EXPRESSION PATTERN, GENOMIC CLONING AND RFLP ANALYSES OF THE SWINE PIT-1 GENE

The swine PIT-1 POU domain cDNA was used to study PIT-1 expression and to clone the PIT-1 genomic region to identify additional PIT-1 polymo rphisms. PIT-1 was expressed only in the pituitary, confirming the swi ne cDNA identity. To study the PIT-1 genomic region, a clone containin g 13.7 kb DNA was isolated. EcoRI fragments hybridizing to PIT-1 were sequenced, and the 3' portion of PIT-1 gene identified. Primers for po lymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis were then designed. Restriction analysis of PCR produ cts identified a RsaI RFLP. In contrast to other PIT-1 RFLPs, the RsaI PCR-RFLP was widely distributed in American breeds. Thus, the RsaI RF LP and the previously reported PIT-1 RFLPs allow detection of PIT-1 al leles in most, if not all, breeds currently used in the US and Europea n reference/resource pig mapping families.