Despite of being fast and relatively inexpensive, these techniques present some problems such as inadequate fragmentation of molecules, besides the technical limitation in distinguishing amino acid residues with the same mass values, like Leu and Ile, Bortezomib making necessary the use of sophisticated equipment not always available (Kjeldsen et al., 2003; Tanaka et al., 2006). The generation of cDNAs libraries and their sequencing were shown to be a complementary technique that enables an accurate identification and characterization
of gene-encoded proteins from diverse organisms (Adams et al., 1991; Chen et al., 2006; Junqueira-de-Azevedo and Ho, 2002; Okubo et al., 1992; Verdun et al., 1998). Recombinant DNA techniques, including cDNA cloning and sequencing, has also the advantage of providing GDC-0449 information
about cellular proteins involved in the processes of production and release of bioactive components into the glands of the studied venomous tissue. In addition, alternative splicing or post-translational modifications such as glycosylations, phosphorylations, and dissulfide bonds formation, that often limit the biochemical studies, can be predicted and circumvented. P. nordestina was formerly comprised into the group of P. hypochondrialis and, only recently, they were recognized as different species ( Caramaschi, 2006). Since a similar analysis was also previously conducted for P. hypochondrialis skin gland tissue by others ( Chen et al., 2006), here we report for the first time a survey of gene expression of very the skin gland of P. nordestina species, based on the analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs), aiming to identify similarities and differences between these two species. The Brazilian monkey tiger leg tree frog P. nordestina specimens (n = 3) were collected in Angicos in Rio Grande do Norte State and maintained at −80 °C, before tissue dissection and nucleic acid
extraction. The tree frogs were collected according to the Brazilian Environmental Agency (IBAMA – Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis) under the License No. 02027.023238/03-91, and they were all treated according to the rules of animal care of local legislation. Restriction endonucleases and DNA modifying enzymes were obtained from New England Biolabs (Beverly, MA, USA). All chemical reagents were of analytical purity grade and were purchased from Sigma Aldrich Co (St Louis, MO, USA). The skin was immediately dissected and pulverized under liquid nitrogen. The total RNA was extracted by using Trizol™ (Invitrogen, Eugene, OR, USA) (1 mL for 1 g of powdered tissue). Poly (A)+ RNA was prepared by using pre-packed oligo-dT Sepharose columns (Invitrogen).