Cloning of the grass carp growth hormone cDNA

We have constructed a cDNA library in lamda gt11 using mRNA isolated from the pituitary glands of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). Based on the published sequence of the rainbow trout growth hormone cDNA, we synthesized two oligonucleotide probes. One of these hybridized strongly with a specific mRNA fragment from the grass carp pituitary. Using this probe, we have isolated six positive clones carrying an insert of approximately 1.2 Kb. By restriction enzyme digestion, all the clones were determined to be identical. Sequence determination on one of them indicated that it has an open reading frame coding for 210 amino acids. Both the nucleotide and translated amino acid sequence are highly homologous to those of the salmon growth hormone and the common carp. A putative signal peptide consisting of hydrophobic amino acids can be identified at the 5' end of the sequence. A polyadenylation signal, ATTAAA, was also present 12 base upstream from the poly A tail.