Amplification of proopiomelanocortin mRNA in canine skin: preliminary results

• Published in: Veterinary dermatology Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 389 - 391
• Main Authors: Kidney, C.M, MacDonald, J.M, Angarano, D.W, Insalaco, T.A, Kempainen, R.J, Sartin, J.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-12-2004
• Subjects: Animals; dog; dogs; Dogs - metabolism; Gene Expression; messenger RNA; nucleotide sequences; pituitary; pituitary gland; Pituitary Gland - metabolism; POMC; pro-opiomelanocortin; Pro-Opiomelanocortin - metabolism; proopiomelanocortin; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; RNA, Messenger - isolation & purification; RT-PCR; sequence homology; skin; Skin - metabolism; transcription (genetics)
• ISSN: 0959-4493; 1365-3164
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2004.00401.x

Skin and pituitary specimens were obtained from a normal chow‐chow cross‐bred dog. Total messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted, reversed transcribed and the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using canine specific primers. The expected 391 bp amplification product was detected in both canine skin and pituitary samples. Sequencing of this product showed 100% homology to the GenBank sequence for canine PMOC cDNA, and confirmed its remarkable homology to sequences of human, pigtailed macaque, mink, pig, mouse, rat and cow POMC. These preliminary results suggest that transcription of POMC mRNA occurs in canine skin. The nature of resident or nonresident cells transcribing the POMC gene in canine skin remains unknown at this time.