STRUCTURES OF GENES ENCODING TATA BOX-BINDING PROTEINS FROM TRIMERESURUS-GRAMINEUS AND T-FLAVOVIRIDIS SNAKES

A cDNA encoding the Trimeresurus gramineus (Tg, green habu snake) TATA -box-binding protein (TgTBP) was cloned and sequenced, The cDNA encode s a 33-kDa protein with an extensive sequence similarity to those deri ved from other organisms, except for the N-terminal domain, Genes enco ding TgTBP and Trimeresurus flavoridis (Tf, habu snake) TBP (Tf,TBP) w ere isolated using a TgTBP cDNA and their nt sequences were determined . They are the first TBP genes entirely sequenced in higher animals. B oth genes span over 15 kb and are constructed from eight exons and sev en introns, Comparison of the loci of introns on the aligned amino-aci d sequences of TBP from six organisms (Tg, Tf, mouse, Arabidopsis thal iana, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Acanthamoeba castellanii) indicate d that there are three highly conserved loci in the C-terminal domain.