Cloning and Sequence Analysis of Lepus capensis Zona Pellucida 3 cDNA

In this study,specific primers were designed according to the ZP3mRNA sequence of European rabbit(Oryctolagus cuniculus)in GenBank.Using total RNA isolated from hare(Lepus capensis)ovaries,the complementary deoxyribonucleic acid(cDNA)encoding hare ZP3,named hZP3,was amplified by reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)for the first time(Accession number:KC447289).The hZP3cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1 260nucleotides encoding apolypeptide of 419amino acid residues.Nucleotide identity between Lepus capensis and Oryctolagus cuniculus was96%.The predicted ZP3amino acids had the typical characteristics of ZPfamily.Phylogenetic tree analysis suggested that Lepus capensis had the closest phylogenetic relationship with the Oryctolagus cuniculus,followed by rodents,in line with the laws of the evolution of species.The successful cloning of hZP3cDNA provided a theoretical basis for future immune-contraceptive study on hare control.