Molecular characterization of the bovine GHRL gene

Bovine ghrelin, a 27 amino acid pepticle, has been identified in oxyntic glands of the abomasum. It is an endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretagogue receptor and stimulates food intake and growth hormone secretion. The bovine GHRL gene was completely sequenced and consists of five exons and four introns. Like mouse and human GHRL genes, we found that the bovine GHRL gene also contains a first non-coding exon of 21 bp. The bovine GHRL gene codes for 116 amino acid pepticle named preproghrelin which contains the ghrelin pepticle and another pepticle similar to obestatin. Sequence analysis revealed eight polymorphisms, which are located in the non-coding sequence of the gene.