Abstract: Three independent groups of first-strand cDNAs were synthesized from the total RNA extracted from the skin of a single individual of Bufo gargarizans using different kits including SMARTer ^TM RACE cDNA Amplification Kit and modified Quantscript RT kit, which were then used as templates for the subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were cloned into the pGM-T vector and sequenced. As a result, 16 different uni-cDNAs were singled out of the total 31 cDNA clones. Same sequences, single nucleotide polymorphism sites (SNPs) and base deletions were detected in two or three independent experiments/groups, indicating gal-3 diversity, which led to diversity of proteins encoded. But alignment of the amino acid residues deduced form these gal-3 cDNAs revealed high conservation of glycosyl-binding sites, phosphorelation sites and the motifs highly associated with biological functions, which suggested the existence of galectin-3 diversity in the skin of B. gargarizans.

Key words: Bufo gargarizans, galectin-3, molecular diversity