CLONING AND SEQUENCE-ANALYSIS OF A DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER CDNA-ENCODING IMP DEHYDROGENASE

A cDNA encoding the entire Drosophila melanogaster IMP dehydrogenase ( IMPDH) protein was isolated and sequenced. Translation of the impdh cD NA nucleotide sequence indicated that the Drosophila IMPDH exhibited 4 8% and 65% amino acid identity to the Leishmania donovani and human is oform II counterparts, respectively. Northern analysis revealed that e xpression of the 2.4 kb impdh transcript was equivalent in adult Droso phila head and body and that impdh expression was developmentally regu lated. In situ hybridization of the cloned impdh cDNA probe to Drosoph ila salivary gland chromosomes indicated that the impdh gene is locate d at position 9E1-4 on the X chromosome.