The identification and partial cloning by PCR of the gene for tyrosinase-related protein-1 in the Mexican axolotl.
The tyrosinase gene family is currently composed of three members, tyrosinase and two tyrosinase-related proteins, TRP-1 and TRP-2. These three gene products have all been found to act in the synthesis of melanin pigments with the enzyme tyrosinase catalyzing the initial rate-limiting steps. Thus far these genes have primarily been analyzed in higher vertebrates. We have used degenerate PCR primers to isolate a large fragment of an axolotl tyrosinase-related protein. Sequence analysis of the entire 1,057-bp fragment isolated indicates a high degree of similarity to the mouse TRP-1, the product of the brown locus. Phylogenetic analysis supports the conclusion that the fragment isolated corresponds to the axolotl TRP-1 homolog. This is the first TRP-1 gene to be identified in an amphibian species.
Mason
K A
KA
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045, USA.
Mason
S K
SK
D000558:Ambystoma mexicanum / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009491:Neurospora / Q000235:genetics; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics
D017931:DNA Primers; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D003300:Copper; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C489799:TYRP1 protein, human; C064056:tyrosinase-related protein-1