A cDNA clone representative of a novel splicing pattern of the D. melanogaster dunce gene

Abstract

The D. melanogaster dunce gene is involved in both the learning and memory processes of the fly. The gene encodes for a cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase, a function playing a central role in the regulation of the intracellular cAMP level. Molecular cloning of dunce has so far not been completely achieved, although it is known that the gene encodes a large set of RNAs and has a complex organization, extending for more than 140 kilobases and containing several genes within its introns. Here we report the isolation and the characterization of 21/7, a cDNA clone representative of a novel dunce splicing pattern. The nucleotide sequence of this clone led to the identification of a dunce exon included in at least one transcript so far uncharacterized.