Transcription of different exons 1 of the human neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene is dynamically regulated in a cell- and stimulus-specific manner.

An extensive screening of the human neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) mRNAs in various human tissues and cell lines unraveled an extreme complexity in the transcription of this gene. Using 5'rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5'-RACE), ten different exons 1 (named 1a-1l) were identified. They were spliced in a cell-specific manner to a common exon 2, which bears the translational start site. Three first exons (1 d, 1g and 1f) were used predominantly for the transcription of the nNOS gene (146 out of 197 5'-RACE clones contained these exons). Exon 1 k was found alone, but in many instances was interposed between exons 1 b, 1d, 1g, 1 i or 1j and the common exon 2. In addition to the cell-s…