title: Comparative analysis of the prion protein (PrP) gene in cetacean species.
abstract: The partial PrP gene sequence and the deduced protein of eight cetacean species, seven of which have never been reported so far, have been determined in order to extend knowledge of sequence variability of the PrP genes in different species and to aid in speculation on cetacean susceptibility to prions. Both the nucleotide and the deduced amino acid sequences have been analysed in comparison with some of the known mammalian PrPs. Cetacean PrPs present typical features of eutherian PrPs. The PrP gene from the species of the family Delphinidae gave identical nucleic acid sequences, while differences in the PrP gene were found in Balaenopteridae and Ziphidae. The phylogenetic tree resulting from analysis of the cetacean PrP gene sequences, together with reported sequences of some ungulates, carnivores and primates, showed that the PrP gene phylogenesis mirrors the species phylogenesis. The PrP gene of cetaceans is very close to species where natural forms of TSEs are known. From an analysis of the sequences and the phylogenesis of the PrP gene, susceptibility to or occurrence of prion diseases in cetaceans can not be excluded.
authors.affiliation: CEA (National Reference Centre for TSEs), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy. pierluigi.acutis@izsto.it
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Acutis
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peletto
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grego
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colussi
authors.forename: Maria Vittoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Riina
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mignone
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caramelli
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002591:Cetacea / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D011328:Prions