
%0 Journal Article
%A Lawrence, Stephen B. 
%A Vanmontfort, Dominique M. 
%A Tisdall, David J. 
%A McNatty, Kenneth P. 
%A Fidler, Andrew E. 
%T The follicle-stimulating hormone &#946;-subunit gene of the common brushtail possum (<emph type="2">Trichosurus vulpecula</emph>): analysis of cDNA sequence and expression
%J Reproduction, Fertility and Development
%D 1998/06/30
%V 9
%N 8
%P 795-802
%K marsupial, gonadotrophin, glycoprotein hormone, biocontrol
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/R98009
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/R98009 
%X Reverse transcription&#8211;PCR has been used to obtain a cDNA sequence from the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) &#946;-subunit gene of the Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Comparisons of the possum FSH&#946;-mRNA coding region nucleotide sequence with that of six eutherian mammal homologues reveals a mean percent identity of 77&#183;3% and 76&#183;8% at the nucleotide and predicted amino acid-sequence levels respectively. Furthermore, the predicted amino acid sequence of the possum FSH&#946; mature protein shows evolutionary conservation of twelve cysteine residues and two potential N-linked glycosylation sites. The protein lacks the CAGY motif present in most reported glycoprotein &#946;-subunit sequences. The translation termination codon and consensus polyadenylation sequence overlap, a feature observed in other mammalian FSH&#946; genes. Northern hybridization of total RNA from adult female possum pituitary revealed three hybridizing transcripts of approximately 2&#183;8, 1&#183;2 and 0&#183;5 kb which may arise from utilizing alternative polyadenylation signals. In situ hybridization localized the FSH&#946; transcripts to a sub-population of anterior pituitary cells interpreted as being gonadotropes. In summary the results indicate considerable evolutionary conservation of the structure of the FSH b-subunit gene between the marsupial and eutherian mammalian lineages. 
