title: [Neurological adaptations to hypoxia in Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) with a view of molecular biology of respiratory globin-neuroglobin].
abstract: Neuroglobin (Ngb) is a respiratory protein that is preferentially expressed in brain of mouse and man. In this article, Tibetan antelope, living at altitude of 3 000-5 000 m for millions of years, was selected as the model of hypoxia-tolerant adaptation species. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot techniques, expression of Ngb gene was amplified and analyzed in antelope brain tissue. Our results showed that Ngb homology protein in Tibetan antelope was identified with more sequence similarity with cattle (96%), sheep (95%), and human (95%). We detected that there were some mutations occurred in the Open Reading Frame of Ngb in Tibetan antelope compared with sheep. Phylogenetic analysis of Ngb chain showed that it was closer to cattle than the others. This study suggests possible roles of central nervous system enriched Ngb in adaptation of Tibetan antelope to extremely high altitude.
authors.affiliation: The Research Center for High Altitude Medicine, Medical School, Qinghai University, Xining 810001, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Ying-Zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Guo-En
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ri-Li
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ge
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000235:genetics*; D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D000866:Antelopes / Q000235:genetics*; D002417:Cattle; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D010802:Phylogeny; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D005914:Globins