Molecular cloning and expression of the porcine high-affinity immunoglobulin G Fc receptor (FcγRI)

Receptors for the Fc region (Fc gamma Rs) of immunoglobulin G (IgG) play a crucial role in the immune system and host protection against infection. In this study, we describe the cloning, sequencing, and expression of the high-affinity IgG receptor from pig. By screening a translated Expressed Sequence Tags database with the human Fc gamma RI (CD64) protein sequence, we identified a putative porcine homologue. Subsequent polymerase chain reaction amplification confirmed that the identified full-length cDNA was expressed in porcine cells. Rosetting analysis shows that COS-7 cells transfected with a plasmid containing the cloned cDNA were able to bind chicken erythrocytes sensitized with porcine IgG. Scatchard analysis indicated that monomeric IgG bound to transiently transfected cells with an affinity of approximately 4x10(7) M-1. The porcine Fc gamma RI cDNA is 1,038 nucleotides long and is predicted to encode a 346-amino-acid transmembrane glycoprotein composed of three Ig-like domains, a transmembrane region, and a short cytoplasmic tail. The overall identity of the porcine Fc gamma RI to its human and mouse counterparts at the level of the amino acid sequence was 75% and 57%, respectively. Identification of porcine Fc gamma RI will aid in the understanding of the molecular basis of the porcine immune system and further studies of the receptor function.