Abstract: In order to investigate the promoter region activity and transcriptional control mechanism of ovine mannan-binding lectin (MBL) gene, the thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR (TAIL-PCR) technology was adopted in this study. Meanwhile, three specific primers were designed according to the MBL sequence submitted on sheep, and we ultimately got the promoter sequences of the sheep MBL gene.By the bioinformatics analysis, we defined its transcriptional activity region, and found that the promoter of sheep MBL gene didn’t have TATA-box, however, there were several binding sites between PEA3 and Spi-1/PU1 transcription factor, which both belonged to the Ets family and were involved in the formation of transcription initiation complex formation in ovine MBL gene. In addition, the sequence also contained Sp1, GATA-1, TCF/LEF and other binding sites of transcription factors. The clone of promoter region sequence of ovine MBL gene in this study, made a foundation for the latter studies on the promoter region activity and its expression and control mechanisms, even on the methylation of the sheep MBL gene.

Key words: sheep; MBL; promoter region; clone; TAIL-PCR; sequence analysis