Construction and Screening of a cDNA Library to Isolate Chicken Pituitary Hormone Genes

Abstract

A chicken pituitary cDNA expression library has been constructed in the bacteriophage vector Agt 11 (methods for the bacteriophage DNA propagation, modification, ligation of the double-stranded cDNA insert and in vitro packaging are included.) The chicken pituitary cDNA library was screened with heterologous pituitary cDNA clones, and several putative chicken specific pituitary cDNA clones were isolated. These putative chicken specific cDNAs should prove most useful in determining the structural organization of the various pituitary hormone genes and help to better understand the molecular mechanisms of how these sequences affect growth, reproduction, and metabolism in the chicken. For educational purposes, the techniques of cDNA library construction and screening should allow advanced undergraduate students the opportunity to isolate specific cDNA clones of interest. After learning such methodologies, students should be in an advantageous position in the promising job market for recombinant DNA technology and for admission to the best graduate schools in the areas of cellular and molecular biology.