Cloning and DNA sequence analysis of the cDNA for the precursor of porcine luteinizing hormone (LH) beta subunit.

The cDNAs encoding the porcine luteinizing hormone (LH) beta subunit (pLH beta) were isolated from a cDNA library of porcine anterior pituitary constructed in an expression vector lambda gt11 using anti-pituitary glycoprotein hormone antisera. The nucleotide sequence of pLH beta subunit cDNA clone (543 bases) was determined. The cDNA encodes a signal sequence (20 amino acids) and a further 121 amino acids corresponding to the mature LH beta molecule. The predicted protein sequence differs from that determined by direct peptide sequencing at 6 residues and additionally shows an extended carboxyl terminus. The 5' untranslated sequence shows a low homology and is extremely long when compared with other mammalian LH beta subunit cDNAs. Northern analysis showed that the length of the pLH beta subunit mRNA is about 0.85 kb.