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Characterization of two whey protein genes in the Australian dasyurid marsupial, the stripe-faced dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura)

Version 2 2024-06-13, 14:57
Version 1 2021-11-22, 10:27
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-13, 14:57 authored by AA De Leo, C Lefevre, D Topcic, E Pharo, JF Cheng, P Frappell, M Westerman, JAM Graves, KR Nicholas
We report the first isolation and sequencing of genomic BAC clones containing the marsupial milk protein genes Whey Acidic Protein (WAP) and Early Lactation Protein (ELP). The stripe-faced dunnart WAPgene sequence contained five exons, the middle three of which code for the WAPmotifs and four disulphide core domains which characterize WAP. The dunnart ELPgene sequence contained three exons encoding a protein with a Kunitz motif common to serine protease inhibitors. Fluorescence in situ hybridization located the WAPgene to chromosome 1p in the stripe-faced dunnart, and the ELPgene to 2q. Northern blot analysis of lactating mammary tissue of the closely related fat-tailed dunnart has shown asynchronous expression of these milk protein genes. ELPwas expressed at only the earlier phase of lactation and WAPonly at the later phase of lactation, in contrast to β-lactoglobulin (BLG) and α-lactalbumin (ALA) genes, which were expressed in both phases of lactation. This asynchronous expression during the lactation cycle in the fat-tailed dunnart is similar to other marsupials and it probably represents a pattern that is ancestral to Australian marsupials.

History

Journal

Cytogenetic and Genome Research

Volume

115

Pagination

62-69

Location

Switzerland

ISSN

1424-8581

eISSN

1424-859X

Language

en

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Issue

1

Publisher

S. Karger AG