Abstract: Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) encodes a multifunctional serine/threonine protein kinase, which is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian tissues. In the present study, the porcine GSK3β gene from the Meishan pig sample was obtained and sequenced, and then its molecular features were analyzed. Mapping of the porcine GSK3β gene to porcine chromosome was made with the IMpRH panel. The expression pattern of GSK3β gene in 10 different porcine tissues was analyzed by qRT-PCR. The coding region of porcine GSK3β gene consisted of 1263 nucleotides, encoded for 420 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence share 95.6%, 98.8%, 98.8% and 93.3% identity with human, rat, mouse and zebrafish, respectively. The GSK3β gene was physically mapped at porcine chromosome 13q41-46 and closely linked to marker SW1876. The results of phylogenetic analysis among different species indicated that the porcine GSK3β gene was more homologous to human GSK3β gene than others. According to the results of tissue expression pattern, the expressive levels of GSK3β gene were different in 10 porcine tissues. It expressed with the highest abundance in liver and lung, following them were adipose, kidney, spleen, cerebrum and cerebellum, but it was little present in heart, stomach and muscle.

Key words: pig; GSK3β gene; gene cloning; chromosomal mapping; tissue expression pattern