STRUCTURE OF THE GYPSY-MOTH VITELLOGENIN GENE

Genomic clones containing the vitellogenin (Vg) gene from the gypsy mo th were isolated from two genomic libraries and characterized. The nuc leotide sequence of a 16,132 bp region of the gypsy moth genome was de termined which included a 3,666 bp region upstream from the transcript ion initiation site and 499 bp region downstream from the transcribed region. Primer extension analysis was performed to identify the transc ription initiation site. Gene sequence confirmed the sequence of VgmRN A recently reported [Hiremath and Lehtoma, J. Insect Biochem. Mel. Bio l. (1997) 27:27-35] and indicated that the gypsy moth Vg gene contains seven exons interrupted by six introns. Sequence analysis of the prom oter region revealed presence of several motifs associated with sex-sp ecific and developmentally regulated genes in other systems. The nucle otide sequence comparison analyses showed that the gypsy moth Vg gene had considerably similarity with the Bombyx mori Vg gene but not with those from Anthonomous grandis and Aedes aegypti. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.(double dagger).