Differential display reveals a novel pig gene, PRPF3, which is differentially expressed in Large White versus Wujin skeletal muscle tissues.

The mRNA differential display technique was performed to investigate gene expression differences in the longissimus dorsi muscle from Wujin and Large White pigs. A fragment of one differentially expressed gene was isolated and sequenced. A complete cDNA sequence of the gene was obtained using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends method. The open reading frame of this gene encodes a protein of 683 amino acids, which is homologous with the PRP3 pre-mRNA processing factor 3 (PRPF3) of five species: bovine (99%), human (99%), sumatran orangutan (99%), mouse (99%) and chicken (94%). This newly identified gene was respectively defined as the swine PRPF3 gene. This gene is structured in 15 exons and 14 introns as revealed by computer-assisted analysis. The phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the swine PRPF3 gene has a closer genetic relationship with the PRPF3 gene of sumatran orangutan.