Molecular characterization and chromosome assignment of the porcine gene COX7A1 coding for the muscle specific cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIIa-M

The COX7A1 gene encodes a heart- and muscle-specific isoform of the subunit VIIA of cytochrome c oxidase, which is the last component of the mitochondrial electron transfer chain. Cloning and characterization of the porcine COX7A1 gene revealed a highly conserved organization with respect to other mammalian COX7A1 orthologs. The porcine gene consists of four exons spanning approximately 1.5 kb and codes for a peptide of 80 amino acids. The COX7A1 gene showed no variation between pigs from different breeds. The gene was assigned by FISH and RH-mapping to SSC 6q1.1-->q1.2 which is in agreement with previously established comparative maps.