Identification of the cDNA Encoding the Growth Hormone Receptor () and the Regulation of and Gene Expression by Nutritional Status in Reeves' Turtle ().

(Reeves' turtle) is a slow-growing reptile that is distributed widely across China. Prior to this study, the cDNA sequence of the growth hormone receptor () in the Reeve's turtle, or how periods of starvation might influence the gene expression of and insulin-like growth factor I () in this species, were unknown. Here, we identified the full-length sequence of the cDNA encoding GHR in Reeves' turtle by using RT-PCR and RACE. The full-length cDNA was identified to be 3936 base-pairs in length, with a 1848 base-pair open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 615 amino acid protein. Analysis showed that mRNA was detectable in a wide range of tissues; the highest and lowest levels of expression were detected in the liver and the gonad, respectively. was also expressed in a range of tissues, but not in the gonad; the highest levels of expression were detected in the liver. After 4 weeks of fasting, the expression levels of and in the liver had decreased significantly; however, these gradually returned to normal after refeeding. We report the first cloned cDNA sequence for the gene in the Reeve's turtle. Our findings provide a foundation from which to investigate the specific function of the GHR in Reeve's turtle, and serve as a reference for studying the effects of different nutrient levels on expression in this species.