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ABSTRACT
Porcine prolactin cDNA clones were screened using antiserum against ovine prolactin from a cDNA library of porcine anterior pituitary, and their nucleotide sequences were determined by the chain-termination method. The nucleotide sequence of the 5′ untranslated region and part of the signal peptide region were determined by direct RNA sequencing with reverse transcriptase. The composite sequence of 957 nucleotides showed a signal sequence of 30 amino acids and a further 199 amino acids corresponding to the mature prolactin molecule. The predicted sequence confirmed the amino acid sequence determined previously by direct protein analysis, except for one amide form at residue 122 (Gln instead of the reported Glu). Northern blot analysis showed that the length of the porcine prolactin mRNA was about 1·1 kb. The porcine prolactin amino acid sequence showed 81, 80, 64, 62, 80 and 31% homology with human, bovine, rat, mouse, chick and salmon forms respectively. The identical amino acid residues showed marked clustering in four domains, two of which are highly conserved throughout a wide range of species. The hydropathy and secondary structure of porcine prolactin were analysed and compared with those of porcine GH, which shares the same ancestral gene. The two highly conserved regions of both hormones showed similar hydrophilicity, and the predicted secondary structures indicated that these regions in each hormone form different structures with differences in extension of the hydrophilic residues outside the molecule.
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Search for other papers by T. Ezashi in
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Search for other papers by T. Hirai in
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Search for other papers by T. Kato in
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ABSTRACT
The gene for the common α subunit of the porcine anterior pituitary glycoprotein hormones was cloned from a genomic library constructed in EMBL3. The nucleotide sequence of the entire coding sequence of the porcine common α-subunit gene was determined in addition to one intron and 1059 and 160 bp of the 5′-and 3′-flanking regions respectively. Southern blot analysis of the porcine genomic DNA indicated that the common α-subunit gene is present as a single copy. The transcriptional unit of the porcine common α subunit spanned about 14kb and contained four exons interrupted by three introns of about 11.5, 1.2 and 0.4kb. The short untranslated sequence in the first exon and the location of the exon/intron junctions at amino acid residues +9/+10 and +71/+72 were highly conserved among the rat, human and bovine common α-subunit genes. In the proximal portion of the 5′-flanking region, one TATA box and one CCAAT box were present. A steroid-responsive element was not found up to 1059 bases upstream from the transcription start site. The potential AP-1 and AP-2 factor-responsive elements were present at three and one positions respectively in the 5′-flanking region. This feature suggests that hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone stimulates the expression of the common α-subunit gene predominantly by a signal-transduction system, with the protein kinase C cascade and factors AP-1 and AP-2 as mediators. The cyclic AMP-responsive element was also present at two positions, but a single base substitution was found in each sequence compared with the consensus sequence. The porcine common α-subunit gene has a structure distinct from its counterparts, the porcine FSH-β and LH-β genes, reflecting differential control of their synthesis during gametogenesis.
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Search for other papers by H. Takikawa in
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Search for other papers by Y. Kato in
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ABSTRACT
To elucidate the structure and control of expression of the porcine FSH-β subunit gene, two genomic clones were isolated and the entire gene structure was determined to the extent of 10 kb, consisting of 6 kb of the 5′-flanking region and 4 kb of the transcriptional unit. The porcine FSH-β gene consisted of three exons the same as the human and bovine genes, but the positions of both splicing sites of porcine intron-1 were unique. It is known that the synthesis of FSH is regulated by gonadal steroids, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and inhibin. However, the consensus steroid-responsive element was unexpectedly absent in the 5′-flanking region of 6 kb. On the other hand, the potential binding sites for activator protein-1 (AP1) and AP2, which might be stimulated by the GnRH—protein kinase C cascade, were present at seven and five positions respectively. An imperfect cyclic AMP-responsive element was also present. Southern blot analyses, using the cDNA and genomic fragments as probes, gave smear patterns suggesting the presence of repetitive sequences in the porcine FSH-β gene. A survey of homology with the repetitive sequences revealed that short interspersed repeated sequences (SINES)-type non-viral retroposons were present with about 250 bp length repeats twice in the 5′-flanking region and once each in intron-1 and the 3′-flanking region. Other SINES-like sequences were also found in intron-1, exon-2 and exon-3. In comparison with the 5′-flanking sequences of the porcine α and LH-β genes, there were no significantly conserved regions, implying a lack of common modulation of the three subunit genes.
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Search for other papers by T. Hirai in
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Search for other papers by K. Wakabayashi in
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Search for other papers by Y. Kato in
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ABSTRACT
The gene for the β subunit of porcine LH (LH-β) was cloned from a genomic library constructed in EMBL3. The nucleotide sequence was determined for the entire gene transcriptional unit of porcine LH-β in addition to 1277 and 372 bp of the 5′- and 3′-flanking regions respectively. Southern blot analysis of the porcine genomic DNA indicated that the LH-β gene is present as a single copy. The transcriptional unit of porcine LH-β spanned 1107 bp and contained three exons interrupted by two introns of 326 and 289 bp. The short untranslated sequence in the first exon and the location of the exon/intron junctions at amino acid residues −16/−15 and +41/+42 were highly conserved in the rat, human and bovine LH-β genes. In the 5′-flanking region, one TATA box and two CCAAT boxes were present. The steroid-responsive element was not found up to 1277 bases upstream of the transcription start site. The potential AP-2 factor-responsive elements appeared nine times within the sequence that was determined, and four of them were located in the 5′-flanking region. Two distal AP-2 elements were arranged in an inverted repeat forming a 16 bp palindromic sequence. This feature suggested that hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone stimulates expression of the LH-β gene, predominantly by a signal-transduction system with the protein kinase C cascade and a mediator, the AP-2 factor. A further characteristic feature of the porcine LH-β gene was the presence of clusters of GC boxes and CACCC elements in the 5′-flanking region and the downstream sequence. Co-existence of these regulatory elements with other elements, such as the AP-2 element or CCAAT box, was also found. The porcine LH-β gene shows a structure distinct from the porcine FSH-β and common α genes, which are counterparts of the LH-β gene, reflecting differential control of their synthesis during gametogenesis.
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Search for other papers by T Hirai in
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Abstract
In order to better quantify the molecular mechanisms regulating final oocyte maturation and spawning, complete coding sequences with partially or fully untranslated regions for the steroidogenic enzymes, cytochrome P450 aromatase and 20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, were cloned from ovaries of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). The nucleotide and amino acid sequences showed high homologies with the corresponding sequences of other fish species, and conserved features important for functionality were identified in both predicted proteins. The sequences of the corresponding genomic loci were also determined, allowing the design of mRNA-specific quantitative PCR assays. As a reference gene for the real-time RT-PCR assays, eukaryotic elongation factor 1α was chosen, and the mRNA as well as the genomic sequence was determined. In addition, a real-time quantitative PCR assay for the 18S rRNA was adapted to be used in cod. Analysis of immature and maturing female cod from July to January respectively showed that the enzyme genes showed the expected quantitative changes associated with physiological regulation. However, mRNA for eukaryotic elongation factor 1α, and to a lesser extent even 18S rRNA, showed variable expression in these samples as well. To find accurate standards for real-time PCR in such a dynamic organ as the cod ovary is not an easy task, and several possible solutions are discussed.
