Isolation of a chicken thioredoxin cDNA clone. Thioredoxin mRNA is differentially expressed in normal and Rous sarcoma virus-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts.

We have isolated a cDNA clone for chicken thioredoxin by differential screening of a cDNA library. The protein product which this clone encodes is very similar to other thioredoxins, and it displays thioredoxin activity when expressed in Escherichia coli. This clone represents the first metazoan thioredoxin for which the protein or nucleic acid sequence is known. Comparison of the chicken thioredoxin protein sequence with those from bacteria and plants indicates structural features that appear to be essential for activity. Transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts by Rous sarcoma virus elevates the level of thioredoxin mRNA whereas the level of thioredoxin mRNA in a nonproliferative tissue (brain) is much lower than in chicken embryo fibroblasts.