherin, E-cadherin and two cadherin-associated proteins, alpha-catenin and beta-catenin, in 19 pleural mesotheliomas, 16 lung adenocarcinomas and in 2 mesothelioma cell lines using specific monoclonal antibodies and immunohistochemical methods. Our results show that all mesotheliomas express high levels of N-cadherin, regardless of their histological type, in contrast to lung adenocarcinomas which expressed E-cadherin but no N-cadherin. The cadherin-associated proteins, alpha-catenin and beta-catenin, were present in both mesotheliomas and adenocarcinomas. Our results show that pleural mesotheliomas can be distinguished from lung adenocarcinomas based on the differential expression of N-cadherin and E-cadherin, using specific monoclonal antibodies and immunocytochemistry.

Chromosome 5 suppresses tumorigenicity of PC3 prostate cancer cells: correlation with re-expression of alpha-catenin and restoration of E-cadherin function

Considerable evidence now exists to support an important role for the E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion pathway as a suppressor of the invasive phenotype in adenocarcinoma cells. Previous studies have found that this pathway is frequently aberrant in prostate cancers, particularly those that are likely to metastasize. In this study, we report on the effects of re-establishment of this pathway in a prostate cancer cell line, PC-3, in which this adhesion system is dysfunctional by virtue of a deletion of the gene that codes for alpha-catenin, an E-cadherin-associated protein necessary for normal E-cadherin function. Re-expression of alpha-catenin was accomplished either by transfection of PC-3 cells with a copy of the alpha-catenin cDNA under the control of a heterologous promoter or by microcell-mediated transfer of chromosome 5, which contains the alpha-catenin gene and its normal regulatory elements. In both cases, re-expression of alpha-catenin is associated with a similar, dramatic alteration in cell morphology, whereby extensive cell-cell contact is observed. In the case of transfection of the cDNA, this expression is only transient, because the transfected cells either cease to proliferate or, more commonly, revert to the parental phenotype with concomitant cessation of alpha-catenin expression. In contrast, cells containing one or more copies of microcell-transferred chromosome 5 express alpha-catenin in a stable manner and continue to proliferate. Upon injection into nude mice, these latter cells are no longer tumorigenic, or form only slowly growing tumors with greatly extended doubling times when compared to the parental PC-3 cells. During passage in culture, clones that contain only one transferred copy of chromosome 5 reproducibly revert to the parental phenotype. This reversion is associated with loss of the chromosome 5 region containing the alpha-catenin gene and consequent loss of alpha-catenin expression, as well as re-emergence of tumorigenicity. Transfer of chromosome 5 into prostate cancer cells that are E-cadherin negative does not result in either morphological transformation or suppression of tumorigenicity, suggesting that these effects of alpha-catenin expression are dependent upon concomitant expression of E-cadherin. These data demonstrate the tumor suppressive ability of chromosome 5 in the PC-3 prostate cancer cells and suggest that re-expression of alpha-catenin with resultant restoration of E-cadherin function plays a critical role in this process.

Developmentally regulated mouse gene NK10 encodes a zinc finger repressor protein with differential DNA-binding domains

Using oligonucleotides complementary to the conserved inter-finger region of a variety of previously described zinc finger-encoding genes, a novel mouse gene was cloned and characterized. The gene is localized on chromosome 8 and comprises five exons. Its corresponding mRNA is developmentally regulated in various tissues and includes an open reading frame encoding a protein of 72,422 daltons. It shares amino-terminal homologies with human KRAB (or FPB) boxes, and contains 13 zinc fingers of the C2-H2 type. The NK10 KRAB domains exhibit repressing activity when tested in GAL4 fusion protein assays. Cloning of putative target sequences revealed that the individual domains differentially contribute to zinc-dependent target DNA binding.

Mapping the mouse dactylaplasia mutation, Dac, and a gene that controls its expression, mdac

Dactylaplasia is an inherited mouse limb malformation whose manifestation is clearly dependent on the interaction of two genes and thus represents an excellent model system for studying such gene interactions in vivo. The Dac mutation is inherited as a semidominant trait and may be a model for some forms of human ectrodactyly. Heterozygotes show absence of digits on each foot; the long bones are normal. On the SM/Ckc background on which the mutation occurred, Dac homozygotes die around birth. We mapped Dac to the distal end of Chr 19 by backcross segregation analysis A closely linked marker was then used to distinguish +/+, Dac/+, and Dac/Dac genotypes of embryos and adults. When intercrossed with the NZB/BINJ strain, Dac homozygotes were shown to be viable and fertile, but had a more severe limb malformation (only a single remaining digit) than heterozygotes. Expression of the abnormal limb phenotypes of Dac/+ and Dac/Dac mice also depends on homozygosity for a recessive allele of another unlinked gene, mdac, that is polymorphic among inbred mouse strains. We mapped mdac to the middle of Chr 13 by segregation analysis of both recombinant inbred strains and backcross progeny.

Identification of plakoglobin domains required for association with N-cadherin and alpha-catenin

Cadherins are calcium-dependent, cell surface glycoproteins involved in cell-cell adhesion. To function in cell-cell adhesion, the transmembrane cadherin molecule must be associated with the cytoskeleton via cytoplasmic proteins known as catenins. Three catenins, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, and gamma-catenin (also known as plakoglobin), have been identified. The domain of the cadherin molecule important for its interaction with the catenins has been mapped to the COOH-terminal 70 amino acids, but less is known about regions of the catenins that allow them to associate with one another or with the cadherin molecule. In this study we have transfected carboxyl-terminal deletions of plakoglobin into the human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 and used immunofluorescence localization and co-immunoprecipitation to map the regions of plakoglobin that allow it to associate with N-cadherin and with alpha-catenin. Plakoglobin is an armadillo family member containing 13 weakly similar internal repeats. These data show that the alpha-catenin-binding region maps within the first repeat and the N-cadherin-binding region maps within repeats 7 and 8.

RNA expression and chromosomal location of the mouse long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene

The cDNA for mouse long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (Acadl, gene symbol; LCAD, enzyme) was cloned and characterized. The cDNA was obtained by library screening and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The deduced amino acid sequence showed a high degree of homology to both the rat and the human LCAD sequence. Northern analysis of multiple tissues using the mouse Acadl cDNA as a probe showed two bands in all tissues examined. We found a total of three distinct mRNAs for Acadl. These three mRNAs were encoded by a single gene that we mapped to mouse chromosome 1. The three transcripts differed in the 3' untranslated region due to use of alternative polyadenylation sites. Quantitative evaluation of a multitissue Northern blot showed a varied ratio of the larger transcript as compared with the smaller transcripts.