Cloning and DNA sequence analysis of the cDNA for the precursor of the beta chain of bovine follicle stimulating hormone

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) plays essential roles in the maintenance and development of oocytes and spermatozoa in normal reproductive physiology. FSH possesses two subunits, α and β , the latter being responsible for FSH biological specificity. We have cloned and sequenced the cDNA encoding the FSH β chain from a bovine anterior pituitary cDNA library. The mature molecule is 109 amino acids long and is preceded by a 20-amino acid putative signal peptide. RNA gel blot analysis of bovine pituitary RNA shows that the mRNA encoding β chain of FSH is ≈ 1.7 kilobases in length.