Analysis of pig germ-cell special gene Sohlh1 and its promoter

Objective To study the expression of germ-cell special gene Sohlh1 in different tissues of young and adult pigs, analyze the features of molecular genetic evolution of Sohlh1 gene, and determine the core region and specific regulatory region of the promoter.

Method The expressions of Sohlh1 gene in different pig tissues and different time were verified by RT-PCR. The features of molecular genetic evolution of Sohlh1 gene was analyzed using biology software, the promoter was constructed and confirmed by a verification vector, and the core region and specific regulatory region of the promoter were analyzed by dual luciferase assay.

Result Sohlh1 gene was expressed in testis of piglet and adult pig and ovary of piglet, and was not expressed in ovary of adult pig. Sohlh1 gene had evolved along with the evolution of lower to higher vertebrates based on phylogenetic analysis of SOHLH1 proteins in multiple species. The core region of the promoter of pig Sohlh1 gene was near 78 bp, and the specific regulatory region was between 771 and 2 981 bp based on dual luciferase assay of the promoter verification vector.

Conclusion Pig could be a superior animal model compared with rodent based on Sohlh1 gene evolution analysis. The tissue specific expression of Sohlh1 gene may be mainly controlled by the specific regulatory region of its promoter.