The beta subunit of human rod photoreceptor cGMP-gated cation channel is generated from a complex transcription unit.

Human and bovine rod photoreceptor cGMP-gated cation channel consists of two subunits: alpha (63 kDa) and beta (240 kDa). The human beta subunit was shown to consist partly of sequence encoded by the cDNA clone hRCNC2b. Here we present the complete sequence of the human beta subunit and demonstrate that the previously reported human GAR1 gene encoding a glutamate-rich protein (hGARP) encodes its N-terminal portion. Using PCR, RNA blot and genomic DNA analysis, we provide evidence that the beta subunit is produced from a complex locus on chromosome 16 which is also capable of generating independent transcripts corresponding to GAR1 and the C-terminal two-thirds of the beta subunit. The results indicate that the beta subunit of the cGMP-gated cation channel is produced from an unusual locus consisting of more than one transcription unit.