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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #121215
Title: PRESENCE OF TWO FORMS OF PORCINE AMPHIREGULIN CDNA AND MAPPING OF THE GENE TO SSC8 NEAR A UTERINE CAPACITY QUANTITATIVE TRAIT TRAIT LOCUS

Author
item Kim, Jong
item Vallet, Jeff
item Rohrer, Gary
item Christenson, Ronald

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/2001
Publication Date: 6/28/2001
Citation: Kim, J.G., Vallet, J.L., Rohrer, G.A., Christenson, R.K. 2001. Presence of two forms of porcine amphiregulin cDNA and mapping of the gene to SSC8 near a uterine capacity quantitative trait trait locus [abstract]. Proceedings Sixth International Conference on Pig Reproduction, Columbia, Missouri, p. 111. (Abstract No. 61)

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Uterine capacity is a component trait contributing to litter size in swine. Gene mapping analyses revealed a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for uterine capacity located on chromosome 8. The known correspondence of this region with a region on human chromosome 4 suggested that the swine amphiregulin (AR) gene might be located near the region of the uterine capacity QTL. Amphiregulin is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family. The objective of this study was to 1) clone the AR cDNA, and 2) map the AR gene. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and iterative screening of an expressed sequence tag (EST) library, we obtained two forms of AR cDNA, consisting of 1109 and 1221bp. The difference between the two forms was a 112bp deletion corresponding to exon 5 of the human AR gene. Exon 5 codes for the cytoplasmic domain of AR. The loss of the putative exon 5 caused a frame shift, which resulted in a stop codon at the eend of the transmembrane domain corresponding to human exon 4. Using RT-PC analysis, both forms of AR were present in the endometrium of day 30 pregnant White crossbred and Meishan pigs (n=4 each). However, the short form appears to be the predominant form. Because the cytoplasmic domain is known to affect signal transduction, this deletion likely influences the function of this form of AR. Sequences of genomic clones containing the AR gene from a porcine bacteriophage artificial chromosome (BAC) genomic library did not contain the deletion. Finally, using three informative microsatellite markers developed from BAC clones, AR was mapped to 65 cM on chromosome 8. These novel findings may provide insight into the function of AR during pregnancy in pigs, and support further investigation into AR as a candidate gene for uterine capacity.