Structure, alternative splicing, and expression of the human RGS9 gene

An isoform of RGS9 was recently identified as the GTPase activating protein in bovine and mouse rod and cone photoreceptors. To explore the potential role of the RGS9 gene in human retinal disease, we determined its exon/intron arrangement, and investigated its expression in human retina. The results show that the gene, located on 17q24, consists of 19 exons and spans more than 75 kb of genomic DNA. The entire gene was found to be contained on a single BAC clone with an insert size of 170 kb. The major transcripts of the gene are alternatively spliced into a 9.5 kb retina-specific transcript (RGS9-1) and a brain specific 2.5 kb transcript (RGS9-2). Exons 1–16 are constitutive and present in both variants. Exon 17 contains the 3′ end of the open reading frame and the 3′-UTR of the RGS9-1 variant. In RGS9-2, exon 17 is alternatively spliced and joined to exons 18 and 19 that are not present in the retina variant. Immunolocalization with a monoclonal antibody recognizing the retina and brain variants shows abundant expression in photoreceptors and possibly very low levels in cell types of the inner retina. Owing to the specific expression of RGS9-1 in photoreceptors the RGS9 gene is a candidate gene for RP17, a form of autosomal retinitis pigmentosa, located on the long arm of chromosome 17.