Molecular Studies on the Disease Resistance Gene, Proopiomelanocortin (POMC), from Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) plays an essential role in the disease resistance system and is the precursor protein of biologically active peptides such as adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), $\alpha-melanocyte-stimulating$ hormone $(\alpha- MSH)$, $(\beta-melanocyte-stimulation hormone\;(\beta- MSH)$ and $\beta-endorphin$. We have isolated and sequenced two different forms of POMC cDNA, POMC-I and POMC-II, from a pituitary cDNA library of flounder. POMC-I cDNA consisted of 956 bp corresponding to deduced amino acids of 216 residues and POMC-II cDNA was 982 bp in length corresponding to 194 amino acids, respectively. The results of deduced amino acids analysis of the clones showed high sequence homology with previously reported POMCs amino acid sequences from various species. The homology between flounder POMC-I and -II is$57\%$ identity. We also constructed a phylogenetic tree based on POMC amino acid sequences.