Cloning, sequencing and differential expression of alpha B-crystallin in the zebrafish, Danio rerio

Here we report the cloning and expression of alpha B-crystallin from the ze brafish. 5'- and 3'-RACE was used to isolate a 900-bp transcript that conta ined insertions and deletions that differentiate it from both alpha A-cryst allin and HSP-27. The deduced amino acid sequence of zebrafish alpha B-crys tallin revealed that it lacked four residues in the C-terminus implicated i n protein-protein interactions in other vertebrate species. In addition, th e sequence contained two substitutions at sites implicated in phosphorylati on in other vertebrate species. Northern analysis and semi-quantitative RT- PCR indicate that zebrafish alpha B-crystallin is expressed at extremely lo w levels outside of the lens. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.