The cDNA Sequence of Porcine Vitronectin and Its Expression in Liver and Skeletal Muscle of GH-Supplemented Pigs

Abstract

A cDNA (1555 bp) (DNA database accession number; D61396) having a homology with human vitronectin (Vn) was isolated from a porcine liver cDNA library, and its sequence was determined. The open reading frame in the cDNA was found to code a protein with 388 amino acids, then the amino acid sequence of the protein (porcine putative Vn) was aligned to the other mammalian (mouse, rabbit, and human) Vns previously reported. The alignment revealed that the functional amino acid sequences reported as the cell attachment site, the heparin binding site, the region involved in glycosylation, and plasminogen activator inhibitor I-binding domain were conserved in the porcine putative Vn. These findings together with the fact that the calculated molecular weight and the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the putative Vn agreed with those reported by biochemical analysis on porcine Vn, led us to conclude that the cDNA isolated in the present study coded for the porcine Vn. Then, a time course study was performed to examine whether the administration of growth hormone (GH) affects Vn mRNA expression in liver and skeletal muscle, since the level of Vn mRNA was reported to be affected by inflammation, and since GH was reported to be involved in inflammation. This revealed that GH has no effect on the level of liver Vn mRNA, and that Vn mRNA level in skeletal muscle seemed to be affected following GH-injection.