Molecular cloning and comparison of avian preproghrelin genes.

We report cDNA sequences for the preproghrelin gene from goose, duck, and emu. This gene is involved in stimulating the release of growth hormone in mammals and may play a similar role in avian species. The complete coding sequence of avian preproghrelin encodes a 116 amino acid (aa) protein, which is organized into three parts: the N-terminal hydrophobic signal peptide, a 26 aa peptide for mature ghrelin, and a long C-terminal polypeptide. Domain/motif structures of preproghrelin protein are highly conserved among avian species. Although the avian and mammalian homologs are not highly similar for the whole 116 aa sequence, the identity of the highly conserved "active core" sequence and the n-octanoyl modification of the serine 3 residue avian ghrelin protein with its mammalian homologs implies conserved function of ghrelin protein during evolution. Information provided in this study will be useful in further studies to determine the role the preproghrelin gene plays in the regulation of growth hormone release and body weight gain in avian species.