The Bcg/Ity/Lsh locus is a major gene controlling early phases of infection with intracellular parasites in mice. Natural resistance associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp1) has been shown to be the Bcg gene in mice. Analysis of a bovine cDNA homolog of murine Nramp1, designated as bovine NRAMP1, predicted a 548-amino-acid protein with hydrophobic domains, an amino-terminal SH3-binding domain, and a conserved consensus transport motif. Northern blotting indicated that bovine NRAMP1 was expressed primarily in macrophages and tissues of the recticuloendothelial system. Bovine NRAMP1 was mapped to BTA 2 within syntenic loci conserved on HSA 2q and MMU 1.
