@article{Saga_Sasaki_Arai_2019, title={Molecular identification, characterization, and structure analysis of house musk shrew (Suncus murinus) leptin}, volume={6}, url={https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/JAVAR/article/view/40827}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Objective: </strong>House musk shrew (<em>Suncus murinus</em>), a small experimental animal with low body fat, may be a possible model for human lipodystrophy. Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone thought to have an important role in the pathophysiology of lipodystrophy. The objectives of this study were to clarify the structure and distribution of suncus leptin.</p> <p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>To determine the primary structure of suncus leptin, we cloned the suncus <em>Lep </em>cDNA using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends method. The obtained amino acid (aa) sequence was compared with other mammals and the protein structure prediction was performed.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>The suncus <em>Lep </em>cDNA encodes 170 aa. The putative suncus leptin precursor has a pre­dicted signal peptide of 21 aa, and the mature leptin comprises 149 aa. The mature leptin is 75%–82% homologous to that of other species. Insertion of the three aa, VPQ, not seen in other mammals was found. This VPQ insertion is thought to be due to a nucleotide insertion of nine bases by slippage-like microindels. The predicted 3D structure of suncus leptin exhibited a typi­cal four a-helix structure, however, the VPQ region protruded compared with human leptin. <em>Lep </em>mRNA expression was observed only in white and brown adipose tissues.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study revealed the structure and distribution of suncus leptin. Because the addi­tion of VPQ, which is not found in other mammals, was observed, suncus leptin attracts attention to its physiological action, and to the possibility of being a model of human lipodystrophy.</p> <p>J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 6(1): 1-8, March 2019</p>}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research}, author={Saga, Sayaka and Sasaki, Noriyasu and Arai, Toshiro}, year={2019}, month={Mar.}, pages={1–8} }