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cDNA cloning and expression of Mucin2 ( MUC2 ) in the chicken intestine during late embryogenesis
Author(s) -
Jiang Zhengyu,
Lossie Amy C,
Applegate Todd J
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.217.1
Subject(s) - biology , contig , gene , complementary dna , genetics , exon , locus (genetics) , cloning (programming) , microbiology and biotechnology , genomic dna , sequence analysis , mucin 2 , genome , gene expression , computer science , programming language
MUC2 encodes the gel‐forming mucins that are the major component of the mucus in the gut and are crucial for host protection from pathogens. However, the full‐length sequence of human MUC2 has not been determined because the gene contains variable copies of tandem repeat (TR) cassette, which forms a large gap in the middle of the gene. In order to help determine the gene structure and potential protein function in humans, we have performed genome comparison studies with the chicken, an evolutionarily important species. Therefore, entire chicken MUC2 (cMUC2) mRNA was cloned by sequencing a contig containing 76 overlapping cDNA, RT‐PCR and RACE clones. The 3′ and 5′ ends of cMUC2 were determined from clones (3.3k b and 1.5kb respectively) using RACE. The cMUC2 locus lies within a genomic gap on chicken chromosome 5, and spans 56kb. The 11 kb cDNA shares 45% similarity with human MUC2. A 657 bp alternatively spliced variant of cMUC2 was detected between exons 26 and 29, which encodes the Pro‐Thr‐Ser (PTS) domain. cMUC2 is rich in these PTS TR (covering over 40 % of the chicken gene), which is different from that of mouse, which lacks the TR2 region, but similar to human (where >60% of the gene encodes PTS TRs). However, the arrangement in cMUC2 is more complex than in humans. Comparing the sequence and expression of cMUC2 with mammals suggests the chicken may represent a better model system for investigating the human mucin genes.