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. 1993 Mar 11;21(5):1225–1229. doi: 10.1093/nar/21.5.1225

Splicing choice from ten variant exons establishes CD44 variability.

C Tölg 1, M Hofmann 1, P Herrlich 1, H Ponta 1
PMCID: PMC309286  PMID: 8464707

Abstract

The enormous heterogeneity of the surface protein designated CD44 is in part due to posttranslational modification, and in part due to differential splicing. Alternative splicing occurs within one particular region encoding the extracellular portion of the protein. Comparison of various cDNA clones with different 'inserts' in this variable region with sequences of genomic clones from the mouse has revealed the existence of at least ten exons from which sequences are chosen by alternative splicing. Various combinations of these exons account for the tremendous heterogeneity of CD44 molecules expressed in different tissues, and in progressing tumor cells. The existence of different isoforms of CD44 suggests a broad spectrum of yet unknown physiologic functions.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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