A novel porcine gene, USP7, differentially expressed in the musculus longissimus from Wujin and Large White pigs

The mRNA differential display technique was performed to investigate differences in the gene expression in the musculus longissimus from Wujin and Large White pigs. A fragment of one differentially expressed gene was isolated and sequenced. A complete cDNA sequence was obtained using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The sequence prediction analysis revealed that the open reading frame of this gene encodes a protein of 1 103 amino acids, which is homologous with the ubiquitin specific peptidase 7 (USP7) of four species, rat (identity 98%), human (98%), mouse (98%) and chicken (95%), so it can be defined as the porcine USP7 gene. The differences in the USP7 gene expression in muscles from Wujin and Large White pigs were confirmed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The gene expression analysis in eight tissues of a Wujin x Large White cross showed that USP7 was expressed in all the tissues, except for fat.