Cloning, structural organization and tissue-specific expression of the rabbit transferrin gene

Abstract We cloned the rabbit transferrin ( rTf ) cDNA and gene, and quantified the expression of the rTf gene at the RNA level in various organs. The tissue-specific pattern of expression of rTf gene is different to those in other species, with a high expression in mammary gland and kidney. The exon/intron structure of the rTf gene (17 exons/16 introns) is similar to those of transferrins from other species. The sequence of the rTf cDNA already published is corrected and lengthened in the 5′ region, and a likely polymorphism is documented.