CLONING AND TISSUE-SPECIFIC EXPRESSION OF CYTOCHROME P-450 AROMATASE cDNA IN JAPANESE EEL (Anguilla japonica)

The conversion of androgen to estrogen is catalyzed by an enzyme, cytochrome P-450 aromatase (P-450arom). The P-450arom cDNA fragment was cloned from brain and ovary of the primitive teleost, Japanese eel. The p-450arom cDNA fragment (1.1 kb) from brain and ovary of the Japanese eel are identical. The deduced amino acid from P-450arom cDNA in Japanese eel have conserved domains for common putative functional properties of P-450 superfamily. P-450arom mRNA was predominantly present in the brain and pituitary, weak in the ovarv and none in the other tissues