Cloning and bioinformatics analysis of LHR gene in Scophthalmus maximus

The complete cDNA sequence of luteinizing hormone receptor(LHR)gene in turbot(Scophthalmus maximus L)was cloned by degenerate primer PCR amplification and RACE technology,and provided a bioinformatics foundation and tissue expression for the study of LHR genetic characters.The full length of LHR gene is 3 814 bp,encodes 685 amino acids and shares a higher degree of homology with the Hippoglossus hippoglossus.The amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the LHR gene encoded hydrophobic protein and its relative molecular weight was 76.54 ku,isoelectric point was 7.22,and contained signal peptides and transmembrane domains.Subcellular localization of LHR was in endoplasmic reticulum and cell membrane.Meanwhile,the amino acids sequence contains thirty-three phosphorylation sites,five glycosylation sites,6 leucine-rich repeats,SCOP,PDB and seven conserved transmembrane helix domains.Furthermore,the secondary structure of LHR was mainly composed of random coil.The tertiary structure of domain area of LHR protein showed α-helix structure.In addition,we found LHR protein probably plays a key role in transport,translation and metabolism process.Tissue expression analysis showed LHR mRNA was preferentially expressed in ovary,whereas strong amplification signal was also detected in liver.Therefore,the above results laid a genetic information foundation for further study of the LHR gene function in the turbot gonads development,providing the theoretical basis for fish breeding in marine aquaculture.