Sequence of Two mRNAs Encoding Active Rat Tryptophan Hydroxylase

Abstract

Two full-length cDNA clones that encode functional rat tryptophan hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.4), the key enzyme in serotonin synthesis, have been isolated from a rat pineal gland library. These two clones correspond to the 1.8- and 4-kilobase mRNA species, respectively. They contain the same coding sequence corresponding to a 51,010-dalton protein and differ in the length of their 3' untranslated regions.