title: Comparative analysis of the prion protein gene sequences in African lion.
abstract: The prion protein gene of African lion (Panthera Leo) was first cloned and polymorphisms screened. The results suggest that the prion protein gene of eight African lions is highly homogenous. The amino acid sequences of the prion protein (PrP) of all samples tested were identical. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (C42T, C81A, C420T, T600C) in the prion protein gene (Prnp) of African lion were found, but no amino acid substitutions. Sequence analysis showed that the higher homology is observed to felis catus AF003087 (96.7%) and to sheep number M31313.1 (96.2%) Genbank accessed. With respect to all the mammalian prion protein sequences compared, the African lion prion protein sequence has three amino acid substitutions. The homology might in turn affect the potential intermolecular interactions critical for cross species transmission of prion disease.
authors.affiliation: National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China.
authors.forename: Chang-De
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wan-Yong
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: De-Ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008045:Lions / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D011328:Prions