Molecular cloning of rat leukemia inhibitory factor receptor α-chain gene and its expression during pregnancy

Jun ichi Aikawa, Sakae Ikeda-Naiki, Jun Ohgane, Kwan Sik Min, Takuya Imamura, Ken Sasai, Kunio Shiota, Tomoya Ogawa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a secreted glycoprotein and a pluripotent growth factor that acts on diverse cell systems. LIF transmits its effects via binding to transmembrane receptors, of which both high- and low-affinity forms have been identified. In this study, we analyzed the structure and expression of rat LIF receptor α-chain (rLIFR α) cDNA. A full-length clone of the cDNA encoding the membrane-bound form of rLIFR α protein was prepared by a combination of LA-PCR and 5' RACE using DNA reverse-transcribed from total RNA isolated from the livers of day-12 and day-14 pregnant rats as templates. The nucleotide sequence of a full-length clone was determined and further confirmed by analysis of shorter DNA fragment prepared by PCR using pfu polymerase. The gene for rLIFR α encodes a 1093 amine acid residue protein. The rLIFR α protein shows a high degree of similarity to mouse and human LIF receptor α-chain protein (89% and 76% amino acid sequence identifies, respectively). Only one molecular species of mRNA for the rLIFR α gene was detected in the liver and placenta. rLIFR α was expressed in liver of both non-pregnant and pregnant rats. The level of mRNA for the rLIFR α gene in placenta was maximum on day 16 of pregnancy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)266-276
Number of pages11
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Gene Structure and Expression
Volume1353
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 12 1997
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Structural Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

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