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Structure and evolution of somatostatin genes
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas System Cancer Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030.
Molecular Endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.)
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Researchers sequenced a bovine pancreatic preprosomatostatin cDNA, revealing similarities and differences with other mammals. Analysis suggests gene duplication in a common ancestor led to multiple somatostatin genes in fish.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Somatostatin is a peptide hormone with diverse physiological roles.
- Preprosomatostatin is the precursor protein that is processed into mature somatostatin.
- Understanding gene evolution provides insights into species divergence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and sequence a bovine pancreatic preprosomatostatin cDNA clone.
- To compare the bovine sequence with other mammalian preprosomatostatin sequences.
- To investigate the evolutionary history of preprosomatostatin genes.
Main Methods:
- cDNA cloning and sequencing
- Northern blot analysis of mRNA
- Statistical analysis of multiple species' cDNA sequences
Main Results:
- A bovine pancreatic preprosomatostatin cDNA clone was successfully isolated and sequenced.
- The predicted 116 amino acid preprosomatostatin shows high similarity but some compositional differences to other mammalian forms.
- A mRNA transcript of 700 nucleotides was detected in fetal bovine pancreas.
- Evolutionary analysis suggests a gene duplication event in a common ancestor of anglerfish and catfish, leading to their two somatostatin genes.
Conclusions:
- The bovine preprosomatostatin sequence provides valuable data for comparative mammalian studies.
- The findings support the hypothesis of gene duplication as a mechanism in vertebrate evolution.
- Comparative genomics of somatostatin genes across species can elucidate evolutionary pathways.