Abstract：Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) is a key enzyme in lipid lipolysis. In this experiment, the whole cDNA length ATGL gene with 2 074 bp (GenBank accession No. GQ918145) was isolated and cloned by RT-PCR and RACE (rapid amplification cDNA ends) from Xinong Saanen dairy goats (Capra hircus). ATGL gene contains 141 bp 5'UTR, 472 bp 3'UTR, and 1 461 bp coding sequences (CDS) which encode a protein of 486 amino acid residues (GenBank accession No. ADD25174). AA sequence alignment showed that the AA of goat ATGL had high score similarity, more than 85%, when compared with bovine (Bos taurus), rat (Rattus norvegicus), mouse (Mus musculus), pig (Sus scrofa), and human (Homo sapiens) in GenBank. The protein structure had a Patatin domain, α/β hydrolase folds and GXSXG (Gly-X-Ser-X-Gly) structure. A transmembrane helix was speculated in the N-terminal and no signal peptide found in the entire sequence. The protein molecular weight was 53 243.4 D and the isoelectric point was 7.4. Furthermore, the ATGL gene expressions in various organs and tissues were analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative-PCR. The results showed that the ATGL mRNA existed in all of the 12 detected organs and tissues. The most abundant expression was detected in subcutaneous adipose tissue, which was significantly higher than that of the other tissues, and the minimal expression was observed in heart tissue. The higher expression level of ATGL gene in the mammary gland of dairy goats provided the experimental evidence for its function analysis.
