Abstract
The surfactant, pulmonary-associated protein C (SFTPC) is a peptide secreted by the alveolar type II pneumocytes of the lung. We have characterized the porcine SFTPC gene at genomic, transcriptional, and protein levels. The porcine SFTPC is a single-copy gene on pig chromosome 14. Two transcripts were found in a newborn pig lung cDNA library: a full-length clone and a clone missing exon 5. cDNA sequence comparison revealed four synonymous and two nonsynonymous substitutions and in-frame insertions at the beginning of exon 5. Comparison of the SFTPC coding region between several mammals showed high levels of conservation. Northern blot studies showed lung-specific expression of the full-length SFTPC transcript, appearing in 50-day-old fetus and increasing during lung development. Both SFTPC transcripts were detected mainly in lung by real-time RT-PCR and they were significantly down-regulated in necrotic lungs of pigs infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Additionally, the protein levels were also decreased or absent in the necrotic tissue.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Genomics |
Volume | 88 |
Issue number | 5 |
Pages (from-to) | 659-668 |
Number of pages | 10 |
ISSN | 0888-7543 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Keywords
- Former LIFE faculty
- SFTPC, SNPs, gene expression, real-time RT-PCR
- Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae lung infection
- type II cells