ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A GENE FOR A RYANODINE RECEPTOR CALCIUM-RELEASE CHANNEL IN DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER

The nucleotide sequence of a 25.7 kilobase Drosophila melanogaster gen omic DNA segment containing a gene for a ryanodine receptor/calcium re lease channel homologue has been determined. Computer analysis and par tial cDNA cloning revealed 26 exons comprising the protein-coding sequ ence in this gene. The predicted protein is homologous in amino acid s equence and shares characteristic structural features with the mammali an ryanodine receptors. In blot hybridization analysis, a similar to 1 6 kilobase RNA species was identified abundantly in a 6-12 h embryo as the transcript from this gene. In situ hybridization to polytene chro mosomes indicated that this gene locates at band position 44F on the s econd chromosome.