Characterization of a cDNA sequence encoding the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha in the chicken

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) belong to the superfamil y of the nuclear hormone receptors that play an important role in lipid hom eostasis. A partial complementary deoxyribonucleic acid clone encoding a PP AR alpha from chicken liver was isolated and sequenced. Comparison with hum an, mouse, rat, and Xenopus PPAR alpha cDNA indicates a high degree of homo logy, especially at the level of the inferred peptide sequence (greater tha n 90%). The tissue pattern of expression indicates that PPAR alpha expressi on in the chicken is similar to that reported in other species, i.e., high expression levels in the liver, heart, and kidney, but also occurs in the l ipogenic uropygial gland specific to birds.