Molecular Cloning and Characterization of the Estrogen Receptor from the Striped Bitterling (Acheilognathus yamatsutae).

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:In order to identify the possibility of striped bitterling (SB) (Acheilognathus yamatsutae) being used as a test species for estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDCs), we carried out the cloning and sequence characterization of the estrogen receptor (ER). METHODS:The ER from a striped bitterling was obtained by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5'-RACE and 3'-RACE) and T-vector cloning. The expression of ER mRNA was also analyzed in six tissues (brain, liver, kidney, gill, gonad, and intestines) by real-time PCR. RESULTS:We obtained an ER from the striped bitterling. The SB ER cDNA was 2189 base pairs (bp) in length and contained a 1707 bp open reading frame that encoded 568 amino acid residues. The SB ER amino acid sequence clustered in a monophyletic group with the ER? of other fish, and was more closely related to zebrafish ER? (88% identity) than to the ER? of other fish. The SB ER cDNA was divided into A/B, C, D, E and F domains. The SB ER has conserved important sequences for ER functions, such as the DNA binding domain (D domain), which are consistent with those of other teleosts. CONCLUSIONS:The ER of the striped bitterling could provide basic information in toxicological studies of EEDCs in the striped bitterling.

SUBMITTER: Kim JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3214976 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature