Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2000

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Biology and Microbiology

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether the Agouti-related protein (agrp) gene was present in the porcine genome. Using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) a 978 bp DNA fragment, agrp, was amplified from porcine genomic DNA. The porcine agrp coding regions (exons spliced together) are 89% similar to bovine agrp cDNA and 83% similar to human agrp cDNA. The predicted amino acid sequence, AGRP, is 73% similar to bovine and human AGRP (i.e. porcine, bovine, and human species all match) and 93% similar to bovine or human AGRP sequences (i.e. porcine plus one of the other species match). These results suggest that swine have the Agouti-related protein (agrp) gene and its sequence is similar to the agrp genes of other species. A second experiment isolated a novel sequence that we have termed "Porcine Gprotein". The original intent of this work was to isolate the porcine melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1-R) based on PCR primers designed from the human MC1-R. BLAST gave a statistically significant match for the porcine G-protein sequence and the human MC1-R gene. However, sequence alignments produced only= 40% homology with the MC 1-R genes from several species. Results suggest that we have not isolated the authentic porcine MC 1-R, but rather a novel G-protein sequence from the porcine genome.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Swine -- Genetics
Proteins -- Analysis

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

92

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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