The characterization of ovine genes for atrial, brain, and C-type natriuretic peptides

The natriuretic peptides (NPs) play an important role in the homeostasis of blood pressure and sodium balance in all mammals studied to date. Their combined actions on the vasculature, kidneys, and adrenals reduce blood pressure and intravascular volume. In order to provide sequence information about the ovine NP genes for our physiological studies in sheep, we have determined the genomic DNA sequence of each of the NPs; atrial NP, brain NP (BNP), and C-type NP using an ovine genomic library. Strong homology with other species was found for ovine peptide and genomic sequences of atrial NP and for C-type NP. Further, despite previous reports of poor conservation of BNP across species, the peptide sequence for ovine BNP was found to be identical to both the 26 amino acid-residue porcine BNP, and the 35 amino acid peptide known as bovine aldosterone secretion-inhibitory factor. This data also revealed strong homology of BNP mature forms in dog, cow, pig, and sheep, thus permitting the use of porcine antisera to study BNP-level changes in sheep models of cardiac failure. This conservation of the BNP gene sequence suggests that BNP, like the other NPs, plays an important role in mammalian physiology.