Abstract
Humans produce four different forms of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA via alternative splicing of the gene. Here we demonstrate that New- and Old-World monkeys and the gorilla produce only two of the TH isoforms. Comparison among the genomic DNA sequences of various primates revealed that mutations that had accumulated in the genomic DNA created a new exon, resulting in the appearance of two new TH isoforms in man. These findings offer new insight into the sequence of events leading to the evolution of the higher primates into separate species. They also represent what may be the first evidence of a genetic difference between man and primates with respect to a specific brain function.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Callithrix / genetics
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Exons
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Gorilla gorilla / genetics
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Hominidae / genetics*
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Humans
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Hylobates / genetics
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Introns
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Isoenzymes / biosynthesis
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Isoenzymes / genetics*
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Macaca / genetics
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
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Pan troglodytes / genetics
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Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
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Pongo pygmaeus / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / analysis
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
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Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
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Species Specificity
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Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / biosynthesis
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Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / genetics*
Substances
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Isoenzymes
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
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RNA, Messenger
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Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
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RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
Associated data
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GENBANK/L14789
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GENBANK/L14790
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GENBANK/L14791
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GENBANK/L14792
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GENBANK/L14793
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GENBANK/L14794
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GENBANK/L14795
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GENBANK/L14796
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GENBANK/L14797
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GENBANK/L14798
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GENBANK/L14799
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GENBANK/L14800
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GENBANK/L14801
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GENBANK/L14802
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GENBANK/L14803
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GENBANK/L14804