Predominant Expression of rTERTb, an Inactive TERT Variant, in the Adult Rat Brain

The full-length and four alternatively spliced variant mRNA transcripts of rat TERT were identified. One of the variant, rTERTb, was predominantly expressed during brain development in accordance with the decrease in telomerase activity. The rTERTb mRNA encoded an inactive truncated protein. Alternative splicing of TERT may be important during brain development.