| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5906998 | Gene | 2012 | 12 Pages |
Growth hormone receptor (Ghr) is a single-transmembrane pass protein which is important in initiating the ability of growth hormone (Gh) to regulate development and somatic growth in vertebrates. In this study, molecular cloning, expression analysis of two different ghr genes (ghr1 and ghr2) in the tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) was conducted. As a result, the ghr1 and ghr2 cDNA sequences are 2364Â bp and 3125Â bp, each of which encodes a transmembrane protein of 633 and 561 amino acids (aa), respectively. Besides, the ghr1 gene includes nine exons and eight introns. The sex-specific tissue expression was analyzed by using 14 tissues from females, normal males and extra-large male adults. Both the ghr1 and ghr2 were predominantly expressed in the liver, and the ghr1 expression level in normal males was 1.6 and 1.4 times as much as those in females and extra-large males, while the ghr2 mRNA expression level in normal males was 1.1 and 1.2 times as much as those in females and extra-large males, respectively. Ontogenetic expression analysis at early life stages indicated that the ghr1 and ghr2 mRNAs were detected at all of the 35 sampling points (from oosphere to 410Â days-old). Furthermore, the sex differences in ghr mRNA expressions were also examined by using a full-sib family of C. semilaevis. Significantly higher levels of ghr1 mRNA were observed in males than in females at most stages of the sampling period (PÂ <Â 0.01). The ghr2 mRNA expression at most stages exhibited a significant sexual difference at each sampling point (PÂ <Â 0.01) without any variation trend related with the sexes during the whole sampling period.
⺠We cloned the full-length ghr1 and ghr2 cDNA sequences of C. semilaevis. ⺠We analyzed the genomic structure of C. semilaevis ghr1. ⺠We recorded the ontogenetic ghr1 and ghr2 expressions of the full-sib family. ⺠The ghr1 and ghr2 mRNAs were predominantly expressed in the liver. ⺠The ghr1 and ghr2 expressions play an important role in the sexually dimorphic growth.
