Identification of disaccharidases and SGLT1 gene expression in the passerine bird, house sparrow (Passer domesticus).

GATICA SOSA CP; FUNES SC; CHEDIACK, JG; CAVIEDES-VIDAL E

Mendoza

Congreso; XXV Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo.; 2008

Universidad Nacional de Cuyo

Sugar breakdown and absorption by intestinal membrane bound proteins are important steps for energy acquisition in animals. An important molecular tool to examine the expression and regulation of the genes is to have primers to determine their mRNAs. No sequences of these genes are available for passerine birds. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop specific primers for sucrase-isomaltase (SI), maltase-glucoamylase (MG) and the brush-border Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1). We excised mid-small intestines and prepared homogenates to extract total RNA from house sparrows (n=4) captured in San Luis. To achieve our goal, we designed primer pairs using the predicted sequences of SI, MG and SGLT1 genes for chicken. Then, we performed a reverse transcription reaction and a PCR with the designed primers. An electrophoresis was run to identify the amplified fragments. The fragments matched the expected length (SI: 103bp, MG: 153bp, SGLT1: 130bp). PCR products were also cloned with a TOPO TA cloning system (Invitrogen) and products were sequenced. In conclusion, we developed specific primers and identified the partial sequences of SI, MG and SGLT1 for house sparrows to be used as tools for further studies in avian digestive physiology. Supported by 9502 CyT- UNSL and PICT 25561 to ECV.