A cDNA clone encoding a novel protein (Cer-1) was isolated from a mouse cerebellar cDNA library. The deduced amino acid sequence of Cer-1 is not homologous to other sequences in the protein sequence data base. RNA blot analysis suggests that expression of Cer-1 RNA occurs selectively in the adult cerebellum and in purified cultures of cerebellar granule neurons. An increase in its expression correlates with the timing of granule neuron differentiation in the cerebellum. Thus, the expression of Cer-1 may provide a selective marker for terminal differentiation of cerebellar granule neurons.
Amino Acid Sequence Animals