Rabbit EPO gene and cDNA: Expression of rabbit EPO after intramuscular injection of pDNA

Erythropoietin (EPO) cDNA was cloned from kidney total RNA of a NZW rabbit. The cDNA comprises a 588-bp open reading frame encoding a 195 amino acid p rotein with distinguishable regions of high of homology to other mammalian EPOs. Intramuscular injection of mice with a rabbit EPO expression plasmid resulted in a significant hematocrit increase. A rabbit genomic DNA fragmen t was also cloned using the rabbit EPO cDNA, This 4312-bp genomic DNA fragm ent contains sequences homologous to the mouse EPO promoter and hypoxia-res ponsive enhancer. In addition, the genomic DNA also presents a high degree of conservation to other regions involved in hypoxia response. Sequence div ergence in the 3' UTR may indicate differences in regulation of mRNA stabil ity or response to low oxygen tension, (C) 2001 Academic Press.