Overlapping cDNA clones encoding a low M gamma human nonmuscle caldesmon isoform (HUM 1-CaD) span the entire coding region (538 amino acids) as well as 111 base pairs (bp) of 5'-noncoding and 1249 bp of 3'-noncoding region. Northern blot probes derived from either the coding or 3'-noncoding region hybridized to a 4.3-kilobase mRNA in nonmuscle cells and a 5.2-kilobase mRNA in stomach tissue. Primer extension results indicated that the 5'-noncoding region of the HUM 1-CaD mRNA is approximately 700 bp in length and also suggested that 1-CaD mRNAs with common 5'-noncoding regions are expressed in both liver and fibroblast cells. Comparisons of the human, rat, and chicken 1-CaD amino acids sequences demonstrated that although each isoform has unique characteristics, extensive regions of conservation exist. Amino acids 27-53 and 97-127 are 100% identical in these isoforms while amino acids 297-531 of HUM 1-CaD are 94 and 85% identical to the rat and chicken 1-CaDs, respectively. In addition, the levels of HUM 1-CaD mRNA and protein appeared to be decreased by 2-4 fold in the transformed derivatives of KD and WI38 cell lines as judged by Northern and Western blot analysis. The results suggest that the decrease of 1-CaD protein in these transformed cells is a direct result of decreased 1-CaD mRNA synthesis and/or increased mRNA turnover.