Rat NEURL1 3'UTR is alternatively spliced and targets mRNA to dendrites.

•The 3′UTR of Neuralized-like1 (NEURL1) mRNA exists in two splice variants (1743 and 1477nt in length).•The NEURL1 mRNA with spliced 3'UTR is expressed at low levels, reaching up to 1.65% of the levels of total NEURL1 transcripts.•The spliced NEURL1 3′UTR is a target of nonsense-mediated decay.•NEURL1 transcripts with spliced and full-length 3′UTRs are enriched in the neurites of primary hippocampal neurons.•Both spliced and full-length NEURL1 3′UTRs can direct reporter mRNAs to the dendrites in primary hippocampal neurons.