Cloning and sequencing of c-DNA encoding N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to report the molecular cloning and determination of the sequences N-methyl-D-aspartate subunit-1 receptor (NMDAR-1) in the hypothalamus of sheep. The re-amplified DNA template for NMDA -1 from the hypothalamus of male sheep was cloned using pBluescript-Sk-plasmids (pBSK, 2958 bp). Purified plasmids containing the NMDA receptor c-DNA were sequenced using the dye-terminator chemistry at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. Results were entered into the National Center for Biotechnology Web site as accession number AY434689. The sequence of Ovis aries (sheep) NMDAR-1 mRNA from hypothalamus of male sheep has 94-97% homology with Homo sapiens, 94-100% homology with Sus scrofa, and 88-90% homology with Rattus norvegicus NMDAR-1 mRNA sequence, and 94-97% homology with Homo sapiens glutamate receptor and transcript variant NR1-2 and NR1-1 mRNA sequence. These results show high evolutionary conservation of NMDA receptor subunit-1 across species.