CLONING AND TISSUE EXPRESSION OF BOVINE FOLLISTATIN CDNA

Bovine follistatin cDNA sequences were derived using a cloning strateg y based entirely on reverse transcription and polymerase chain reactio n amplification of RNA derived from bovine ovarian and testicular tiss ues. Complete bovine follistatin cDNA coding sequences are presented i ncluding 1,029 bases of open reading frame, the 5' translational start codon, and the 3' translational stop codon. Homologies of bovine foll istatin cDNA with pig, human, rat, and partial sheep sequences are 94. 3%,92.4%, 89.9%, and 98.4% at the nucleic acid level and 98.3%, 97.1%, 95.6%, and 100% at the deduced amino acid level, respectively. Northe rn blot analysis on a survey of bovine reproductive tissues showed str ongest expression in ovaries collected from superovulated cows and maj or RNA species at 2.8 Kb and 1.75 Kb. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.