Abstract
Seven α-globin genes (Nos. 1-7) have been isolated from a genomic library of the carp, Cyprinus carpio. In this study, the complete nucleotide sequences of Nos. 1 and 5 were determined. Globin genes Nos. 1 and 5 had three coding regions and two intervening sequences (IVS). The total length of the three coding regions was 432 bp, and that of the first and second IVS was 428/96 bp (No. 1) and 129/385 by (No. 5), respectively. In the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions, sequences homologous with the consensus sequence of the signals for expression were observed. The homologies with the amino acid sequences predicted from the cDNA were 93.0% (No. 1) and 99.3% (No. 5). However, the first IVS of No. I and second IVS of No. 5 included 298 and 289bp palindromic sequences (palindromic sequence of carp α-globin genes Nos. 1 and 5: PCα-1, PCα-5), respectively. PCα-1 and PCα-5 were quite similar (homology 98.6%), and no modifications or specific sequences were observed in the IVS adjacent to either of them. In addition, eight repeats of palindromic elements “tTCGTAcgaattcgTACGAa” were observed in PCαs, and six of them constitute 80 by complementary sequences that form the stem and loop structures. Therefore, we presume that the PCas are repetitive sequences, and that they arose from insertion.
