PUBLICATION
The pro-opiomelanocortin gene of the zebrafish (Danio rerio)
- Authors
- Hansen, I.A., To, T.T., Wortmann, S., Burmester, T., Winkler, C., Meyer, S.R., Neurner, C., Fassnacht, and Allolio, B.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-030425-2
- Date
- 2003
- Source
- Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 303(4): 1121-1128 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Winkler, Christoph
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Chromosome Mapping
- Cloning, Molecular
- Humans
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Phylogeny
- Pro-Opiomelanocortin/biosynthesis
- Pro-Opiomelanocortin/genetics*
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- Sequence Alignment
- Zebrafish/embryology
- Zebrafish/metabolism
- Zebrafish Proteins/biosynthesis
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
- PubMed
- 12684052 Full text @ Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.
Citation
Hansen, I.A., To, T.T., Wortmann, S., Burmester, T., Winkler, C., Meyer, S.R., Neurner, C., Fassnacht, and Allolio, B. (2003) The pro-opiomelanocortin gene of the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 303(4):1121-1128.
Abstract
The cDNA and the gene for pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the zebrafish ( Danio rerio) were isolated and analyzed. The gene consists of three exons and two short introns and has a similar overall structural organization as in Homo sapiens. Intron 1 (339bp) divides the 5(') untranslated region from the coding region while intron 2 (1522bp) is located between the signal peptide and the sequence encoding ACTH. Transcription starts 26bp downstream of a TATA box and there is one polyadenylation signal in the 3(') untranslated region. The cDNA comprises of 964bp with an open reading frame encoding a 222 amino acid hormone prepropeptide that is split into six putative hormones. Sequence comparison of zebrafish POMC to sequences of various other vertebrate species reveals four regions that are highly conserved during the evolution of vertebrates-the N-terminal region, ACTH, beta-MSH, and beta -endorphin, whereas the connecting peptides show a much higher degree of variability. Phylogenetic analysis of the POMC sequences of various vertebrate species resulted in the expected pattern of species evolution In situ hybridization demonstrated POMC expression in a cluster of cells (corticotrophs) in the pituitary of the zebrafish as early as 23h after fertilization. These findings will facilitate the use of the zebrafish as a model organism in the study of the physiological role of POMC-derived peptides.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping