title: Identification of the pregnancy-associated glycoprotein family (PAGs) and some aspects of placenta development in the European moose (Alces alces L.).
abstract: This study describes the identification and a broad-based characterization of the pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) genes expressed in the synepitheliochorial placenta of the Alces alces (Aa; N = 51). We used: (1) both size measurements (cm) of various Aa embryos/fetuses (crown-rump length) and placentomes (PLCs); (2) PCR, Southern and sequencing; (3) Western-blot for total placental glycoproteins; (4) deglycosylation of total cotyledonary proteins; and (5) double heterologous IHC for cellular immune-localization of the PAGs as pregnancy advanced (50-200 days post coitum). The crown-rump length and PLC size measurements permitted a novel pattern estimation of various pregnancy stages in wild Aa. The PLC number varied (5-21) and was the greatest at the mid and late stages of gestation in females bearing singletons or twins. The genomic existence of the identified PAG-like family was named AaPAG-L. Amplicon profiles of the AaPAG-L varied in the number and length (118-2000 bp). Southern with porcine cDNA probes confirmed specificity and revealed dominant AaPAG-L amplicons in males and females. Nucleotide sequences of the AaPAG-L amplicons shared 86.27% homology with the bovine PAG1 (bPAG1) gene. Amino acid AaPAG sequences revealed in silico 88.23% to 100% homology with the bPAG1 precursor. Western-blots revealed a dominant mature 55 kDa AaPAG fraction, and the major ∼48 kDa glycosylated form that was deglycosylated to ∼44 kDa. The AaPAG-Ls was immuno-localized to mono- and bi-nucleated trophectodermal cells (TRD-chorionic epithelium), where signal intensity resembled intense TRD proliferation within developing PLCs as pregnancy advanced. This is the first study identifying the AaPAG-L family in the largest representative among the Cervidae.
authors: Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland.
authors: Aleksandra
authors: A
authors: Lipka
authors: Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland. Electronic address: panasg@uwm.edu.pl.
authors: Grzegorz
authors: G
authors: Panasiewicz
authors: Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Majewska
authors: Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland.
authors: Martyna
authors: M
authors: Bieniek-Kobuszewska
authors: Department of Animal Ecology, Russian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur Farming, Kirov, Russian Federation.
authors: Alexander P
authors: AP
authors: Saveljev
authors: Department of Animal Ecology, Russian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur Farming, Kirov, Russian Federation.
authors: Andrey P
authors: AP
authors: Pankratov
authors: Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland.
authors: Bozena
authors: B
authors: Szafranska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D016678:Genome; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology*; D010929:Placentation / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014427:Twins
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins
keywords: Alces alces; European moose; PAGs; Placenta; Tweens