NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF RAT STEROIDOGENIC ACUTE REGULATORY PROTEIN COMPLEMENTARY-DNA

The steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein is a key regulator f or the steroidogensis in acute response to trophic hormone. A rat comp lementary DNA of the StAR protein was cloned and its complete nucleoti de sequence was determined.(2) The deduced amino acid sequence of the clone has an additional 86 amino acid stretch at amino terminus when i t was compared with those sequences in other species. The other part o f the amino acid sequence has 94% identity to mouse StAR protein seque nce. Three transcripts (1.3 kb, 1.6 kb, and 3.5 kb) which are hybridiz ing to the clone were detected in testis, ovary and adrenal gland. Whe n the cDNA was expressed in COS1 cells, 30 kDa and 47 kDa proteins spe cific to the anti-StAR antibody were detected. (C) 1997 Academic Press .