Abstract
A cDNA library derived from poly(A)+RNA of bull seminal vesicle tissue was screened with a synthetic DNA probe specific for the major protein of bull semen. A positive clone pMP17, containing a 680-bp insert, was sequenced. In combination with primer-extension sequencing of poly(A)+RNA, a DNA sequence of 700 bp was determined. This DNA encodes a reading frame for 134 amino acids, starting with an ATG and terminated by a TAG codon. The first 25 amino acids constitute a signal peptide segment followed by 109 amino acids with the known sequence of the major protein. The initiation methionine occurs within the sequence CTACCATGG, which is highly homologous to a putative control signal for translational efficiency of mammalian mRNAs. The DNA sequence comprises a 3′ untranslated region of 276 bp and the polyadenylation signal AATAAA, 13 bp upstream from a tract of A residues. Northern analysis indicated the presence of a 750-bp mRNA species in poly(A)+RNA of seminal vesicle tissue. According to Southern analysis, one gene appears to specify the major protein of bull semen.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.