title: Characteristic, polymorphism and expression distribution of LCAT gene in a Mongolian gerbil model for hyperlipidemia.
abstract: This study aims to evaluate the genetic basis and activity of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) in a novel Mongolian gerbil model for hyperlipidemia. Gerbils may be susceptible to high fat and cholesterol (HF/HC) diets, which can rapidly lead to the development of hyperlipidemia. Approximately 10-30% of gerbils that are over 8months old and fed controlled diets spontaneously develop hyperlipidemia. Using the HF/HC diet model, we detected triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL (high density lipoprotein)-C, LDL (low density lipoprotein)-C and LCAT in both old (>8months) and young gerbils. The TC and HDL-C levels were two times higher in old gerbils compared with young gerbils (P<0.01). However, in the old group the LCAT activity fell slightly compared with the normal lipidemia group. It is reasonable to hypothesize that this may be associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms of the LCAT gene. We cloned this gene to investigate the sensitivity of the gerbil to the HF/HC diet and spontaneous hyperlipidemia. The entire LCAT gene was cloned by splicing sequences of RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) and nest-PCR products (AN: KC533867.1). The results showed that the 3683base pair gene consists of six exons and five introns. The LCAT protein consists of 444 amino acid (AA) residues, which are analogous to the human LCAT gene, and includes 24 signal peptide AA and 420 mature protein AA. Expression of LCAT was detected in the kidney, spleen and adrenal tissue, apart from the liver, by immunohistochemistry. The abundance of the protein was greater in the older group compared with the control group. Polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-SSCP (PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism) but none were found in 444 animals of the ZCLA closed population (a Chinese cultured laboratory gerbil population).
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, China; Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou 310013, China.
authors.forename: Yue huan
authors.initials: Yh
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, China.
authors.forename: Jiu sheng
authors.initials: Js
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou 310013, China.
authors.forename: Zhi yuan
authors.initials: Zy
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou 310013, China.
authors.forename: Chen huan
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou 310013, China.
authors.forename: Hua zhong
authors.initials: Hz
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, China. Electronic address: nyxu@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ning ying
authors.initials: Ny
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005091:Exons; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007438:Introns; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase
keywords: Gene express and distribution; Genetic polymorphism; Hyperlipidemia model; Immunohistochemistry; Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) gene; Mongolian gerbil