Objective: To search for genomic DNA sequence of the augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) of rat.
Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers was used to amplify the sequence from the rat genome.
Results: A piece of genomic DNA sequence and a piece of pseudogene of rat ALR were identified. The lengths of the gene and pseudogene are 1508 bp and 442 bp, respectively. The ALR gene of rat includes 3 exons and 2 introns. The 442 bp DNA sequence may represent a pseudogene or a ALR-related peptide. Predicted amino acid sequence analysis showed that there were 14 different amino acid residues between the gene and pseudogene. ALR-related peptide is 84 amino acid residues in length and relates closely to ALR protein.
Conclusion: There might be a multigene family of ALR in rat.