Characteristic analysis of prolactin and its receptor genes from Rana chensinensis and expression pattern during metamorphosis

Authors

HUAXIN WANG
XINYI LI
CHUANCHUAN DU
XIUJUAN WANG
WENJIE JIN
YUHUI ZHANG

DOI

10.3906/zoo-1506-20

Abstract

In order to explore the role of prolactin (PRL) and the prolactin receptor (PRLR) during metamorphosis of amphibians, both cDNAs from the Chinese brown frog Rana chensinensis were identified. A PRL cDNA consisting of a 645-bp open reading frame and a PRLR cDNA consisting of a 1854-bp open reading frame were obtained. The amino acid sequence analysis indicated that there were 2 pairs of conserved Cys residues in both mature rcPRL and rcPRLR, and that their positions were conserved as well. Comparison of our results with those for other vertebrates implies that receptor recognition in anurans may not be pH-dependent. The relations of identity between rcPRL and other vertebrate PRLs resembled those of the identity between rcPRLR and other vertebrate PRLRs, suggesting that PRL may have coevolved with PRLR in R. Chensinensis. In addition, rcPRL and rcPRLR mRNA was detected via RT-PCR in various tissues of R. Chensinensis tadpoles. By using qRT-PCR, rcPRLR mRNA in the liver, skin, tail, and kidney tissue of different stages (stages 33-43) during metamorphosis was analyzed. The results showed that the expressional tendencies of rcPRLR increased throughout stages 33-43 in the four tissues, which was probably related to tissue remodeling.

Keywords

Prolactin, prolactin receptor, expression pattern, Amphibia, metamorphosis

First Page

303

Last Page

313

Recommended Citation

WANG, HUAXIN; LI, XINYI; DU, CHUANCHUAN; WANG, XIUJUAN; JIN, WENJIE; and ZHANG, YUHUI (2016) "Characteristic analysis of prolactin and its receptor genes from Rana chensinensis and expression pattern during metamorphosis," Turkish Journal of Zoology: Vol. 40: No. 3, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1506-20
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/vol40/iss3/2