Hepatic nuclear receptor PPARα in the koala ('Phascolarctos cinereus'): Cloning and molecular characterisation

Title
Hepatic nuclear receptor PPARα in the koala ('Phascolarctos cinereus'): Cloning and molecular characterisation
Publication Date
2007
Author(s)
Ngo, Suong Ngoc Thi
McKinnon, Ross Allan
Stupans, Ieva
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Elsevier Inc
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1016/j.cbpc.2007.04.013
UNE publication id
une:9170
Abstract
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is a member of the nuclear/steroid receptor gene superfamily that plays an essential role in fatty acid metabolism. PPARα modulates the expression of genes encoding peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation enzymes and microsomal fatty acid hydroxylases CYP4As. We have previously reported that the obligate 'Eucalyptus' feeder koala ('Phascolarctos cinereus') exhibits a higher hepatic CYP4A activity and an absence of peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidation as compared to non-Eucalyptus feeders human, rat or wallaby. Here we describe the cloning, expression and molecular characterisation of koala hepatic PPARα. A full-length PPARα cDNA of size 1515 bp was cloned by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The koala PPARα cDNA encodes a protein of 468 amino acids. Transfection of the koala PPARα cDNA into Cos-7 cells resulted in the expression of a protein recognised by a rabbit anti-human PPARα polyclonal antibody. PPARα immunoreactive bands of the same molecular mass were detected in nuclear extracts of koala livers. The results of this study demonstrate the presence of koala hepatic PPARα which shares several common features with other published PPARαs; however, it exhibits important differences in both the DNA and ligand binding domains.
Link
Citation
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology, 146(3), p. 375-382
ISSN
1878-1659
1532-0456
Start page
375
End page
382

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