cDNA cloning and developmental expression of the porcine homologue of WT1.
Wilms' tumors occur most frequently in swines as sporadic tumors. To clarify the role of WT1 gene in the genesis of Wilms' tumors and genitourinary development, we have isolated the porcine homologue of the human WT1 gene (pWT1) and analyzed its expression in various organs including the kidney. The open reading frame of pWT1 cDNA was extremely homologous to the human counterpart: 94% identical at the nucleotide level and 98% at the polypeptide level. In particular, the zinc finger region was more than 97% similar to human WT1 gene at the nucleotide level and 100% at the polypeptide level. pWT1 mRNA was found to be expressed in new-born kidney, spleen, testis, and embryonic kidneys, suggesting a possible association of pWT1 with the development of the genitourinary system. In conclusion, the nucleotide sequence and expression patterns in organs of pWT1 were similar to those of human WT1. Therefore, swines could provide good models for analyzing the contributions of WT1 gene to genitourinary development and genesis of Wilms' tumors.
Tsurutani
N
N
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Oda
H
H
Nakatsuru
Y
Y
Imai
Y
Y
Zhang
S
S
Ueno
Y
Y
Ishikawa
T
T
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005796:Genes / Q000235:genetics; D016162:Genes, Wilms Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D025721:WT1 Proteins
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025721:WT1 Proteins