title: The polypeptides and genes for ovine and bovine trophoblast protein-1.
abstract: Ovine and bovine trophoblast protein-1 (oTP-1 and bTP-1) have been strongly implicated as antiluteolytic agents and responsible for maternal recognition of pregnancy in sheep and cattle, respectively. Both are interferons (IFN) belonging to the IFN-alpha family, but their length (172 residues versus 166 for most IFN-alpha) places them in an unusual subclass (the IFN-alpha II). The various isoforms of oTP-1 and bTP-1 produced by trophoblast tissue appear to arise in part from translation of multiple mRNAs which are themselves the products of distinct genes. These genes, like those for other IFN-alpha, are without introns. However, the genes for oTP-1 and bTP-1 form a distinct subgroup within the IFN-alpha II on the basis of their overall primary sequences and the high conservation of the 3'-untranslated ends of their transcription units. The bTP-1 genes also differ from the bovine IFN-alpha II in the organization of the promoter regions upstream from the transcription start site. Nevertheless, computer-aided analysis of the primary polypeptide sequences of oTP-1 and bTP-1 indicates that the molecules are likely to have approximately the same shapes and dimensions as all other IFN-alpha molecules. It remains to be determined whether they have unique biological properties which distinguish them from other IFN-alpha molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Klemann
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Leaman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bixby
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Farin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imakawa
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA; D005260:Female; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008186:Luteolytic Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012756:Sheep / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D008186:Luteolytic Agents; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C020947:interferon tau; D004247:DNA