Polymorphisms of the prion protein gene (PRNP) in Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas)

Source/description: The prion protein (PRNP) gene of mammals encodes a prion protein (PrP), which is expressed in many tissues including the brain. Misfolded PrP conformers are responsible for neurodegenerative diseases known as spongiform encephalopathies. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) include bovine spongiform encephalopathy, ovine scrapie, human Creuzfeldt–Jakob disease and chronic wasting disease (CWD) in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus). First found in Colorado, CWD has now been identified in the eastern USA, as far south as New Mexico and as far north as west-central Canada. Polymorphisms of PRNP appear to be linked to susceptibility to TSE in numerous species including free-ranging white-tailed deer and mule deer. In mule deer, the SS genotype at residue 225 is associated with a higher incidence of CWD. Differences in PrP amino acid sequence are believed to be species barriers to disease transmission. However, Wyoming moose sequences that were previously deposited in GenBank (AY225484 and AY225485) are similar to the sequence of Odocoileus. CWD has not been observed in Rocky Mountain moose (Alces alces shirasi) or in caribou at higher latitudes (Rangifer tarandus), yet both species overlap the geographical range of Odocoileus species. We report here the PRNP sequences for 44 Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas).