Molecular Endocrinology, Vol 6, 951-959, Copyright © 1992 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

A single gene encodes the beta-subunits of equine luteinizing hormone and chorionic gonadotropin

GB Sherman, MW Wolfe, TA Farmerie, CM Clay, DS Threadgill, DC Sharp and JH Nilson
Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.

Equine (e) CG and LH beta-subunits have identical amino acid sequences, including an extended carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP). This suggests that unlike the corresponding human genes, the beta-subunits of eCG and eLH may be encoded by a single gene and share a common proximal promotor region. To explore this, we isolated and characterized the eLH/CG beta gene(s). Data from Southern analyses suggest that the eCG beta and eLH beta subunits are products of the same single copy gene (eLH/CG beta). Overlapping fragments of the eLH/CG beta gene and cDNA were amplified from equine genomic DNA and pituitary gland mRNA by the polymerase chain reaction, cloned, and sequenced. The eLH/CG beta gene spans less than 1.2 kilobase-pairs and has three exons that translate a CTP-containing polypeptide identical in sequence to that previously reported for the mature equine protein. There is, however, little amino acid homology shown between the CTP of human or equine CG beta subunit. In addition, unlike the human genes, the same TATAA-like element appears to be involved in directing initiation of transcription of the eLH/CG beta gene in placenta and anterior pituitary. Based upon these differences, we suggest that the CG beta genes evolved independently in humans and equids and that different mechanisms are involved in their patterns of placenta-specific expression.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Galet, F. Guillou, F. Foulon-Gauze, Y. Combarnous, and M. Chopineau The {beta}104-109 sequence is essential for the secretion of correctly folded single-chain {beta}{alpha} horse LH/CG and for its FSH activity J. Endocrinol., October 1, 2009; 203(1): 167 - 174. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Legardinier, J.-C. Poirier, D. Klett, Y. Combarnous, and C. Cahoreau Stability and biological activities of heterodimeric and single-chain equine LH/chorionic gonadotropin variants J. Mol. Endocrinol., April 1, 2008; 40(4): 185 - 198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Henke, C. Marc Luetjens, M. Simoni, and J. Gromoll Chorionic Gonadotropin {beta}-Subunit Gene Expression in the Marmoset Pituitary Is Controlled by Steroidogenic Factor 1, Early Growth Response Protein 1, and Pituitary Homeobox Factor 1 Endocrinology, December 1, 2007; 148(12): 6062 - 6072. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Nakav, A. Jablonka-Shariff, S. Kaner, P. Chadna-Mohanty, H. E. Grotjan, and D. Ben-Menahem The LH{beta} Gene of Several Mammals Embeds a Carboxyl-terminal Peptide-like Sequence Revealing a Critical Role for Mucin Oligosaccharides in the Evolution of Lutropin to Chorionic Gonadotropin in the Animal Phyla J. Biol. Chem., April 29, 2005; 280(17): 16676 - 16684. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Legardinier, M. Duonor-Cerutti, G. Devauchelle, Y. Combarnous, and C. Cahoreau Biological activities of recombinant equine luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin (eLH/CG) expressed in Sf9 and Mimic insect cell lines J. Mol. Endocrinol., February 1, 2005; 34(1): 47 - 60. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Saint-Dizier, F. Foulon-Gauze, F. Lecompte, Y. Combarnous, and M. Chopineau Cloning and functional expression of the equine luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotrophin receptor J. Endocrinol., December 1, 2004; 183(3): 551 - 559. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Saint-Dizier, M. Chopineau, J. Dupont, P. F. Daels, and Y. Combarnous Expression and Binding Activity of Luteinizing Hormone/Chorionic Gonadotropin Receptors in the Primary Corpus Luteum During Early Pregnancy in the Mare Biol Reprod, November 1, 2003; 69(5): 1743 - 1749. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M. Thway and M. W. Wolfe An Activator Protein-1 Complex Mediates Epidermal Growth Factor Regulation of Equine Glycoprotein {alpha} Subunit Expression in Trophoblast Cells Biol Reprod, September 1, 2002; 67(3): 972 - 980. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. A. Maston and M. Ruvolo Chorionic Gonadotropin Has a Recent Origin Within Primates and an Evolutionary History of Selection Mol. Biol. Evol., March 1, 2002; 19(3): 320 - 335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Saneyoshi, K.-S. Min, X. Jing Ma, Y. Nambo, T. Hiyama, S. Tanaka, and K. Shiota Equine Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: Molecular Cloning of {beta} Subunit and Biological Role of the Asparagine-Linked Oligosaccharide at Asparagine56 of {alpha} Subunit Biol Reprod, December 1, 2001; 65(6): 1686 - 1690. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. R. Bousfield, V. Y. Butnev, and V. Y. Butnev Identification of Twelve O-Glycosylation Sites in Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin {beta} and Equine Luteinizing Hormone {beta} by Solid-Phase Edman Degradation Biol Reprod, January 1, 2001; 64(1): 136 - 147. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. Quérat, A. Sellouk, and C. Salmon Phylogenetic Analysis of the Vertebrate Glycoprotein Hormone Family Including New Sequences of Sturgeon (Acipenser baeri) {beta} Subunits of the Two Gonadotropins and the Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Biol Reprod, July 1, 2000; 63(1): 222 - 228. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. W. Wolfe The Equine Luteinizing Hormone {beta}-Subunit Promoter Contains Two Functional Steroidogenic Factor-1 Response Elements Mol. Endocrinol., September 1, 1999; 13(9): 1497 - 1510. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. W. Wolfe and G. B. Call Early Growth Response Protein 1 Binds to the Luteinizing Hormone-{beta} Promoter and Mediates Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-Stimulated Gene Expression Mol. Endocrinol., May 1, 1999; 13(5): 752 - 763. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. J. Tremblay and J. Drouin Egr-1 Is a Downstream Effector of GnRH and Synergizes by Direct Interaction with Ptx1 and SF-1 To Enhance Luteinizing Hormone beta  Gene Transcription Mol. Cell. Biol., April 1, 1999; 19(4): 2567 - 2576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. M. Halvorson, M. Ito, J. L. Jameson, and W. W. Chin Steroidogenic Factor-1 and Early Growth Response Protein 1 Act through Two Composite DNA Binding Sites to Regulate Luteinizing Hormone beta -Subunit Gene Expression J. Biol. Chem., June 12, 1998; 273(24): 14712 - 14720. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Manzella, L. V. Hooper, and J. U. Baenziger Oligosaccharides Containing beta1,4-Linked N-Acetylgalactosamine, a Paradigm for Protein-specific Glycosylation J. Biol. Chem., May 24, 1996; 271(21): 12117 - 12120. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Keri and J. H. Nilson A Steroidogenic Factor-1 Binding Site Is Required for Activity of the Luteinizing Hormone beta Subunit Promoter in Gonadotropes of Transgenic Mice J. Biol. Chem., May 3, 1996; 271(18): 10782 - 10785. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Cosowsky, S. N. V. Rao, G. J. Macdonald, H. Papkoff, R. K. Campbell, and W. R. Moyle The Groove between the alpha- and beta-Subunits of Hormones with Lutropin (LH) Activity Appears to Contact the LH Receptor, and Its Conformation Is Changed during Hormone Binding J. Biol. Chem., August 25, 1995; 270(34): 20011 - 20019. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]