CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A FISH ALDOLASE-B GENE

A full length cDNA clone representing an aldolase mRNA was isolated fr om a sea bream (Sparus aurata) liver cDNA library. Sequencing of this clone revealed it to encode a 364 amino acid protein with 74% amino ac id identity to human aldolase B and slightly lower similarity to human aldolase A and C. In view of the sequence data and of Northern blot a nalysis showing strong expression of a 1.6 kb transcript in liver it w as concluded that the cloned gene represents aldolase B. This clone re presents the first aldolase gene to be sequenced from any fish species thus providing new data on the evolution of the vertebrate aldolase g ene family.