Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA encoding rabbit vitamin D-binding protein (Gc globulin)

The cDNA sequence of rabbit vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) was determined by sequencing clones isolated by immuno-screening and PCR amplification from a rabbit liver cDNA library. The 1641-nucleotide sequence included the 5' untranslated region and extended to the poly(A) tail. It encoded a protein of 460 amino acid residues in addition to a signal sequence of 16 residues, and had 84%, 79% and 78% sequence identities with human, rat and mouse DBP cDNA, respectively. In comparison with DBP amino acid sequences of other species, there are at least four heterogeneous regions. In contrast, a putative actin binding domain was conserved in the evolution process.