Analyses of the cDNA and genomic DNA sequences encoding the luteinizing hormone beta-subunit precursor protein in the rabbit.
To examine the molecular basis for efficient induction of superovulation in the rabbit, we determined the cDNA sequences of the luteinizing hormone beta-subunit (LHB) from Japanese White (JW), New Zealand White (NZW), and Dutch-Belted (Dutch) rabbits, and we compared these LHB sequences with those of other mammals. Using 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) with pituitary cDNA libraries, we found that the LHB cDNAs of all three breeds are the same length (523 bp from the 5'-end to the polyA site) and have putative AATAAA polyadenylation signal sequences at nucleotides 504 to 509. Northern blot analysis indicated that the approximately 600-nt mRNA encoding JW LHB is slightly longer than the LHB mRNAs of the other two breeds. The NZW and Dutch rabbit LHB coding sequences are 426 bp long, and their G+C contents are higher (>73%) than those of other mammalian LHBs (<70%). The predicted 141-amino-acid sequences of the JW and NZW LHB proteins are identical, and the Dutch LHB and JW/NZW sequences differ at only two residues. The exon-intron configuration of the NZW LHB gene (three exons and two introns) is similar to that of other mammalian LHB genes, and the sequences of NZW rabbit and other mammalian LHB promoter regions are highly conserved. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of the three rabbit LHB proteins indicated that the rabbit occupies a phylogenetic position between rodents and domestic animals, and is far from humans. The results suggest that LH prepared from rodents or domestic animals, if available, would be a better inducer for superovulation in rabbits than human LH/CG.
Suzuki
Osamu
O
Laboratory of Experimental Animal Models, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Saito-Asagi 7-6-8, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0085, Japan. osuzuki@nibio.go.jp
Koura
Minako
M
Noguchi
Yoko
Y
Takano
Kaoru
K
Uchio-Yamada
Kozue
K
Matsuda
Junichiro
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D037101:Luteinizing Hormone, beta Subunit / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D037101:Luteinizing Hormone, beta Subunit