Summary
We have sequenced the coding and leader regions, as well as part of the 3′ untranslated region, of aXenopus borealis type 1 cytoskeletal actin gene [defined according to the arrangement of acidic residues at the N-terminus; Vandekerckhove et al. (1981) J Mol Biol 152:413–426]. The encoded amino acid sequence is the same as the avian and mammalian β (type 1) cytoskeletal actins, except for an isoleucine at position 10 (as found in the mammalian γ cytoskeletal actins), and an extra amino acid, alanine, after the N-terminal methionine. Five introns were found, in the same positions as those of the rat and chicken β-actin genes. The 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions resemble those of the human γ (type 8) cytoskeletal actin gene more closely than the mammalian β genes.
Primer extension showed that this type 1 gene is transcribed in ovary and tadpole. Sequencing of primer extension products demonstrated two additional mRNA species inX. borealis, encoding type 7 and 8 isoforms. This contrasts with the closely related speciesXenopus laevis, where type 4, 5, and 8 isoforms have been found. The type 7 isoform has not previously been found in any other species. The mRNAs of theX. borealis type 1 and 8 andX. laevis type 5 and 8 isoforms contain highly homologous leaders. TheX. borealis type 7 mRNA has no leader homology with the other mRNA species and, unlike them, has no extra N-terminal alanine codon. The evolutionary implications of these data are discussed.
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Cross, G.S., Wilson, C., Erba, H.P. et al. Cytoskeletal actin gene families ofXenopus borealis andXenopus laevis . J Mol Evol 27, 17–28 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02099726
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02099726