Identification of the MDR1/P- glycoprotein mRNA in a passerine bird, Taenopygia guttata

FERNÁNDEZ MARINONE G.; GATICA SOSA CP; CHEDIACK, JG; CID F.; CAVIEDES-VIDAL E

San Luis

Congreso; XXVI Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2009

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Animals are exposed to natural and artificial xenotoxins contained in most foods. A first line of protection for animals ingesting those lipophilic toxins is through the permeability glycoprotein (P-gp) of the intestinal mucosa. This is a transmembrane protein that protects cells by actively pumping lipohilic toxins out from enterocytes. The mRNA is an important molecular tool to study gene expression and regulation. No sequences of MDR1 genes available for passerine birds have been reported yet. Thus, the main objective was to develop specific primers for MDR1/P-gp of zebra finches. We designed primers pairs using the predicted sequences of P-gp from chicken. The small intestine was excised, homogenized and the RNA extracted. Then reverse transcription reaction and a PCR with the designed primers was performed. Amplified fragments were identified using gel electrophoresis assay. Fragments’ lengths were 134bp and 88bp. PCR products were cloned with a TOPO TA cloning system and products sequenced. Fragments matched portions of the sequenced genoma. Sequences were uploaded to the GenBank.