Cloning,  expression analysis and sequence prediction of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding  protein alpha gene of Qinchuan cattle.
CCAAT/enhancer-binding  protein alpha (C/EBPα) is  an essential transcription factor, regulating the differentiation of adipocytes.  We cloned the complete open reading frame of C/EBPα gene of  Qinchuan cattle and analyzed its protein structures and expression profile in  15 tissues via DNA cloning, sequencing and RT-PCR. Analysis of the putative  protein sequences revealed that C/EBPα consists of alpha helices, random coils and a few  extended strands. A significant transmembrane structure was observed in amino  acid region 233 to 252. A basic leucine zipper domain was also found in amino  acid region 277 to 340, which is characteristic of C/EBPs. Homologous  comparison with various species indicated that the C/EBPα gene of  Qinchuan cattle shares 97, 95, 94, 94, and 93% similarity in amino acid  sequences with Sus scrofa, Homo sapiens, Rattus norvegicus, Oryctolagus cuniculus, and Mus musculus, respectively, implying  strong sequence conservation of C/EBPα during evolution. RT-PCR revealed that the mRNA  expression level of bovine C/EBPα gene in subcutaneous fat is much higher than that in  the other 14 tissues, and the relative quantity in fat tissue increases with  cattle age.
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China.
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D000818:Animals; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny
D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha