Prolactin is a pituitary hormone that binds to specific receptors in numerous tissues. Depending on the size of their cytoplasmic domain, long and short prolactin receptors (l-PR, s-PR) have been described. Up to now, s-PR were found in rodents only. We report here the cloning of full-length coding sequences for short and long ovine prolactin receptors (s-oPR, l-oPR). The only difference between s- and l-oPR coding sequences was, respectively, the presence or absence of a 39 base pair insert at the beginning of the cytoplasmic domain, with two contiguous inframe stop codons at its 3' end. Sequence comparison revealed that the alternative splicing producing s- and l-oPR was different from that of rodents, although the resulting proteins were very similar. PCR experiments on ovine genomic DNA showed that the 39 base pair insert was directly linked to the downstream exon, and separated from the upstream exon by an 800 base pair intron. Thus, the alternative splicing used a single intron with one 5' and two 3' sites. The same organization was found in bovine and caprine genomes, suggesting that this feature is general in ruminants and different from rodents, which use mutually exclusive exons to produce s-PR and l-PR.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Tomas, J. Casellas, O. Ramirez, G. Munoz, J. L. Noguera, and A. Sanchez High amino acid variation in the intracellular domain of the pig prolactin receptor (PRLR) and its relation to ovulation rate and piglet survival traits J Anim Sci, August 1, 2006; 84(8): 1991 - 1998. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Akers Major advances associated with hormone and growth factor regulation of mammary growth and lactation in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2006; 89(4): 1222 - 1234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Wu, E. Ginsburg, B. K. Vonderhaar, and A. M. Walker S179D Prolactin Increases Vitamin D Receptor and p21 through Up-regulation of Short 1b Prolactin Receptor in Human Prostate Cancer Cells Cancer Res., August 15, 2005; 65(16): 7509 - 7515. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M Tanaka, M Suzuki, T Kawana, M Segawa, M Yoshikawa, M Mori, M Kobayashi, N Nakai, and T R Saito Differential effects of sex steroid hormones on the expression of multiple first exons including a novel first exon of prolactin receptor gene in the rat liver J. Mol. Endocrinol., June 1, 2005; 34(3): 667 - 673. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S Pearce, H Budge, A Mostyn, E Genever, R Webb, P Ingleton, A M Walker, M E Symonds, and T Stephenson Prolactin, the prolactin receptor and uncoupling protein abundance and function in adipose tissue during development in young sheep J. Endocrinol., February 1, 2005; 184(2): 351 - 359. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R A Picazo, J P Garcia Ruiz, J Santiago Moreno, A Gonzalez de Bulnes, J Munoz, G Silvan, P L Lorenzo, and J C Illera Cellular localization and changes in expression of prolactin receptor isoforms in sheep ovary throughout the estrous cycle Reproduction, November 1, 2004; 128(5): 545 - 553. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. A. Lincoln, J. Townsend, and H. N. Jabbour Prolactin Actions in the Sheep Testis: A Test of the Priming Hypothesis Biol Reprod, September 1, 2001; 65(3): 936 - 943. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D. Stewart, G. A. Johnson, C. A. Gray, R. C. Burghardt, L. A. Schuler, M. M. Joyce, F. W. Bazer, and T. E. Spencer Prolactin Receptor and Uterine Milk Protein Expression in the Ovine Endometrium During the Estrous Cycle and Pregnancy Biol Reprod, June 1, 2000; 62(6): 1779 - 1789. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K. M. Taylor, C. A. Gray, M. M. Joyce, M. D. Stewart, F. W. Bazer, and T. E. Spencer Neonatal Ovine Uterine Development Involves Alterations in Expression of Receptors for Estrogen, Progesterone, and Prolactin Biol Reprod, April 1, 2000; 63(4): 1192 - 1204. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. Herman, C. Bignon, N. Daniel, J. Grosclaude, A. Gertler, and J. Djiane Functional Heterodimerization of Prolactin and Growth Hormone Receptors by Ovine Placental Lactogen J. Biol. Chem., February 25, 2000; 275(9): 6295 - 6301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. D. Phillips, R. V. Anthony, D. C. Houghton, and I. C. McMillen The Regulation of Prolactin Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Levels in the Sheep Liver before Birth: Relative Roles of the Fetal Hypothalamus, Cortisol, and the External Photoperiod Endocrinology, May 1, 1999; 140(5): 1966 - 1971. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. N. C. Mao, J. Burnside, L. Li, J. Tang, C. Davolos, and L. A. Cogburn Characterization of Unique Truncated Prolactin Receptor Transcripts, Corresponding to the Intracellular Domain, in the Testis of the Sexually Mature Chicken Endocrinology, March 1, 1999; 140(3): 1165 - 1174. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. J. Tortonese, J. Brooks, P. M. Ingleton, and A. S. McNeilly Detection of Prolactin Receptor Gene Expression in the Sheep Pituitary Gland and Visualization of the Specific Translation of the Signal in Gonadotrophs Endocrinology, December 1, 1998; 139(12): 5215 - 5223. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Sorin, O. Goupille, A. M. Vacher, J. Paly, J. Djiane, and P. Vacher Distinct Cytoplasmic Regions of the Prolactin Receptor Are Required for Prolactin-induced Calcium Entry J. Biol. Chem., October 23, 1998; 273(43): 28461 - 28469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]