SEQUENCE OF A CDNA-ENCODING THE P53 PROTEIN IN RHESUS-MONKEY (MACACA-MULATTA)

A 2184-nucleotide (nt) sequence of the p53 gene in Rhesus monkey (Maca ca mulatta) was determined in order to facilitate the use of the Rhesu s as an animal model in the testing of novel antisense oligodeoxyribon ucleotides for a variety of human cancers, including acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Within overlapping regions, we found greater than 95% identity between the Rhesus and human p53 sequences, and greater than 98% identity between Rhesus and African green monkey p53 sequences. T he deduced amino acid (aa) sequence of the p53 protein is highly conse rved between human and Rhesus monkey, with only 18 minor differences i n 393 aa.