Keywords: 
• zoology /
• Bufo gargarizans /
• galectin-3 /
• diversity /
• bio-adaptation

Abstract: To obtain the cDNA clone of galectin-3，a first-strand cDNA library was synthesized from the total RNA of Bufo gargarizans skin and then used as a template for subsequent polymerase chain reaction （PCR） amplification. The PCR product was successfully cloned into pGM-T vector. After sequencing and using the National Center for Biotechnology Information （NCBI），an open reading frame （ORF） finder was utilized to determine the cDNA. Then，Clustal X 2.0 and DnaSP 4 software were used to analyze cDNA diversity and the deduced amino acid variation. Results of the ORF finder showed nine cDNA clones of galectin-3，two of which were estimated to encode truncated protein. Clustal X 2.0 and DnaSP 4.0 revealed a high density of single nucleotide polymorphism （SNP） with an average of 1 SNP per 20 bp. For deduced amino acid residues，the N-terminal and carbohydrate recognition domain （CRD） were highly consistent with a phosphorylation site，a CRD，and two related motifs. Meanwhile，the tandem repeated domain showed strong differences. Thus，this study indicated a molecular basis for bio-adaptation of B. gargarizans in certain habitat.［Ch，3 fig. 1 tab. 24 ref.］