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Evidence for a single rat thyrotropin-beta-subunit gene: thyroidectomy increases its mRNA
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|May 16, 1985
Summary
Researchers isolated rat thyrotropin-beta-subunit cDNAs, revealing a single gene and a 700-base mRNA that significantly increases after thyroidectomy.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Endocrinology
- Genetics
Background:
- Thyrotropin-beta-subunit is crucial for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) production.
- Understanding the genetic regulation of TSH is vital for thyroid function research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize the complementary DNA (cDNA) for the rat thyrotropin-beta-subunit.
- To investigate the gene structure and expression regulation of the rat thyrotropin-beta-subunit.
Main Methods:
- cDNA synthesis from rat pituitary poly(A)+ RNA.
- Blot hybridization analysis of rat liver DNA.
- RNA analysis of pituitary tissue from normal and thyroidectomized rats.
Main Results:
- Isolated cDNAs encode a precursor with a 20-amino acid signal peptide and a 118-amino acid apoprotein.
- Blot hybridization suggests a single gene for the rat thyrotropin-beta-subunit.
- Thyroidectomy leads to an 8-10 fold increase in the ~700-base mRNA encoding the thyrotropin-beta-subunit.
Conclusions:
- The rat thyrotropin-beta-subunit is encoded by a single gene.
- Thyroid hormone levels significantly regulate the expression of thyrotropin-beta-subunit mRNA.