title: Comparison of chorionic gonadotropin expression in human and macaque (Macaca fascicularis) trophoblasts.
abstract: We have designed novel DNA primers that allow us to detect the expression of the subunits of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) from a variety of species of the order Primates. Using these primers, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and standard cloning techniques, we detected the expression of a single gene for the common glycoprotein hormone (GPH) alpha-subunit and at least two genes for the CG beta-subunit in trophoblasts of Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgous macaque (cm)) at gestational day (GD) = 26 (+/- 2d). No cmCG expression was detected at GD = 35-40. When sequences of cmGPH-alpha and cmCG-beta genes were compared to the corresponding genes of other primates, we found that the alpha-subunit of M. fascicularis was highly conserved compared to other primate species. However, cmCG beta-subunits appeared to be less conserved, residing between those of human CG-beta and baboon CG-beta when analyzed phylogenetically. Of particular interest was a three amino acid stretch in one of the expressed cmCG-beta genes that is distinct from all other primates studied. Our findings imply that not only does the expression of multiple CG beta-subunit genes appear to be common to Old World monkeys, but that the presented methodology will greatly facilitate our ability to understand primate evolution.
authors.affiliation: Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 986805 University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805, USA.
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilken
authors.forename: Kikuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Lisa S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Laughlin
authors.forename: Bill L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Lasley
authors.forename: Elliott
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bedows
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014327:Trophoblasts
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D017931:DNA Primers