Nucleotide sequence of cDNA coding for mink proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and its comparative analysis with POMC mRNA primary structures from pituitaries of other animal species and man.

ABSTRACT

cDNA for proopiomelanocortin (POMC) of mink has been cloned and sequenced. A comparative analysis of the primary structures of mRNAs coding for proopiomelanocortins of eight animal species and man has been performed. The analysis has revealed conserved and variable POMC mRNA regions. High variability of some of the regions is suggested to be due to the peculiarities of their structural organization. A putative mechanism responsible for the mutations in variable regions is proposed. A tree of the evolutionary relations of POMC has been developed.