Molecular cloning, gene expression, and tissue distribution  of adiponectin and its receptors in the Japanese monkey,  Macaca fuscata.
BACKGROUND
Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that affects regulation of metabolic syndrome such as insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes, and obesity. It functions via seven transmembrane domain receptors [i.e.,adiponectin receptors 1 (AdipoR1) and 2 (AdipoR2)] that have been scarcely investigated in non-human primates.


METHODS
Molecular cloning of cDNAs for adiponectin, AdipoR1, and AdipoR2 that included the whole protein-coding region in the Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata, was carried out. Tissue-specific expression of respective genes was analyzed with Northern blot hybridization.


RESULTS
The essential Cys36 and four lysine residues in adiponectin, and transmembrane-spanning domains in AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 appear well conserved. While adiponectin mRNA is expressed only in adipose tissues, AdipoR1 mRNA was found to be expressed in various tissues including the brain.


CONCLUSIONS
These results significantly add to the understanding of the molecular basis of obesity-related adipokines and their receptors in nonhuman primates.
Center for Human Evolution Modeling Research, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama Aichi, Japan. ghkang@deu.ac.kr
Kyung-Hwa
KH
Kang
Atsunori
A
Higashino
Heui-Soo
HS
Kim
Yong-Tae
YT
Lee
Takashi
T
Kageyama
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression; D008251:Macaca / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D052242:Adiponectin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin