Identification and expression analysis of fabp2 gene from common carp Cyprinus carpio

Two complementary (c)DNA fragments, including the complete open reading frame of fabp2 from the common carp Cyprinus carpio, were cloned by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Both were putative intestinal-type fabp genes, named fabp2a and fabp2b. fabp2b was mainly expressed in the intestine and the brain. This gene, however, was nearly not expressed in the liver, heart, pancreas and muscle. fabp2a was only expressed at a very low level in the intestine. Western blot also showed that Fabp2 is relatively highly expressed in the intestine and the brain. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Fabp2 is widely distributed in the mucosa of the intestine. These findings provide novel insights into the fabp2 gene molecular evolution, as well as its potential features in the intestine and the brain.