title: Comparative Analysis of Human, Mouse, and Pig Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Gene Structures.
abstract: Comparing the coding and regulatory sequences of genes in different species provides information on whether proteins translated from genes have conserved functions or gene expressions are regulated by analogical mechanisms. Herein, we compared the coding and regulatory sequences of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) from humans, mice, and pigs. The GFAP gene encodes a class III intermediate filament protein expressed specifically in astrocytes of the central nervous system. On comparing the mRNA, regulatory region (promoter), and protein sequences of GFAP gene in silico, we found that GFAP mRNA 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR), promoter, and amino acid sequences showed higher similarities between humans and pigs than between humans and mice. In addition, the promoter-luciferase reporter gene assay revealed that the pig GFAP promoter functioned in human astrocytes. Notably, the 1.8-kb promoter fragment upstream from transcription initiation site showed strongest transcriptional activity compared to 5.2-kb DNA fragment or other regions of GFAP promoter. We also found that pig GFAP mRNA and promoter activity increased in pig fibroblasts by human IL-1β treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that the regulatory mechanisms and functions of pig genes might be more similar to those of humans than mice, indicating that pigs, particularly miniature pigs, are a useful model for studying human biological and pathological events.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , Korea University , Seoul , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kiyoung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eun
authors.affiliation: b Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University , Cheongju , Chungbuk , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seon-Ung
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, Korea University , Seoul , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: b Laboratory of Veterinary Embryology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University , Cheongju , Chungbuk , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , Korea University , Seoul , Republic of Korea.|c Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, Korea University , Seoul , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunggee
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D020506:Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020506:Untranslated Regions
keywords: Astrocyte; glial fibrillary acidic protein; pig; transcriptional regulatory elements