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A prolactin cDNA was cloned from a cDNA expression library constructed from total RNA of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) adenohypophyses by immunoscreening with antiserum against bullfrog prolactin. The cDNA clone thus obtained contained a 249 bp insert. Using this clone as a probe, plaque hybridizations were performed and two additional clones obtained. These clones had a polyadenylation site different from that of the first obtained clone, suggesting that the 3'-untranslated sequence was heterogeneous in length. The longest clone contained 830 bp, which encoded part of the signal peptide and the entire sequence of mature prolactin. The deduced amino acid sequence was in good accord with that determined by direct protein sequencing of purified bullfrog prolactin. The length of the bullfrog prolactin mRNA was estimated by Northern blot analysis to be about 1·0 kb. Homologies of prolactin nucleotide and amino acid sequences between bullfrog and other vertebrates were 64 and 65% for man, 66 and 68% for pig, 61 and 52% for rat, 69 and 74% for chicken, and 50 and 35% for salmon respectively. Highly conserved regions reported for mammalian prolactins also existed in bullfrog prolactin. Homologies of nucleotide and amino acid sequences between prolactin and GH of bullfrog origin were 49 and 25% respectively. Using the cDNA, the content of prolactin mRNA in the pituitary glands of metamorphosing tadpoles was measured. Prolactin mRNA levels rose at the mid-climax stage, suggesting that the increase in plasma and pituitary prolactin levels known to occur at the climax stage accompanies the increase in prolactin synthesis.

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