The Drosophila homologue of ribosomal protein L8

We have cloned the gene encoding the Drosophila melanogaster homologue of r ibosomal protein L8. It contains two introns: one in the 5' untranslated re gion and the second in the beginning of the ORF, and encodes a 256-residue protein which is highly conserved when compared with RpL8 proteins of other organisms. The gene is present as a single copy in the Drosophila genome a nd maps at position 62E6-7 on polytene chromosomes. It is expressed ubiquit ously at all stages of development. It is located close to the gene encodin g RpL12 and both are candidate targets of the Minute mutation, M(3)LS2, map ped in the region 62E-63A. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.