cDNA cloning of constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) gene of Japanese quail.

Yoshiyuki Yamada, Jun. Piao, Pattanapong Thadtha, Yasuhiko Wada 

Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, Saga, Japan.

ABSTRACT

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) belongs to the nuclear receptor class 1, subfamily I (NR1I3). The previous studies suggest the importance of the CAR gene for physiological mechanisms of the vertebrates, especially metabolism of steroid hormones. The present study determines the DNA sequence of a full length cDNA of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) CAR by the rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) method (Genbank accession No.AB104462). The cDNA consists of 1365bp, which is 25bp longer than chicken CAR(Genbank accession No.AF276753). The A/B domain of the CAR gene was highly variable and the revealed sequence difference between mammals and birds. The fifteen amino acids deletion of mammals CAR and six amino acids insertion of chicken CAR were found in the D domain in comparison to Japanese quail CAR. No insertion or deletion were found in the DNA binding domain(C domain) and the ligand binding domain(E domain) among Japanese quail and other animals. Expression of Japanese quail CAR was detected in duodenum, liver, and kidney using RT-PCR method.

                                                Bull. Fac. Agr. Saga Univ. 92: 1-8, 2006.

佐賀大学農学部応用生物科学科　動物資源開発学分野　和田研究室