title: Cloning of the elk TSH beta-subunit cDNA and seasonal expression of the pituitary glycoprotein hormone genes.
abstract: We report the elk (Cervus elaphus) thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) beta-subunit cDNA cloning, nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences. The TSH beta-subunit cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR of polyadenylated pituitary RNA. The deduced elk TSH beta-subunit peptide chain shares between 93 to 99% sequence similarities with the reported TSH beta-subunit of a sub-set of related species. The TSH beta-subunit gene is expressed in the elk pituitary gland as a mature transcript of approximately 600 bases, which corresponds to the size of the mRNA expressed in the sheep pituitary gland. Seasonal expression of the pituitary gonadotropin genes was investigated by Northern blot analyses. Samples of elk pituitary glands collected during the breeding season showed elevated steady state levels of common alpha-subunit and FSH and LH beta-subunit gene expression, consistent with the seasonal reproductive cycling of this species. Samples collected before the breeding season demonstrated decreased expression of the gonadotropin genes. TSH, which is not directly tied to reproduction, had similar levels of expression, regardless of the animal's reproductive status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Rena J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Furlan
authors.forename: P Jorge
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chedrese
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003670:Deer / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D037101:Luteinizing Hormone, beta Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep; D037322:Thyrotropin, beta Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D037101:Luteinizing Hormone, beta Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D037322:Thyrotropin, beta Subunit