Molecular cloning of the cDNA coding for Xenopus laevis prion protein

FEBS Letters

Bolis, Liana C.¹  Ronchi, Severino²  Simonic, Tatjana²  Strumbo, Bice² 

[1] Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche, Laboratorio di Biologia Comparata, Università di Milano, via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy;Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Sezione di Biochimica e Fisiologia Veterinaria, Università di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy

关键词: Prion protein;    cDNA cloning;    Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction;    Xenopus laevis;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0014-5793(01)03027-7

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

Isolation and characterization of the cDNA coding for the 216-residue Xenopus laevis prion protein is reported. Existence of this protein in amphibians was suggested by an EST fragment (accession number BG813008), while a conclusive demonstration is presented here. This protein exhibits a higher identity level to avian and turtle prion (more than 44%) than to mammalian prion (about 28%). Although most of the structural motifs common to known prion proteins are conserved in X. laevis, the lack of repeats represents a substantial difference. Other features worth noting are the presence of not perfectly conserved hydrophobic stretch, which is considered the prion signature, as well as the complete absence of histidine residues.

【 授权许可】

Unknown