Novel CNS glutamate receptor subunit genes of Drosophila melanogaster

We report the identification and characterization of two genes from Drosoph ila melanogaster that encode novel ionotropic glutamate receptor proteins, named DGluR-IB and DNMDAR-II, and that are located on chromosome 3L, region 67AB, and the X chromosome, position 2B, respectively. The DGluR-IB full-l ength cDNA was isolated from Drosophila embryonic and head libraries. The e ncoded protein of 1,095 amino acids displays high sequence identity (73%) t o DGluR-IA. The DNMDAR-II gene was identified by sequence-homology searches in databases. The deduced protein shows moderate sequence identity (29-31% ) to the mouse NMDAR2A-D receptor subunits. Whole-mount in situ hybridizati on on embryos revealed DGluR-IB and DNMDAR-II transcripts in the CNS. Immun ofluorescence analysis of the adult fly brain indicates that the DGluR-IB p rotein is expressed in neurons implicated in the regulation of the circadia n clock.