Cloning and expression of a cDNA encoding the large subunit of duck replication factor C

A cDNA encoding an avian homologue of the large subunit of replication factor C (RFC-L) has been cloned from a duck liver cDNA expression library prepared in bacteriophage lambda. The full length cDNA encodes a protein with a predicted size of approximately 130 kDa, consistent with the size of the polypeptide detected in duck liver. The duck RFC-L amino acid sequence shares 66.4% and 68.4% identity with mouse and human RFC-L proteins, respectively. We identified a 4kb RFC-L mRNA expressed in most duck tissues.