title: Characterization of the hepcidin gene in eight species of bats.
abstract: Hemochromatosis, or iron storage disease, has been associated with significant liver disease and mortality in captive Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus). The physiologic basis for this susceptibility has not been established. In humans, a deficiency or resistance to the iron regulatory hormone, hepcidin has been implicated in the development of hereditary hemochromatosis. In the present study, we compared the coding sequence of the hepcidin gene in eight species of bats representing three distinct taxonomic families with diverse life histories and dietary preferences. Bat hepcidin mRNA encoded a 23 amino acid signal peptide, a 34 or 35 amino acid pro-region, and a 25 amino acid mature peptide, similar to other mammalian species. Differences in the sequence of the portion of the hepcidin gene that encodes the mature peptide that might account for the increased susceptibility of the Egyptian fruit bat to iron storage disease were not identified. Variability in gene sequence corresponded to the taxonomic relationship amongst species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada; Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario M1B 5K7, Canada.
authors.forename: Iga M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Stasiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Dale A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario M1B 5K7, Canada.
authors.forename: Graham J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Crawshaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Jutta D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hammermueller
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Dorothee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bienzle
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. Electronic address: blillie@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: Brandon N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Lillie
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D064451:Hepcidins; D004247:DNA
keywords: Bat; Egyptian fruit bat; HAMP; Hepcidin; Iron; Iron storage disease