Comparative genomic organization of the human and bovine PRNP locus

Genomics. 2006 May;87(5):598-607. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2005.12.012. Epub 2006 Feb 7.

Abstract

We sequenced a 208-kb BAC clone spanning the bovine prion protein (PRNP) locus, and compared the genomic structure with that of human. As a result, we determined the precise breakpoint between the two syntenic genomes, located on the 5' UTR of the PRNP gene, and discovered two highly repetitive sequences near the breakpoint. Further analysis demonstrated that the genomic structure of three genes, PRNP, PRND, and RASSF2, within the syntenic region of the bovine genome is highly conserved in order and orientation. The PRNT locus was not found in bovine but is conserved in several primates, including human. Moreover, we confirmed that the bovine RASSF2 is composed of 10 exons, as is the human gene, showing some difference from a previous report. Our findings may provide useful clues for understanding the evolutional process in the PRNP locus and also the mechanism that allows TSE from cattle to infect humans.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cattle
  • Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Humans
  • Macaca fascicularis / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Primates / genetics
  • Prion Proteins
  • Prions / genetics
  • Protein Precursors / genetics*
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
  • Synteny
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • PRND protein, human
  • PRNP protein, human
  • Prion Proteins
  • Prions
  • Protein Precursors
  • Proteins
  • RASSF2 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY944236