) cDNA using RT-PCR and RACE. The cDNA was 1 099 bp in length and contained a 129 bp 5′UTR, a 322 bp 3′UTR, and a 648 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 215 amino acids. The catfish POMC protein contained a signal peptide (SP, Met¹-Ala²⁸), an N-terminal peptide (Gln²⁹- Asp¹⁰²), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, Ser¹⁰⁵-Met¹⁴⁴), 117), corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP, Arg¹²³–Met¹⁴⁴), β-MSH (Asp¹⁶¹-Ser¹⁷⁷), and ). Catfish POMC protein does not contain a γ-LPH were deleted. The protein shared the highest similarity (88%) with channel catfish (α-MSH, followed by-MSH, joining peptide (-LPH were located in the most divergent region. The protein had a calculated molecular weight of 24.66 kD, a theoretical isoelectric point of 7.25, was hydrophilic in most regions, and was rich in B cell antigenicity positions. Catfish mRNA was primarily expressed in the pituitary and the concentration of mRNA was much higher in brain than in other tissues.