CLONING AND THE NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF CARP BETA-GLOBIN GENE

The carp beta-globin gene was cloned and the nucleotide sequence was d etermined. The carp beta-globin gene contains three exons and two intr ons, as do other vertebrate beta-globin genes. The coding regions of e xons I, II, and III were 93 base pairs (bp), 222 and 129 bp in length, respectively. The intervening sequences were 106 and 121 bp long, res pectively. A TATA box was found 88 bp upstream from the start site (AT G) of translation. In the 3' flanking region, there were two poly aden ylation signals, AATAAA, on 90 and 172 bp downstream from the stop cod on (TAG) of translation. The predicted amino acid sequences from the c arp beta-globin gene and cDNA were the same. The amino acid identity o f the carp beta-globin gene with those reported in other vertebrates i ncluding goldfish, rainbow trout, duck, goose, chicken, rat, and human , ranged from 52.4 to 97.3%. The carp beta-globin has one inserted ami no acid residue, which was also found in the reported amino acid seque nces of other fish beta-globins, but not in the other vertebrate beta- globin polypeptides. The carp beta-globin gene consisted of a family s tructure from the results of Southern hybridization.