Comparison of the activation peptide regions of protease-activated receptors (PAR) in members of the Family Felidae.
BACKGROUND
There is limited information regarding the nucleotides encoding or the predicted amino acid composition of protease-activated receptors (PAR) in cats.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to determine the nucleotide sequence and predicted amino acid composition of the activation peptide regions of protease-activated receptors PAR1, PAR3, and PAR4 in Felidae family members.


METHODS
Genomic DNA isolated from whole blood samples collected from 10 domestic cats and 45 big cats representing 11 species was subjected to PCR using primers flanking the coding regions for the activation peptides of PAR1, PAR3, and PAR4. PCR products were isolated from agarose gels and submitted for sequencing. Nucleotide sequence data was used to predict the amino acid composition of the activation peptide and flanking regions of the 3 receptors. Predicted amino acid sequences were compared between Felidae members and to human beings.


RESULTS
Variations in the predicted amino acid composition of the activation peptides and flanking regions of the various PAR were observed when comparing Felidae family members to each other and to human beings.


CONCLUSIONS
While the activation peptide regions of the various PAR tend to be conserved, there are differences that may impact the ability of some agonists to mediate biased signaling events documented to occur in human platelets.
Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA. boudrmk@auburn.edu.
Mary K
MK
Boudreaux
Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Sara Madison
SM
Barnes
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002415:Cats; D045989:Felidae; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D044462:Receptors, Proteinase-Activated / Q000737:chemistry*
D010455:Peptides; D044462:Receptors, Proteinase-Activated
Cat; PAR receptors; molecular