γ‐Aminobutyric AcidA Receptor Heterogeneity Is Increased by Alternative Splicing of a Novel β‐Subunit Gene Transcript

: DNA sequences encoding two variants of a novel γ‐aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor β subunit were isolated from an embryonic chicken whole‐brain cDNA library and a chicken genomic library. The coding regions of these variants only differ from each other by the absence or presence of 12 bp in the region that encodes the presumed intracellular loop between transmembrane domains M3 and M4; the encoded subunits have been named β4 and β4′, respectively. The predicted mature polypeptides are 72–77% identical to the previously characterized mammalian and chicken β1,β2, and β3 subunits. Analysis of the β4‐subunit gene reveals that the different transcripts encoding the two variants arise by the use of one of two 5′‐donor splice sites that are separated by 12 bp. This is the first demonstration of alternative splicing of a GABAA receptor subunit gene transcript and represents a further mechanism for the generation of GABAA receptor heterogeneity.