CLONING OF THE BOVINE ACTIVIN RECEPTOR-TYPE-II GENE (ACVR2) AND MAPPING TO CHROMOSOME 2 (BTA2)

The cDNA for the bovine activin receptor type II (ACVR2) gene has been cloned and sequenced. It encodes a protein of 513 amino acids which i s highly homologous (similar to 98% identity) to the human, mouse, and rat proteins. Using PCR analysis of bovine x hamster somatic cell lin es, the ACVR2 gene was mapped to syntenic group U17, which has been lo calised to bovine chromosome 2. Comparative mapping has shown that the genes within U17 are also in a syntenic group on the long arm of huma n and sheep chromosome 2, as well as on mouse chromosome 1. This group of genes represents an evolutionarily conserved mammalian chromosomal segment. Genotyping a highly polymorphic microsatellite locus, (AT)(4 )(GT)(9)(AT)(11), found within an intron of this gene confirmed the lo calisation by linking the ACVR2-associated microsatellite to the regio n of chromosome 2 flanked by CSSM42 and TGLA226. This gene locus, whic h has the characteristics of a type I and type II mapping locus, repre sents the first localisation of this gene in any species to date.