A recombinant nucleic acid comprising nucleotides corresponding to a 3.2 kb 3′ untranslated region present in mouse calcium calmodulin kinase II alpha subunit-encoding mRNA is provided. An isolated nucleic acid which hybridizes to the 3′ untranslated region of mouse calcium calmodulin kinase II alpha subunit-encoding mRNA under conditions comprising two post-hybridization washes of 15 minutes each at 42° C. in 0.2× standard sodium citrate buffer is also provided.