Cloning and tissue expression of bovine follistatin cDNA

Bovine follistatin cDNA sequences were derived using a cloning strategy based entirely on reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction amplification of RNA derived from bovine ovarian and testicular tissues. Complete bovine follistatin cDNA coding sequences are presented including 1,029 bases of open reading frame, the 5' translational start codon, and the 3' translational stop codon. Homologies of bovine follistatin cDNA with pig, human, rat, and partial sheep sequences are 94.3%, 92.4%, 89.9%, and 98.4% at the nucleic acid level and 98.3%, 97.1%, 95.6%, and 100% at the deduced amino acid level, respectively. Northern blot analysis on a survey of bovine reproductive tissues showed strongest expression in ovaries collected from superovulated cows and major RNA species at 2.8 Kb and 1.75 Kb.