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The boll weevil vitellogenin gene: Nucleotide sequence, structure, and evolutionary relationship to nematode and vertebrate vitellogenin genes

Journal of Molecular Evolution volume 34, pages 478–492 (1992)Cite this article

Summary

Boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) eggs contain two yolk proteins, YP47 and YP160. Using anti-YP160 antiserum as probe, a partial-length complementary DNA (cDNA) was isolated from a λgt11 adult female cDNA library. A second partial-length cDNA was isolated from a λgt 10 adult female cDNA library by differential screening with male vs. female cDNAs. Northern blot analysis showed that each cloned cDNA hybridized to a 6-kb female-specific transcript. These cDNAs were used to probe a genomic library, and two overlapping genomic clones were obtained that span the boll weevil vitellogenin gene. The entire transcription unit was sequenced, and introns were mapped by a combination of primer extension experiments, S 1 nuclease protection experiments, and polymerase chain reaction-mediated synthesis of two additional cDNA clones. Based on these data, the vitellogenin mRNA is 5511 nucleotides [plus a poly(A) tail of undetermined length] and specifies a provitellogenin of 1790 amino acids. The deduced protein has a Glu + Gln content of 16.3%, which is a relatively high value that is typical of most vitellogenins. Protein sequence similarities including Cys clusters conserved between boll weevil vitellogenin and Xenopus laevis A2 or Caenorhabditis elegans vit-5 vitellogenins indicated that the boll weevil protein is a member of the ancient nematode-vertebrate vitellogenin family. Moreover, the six introns in the boll weevil vitellogenin gene interrupt the coding region at positions closely or exactly corresponding to a subset of the position, of the 34 vertebrate vitellogenin introns, further supporting the argument for a common evolutionary relationship. This report represents the first complete nucleotide sequence and structural analysis of a nondipteran insect vitellogenin gene.

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Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Marquette University, 53233, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Patrick M. Trewitt & A. Krishna Kumaran

  2. US Department of Agriculture, Biosciences Research Laboratory, 58105, Fargo, ND, USA

    Larry J. Heilmann & S.S. Degrugillier

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  1. Patrick M. Trewitt
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  2. Larry J. Heilmann
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  3. S.S. Degrugillier
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  4. A. Krishna Kumaran
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Trewitt, P.M., Heilmann, L.J., Degrugillier, S. et al. The boll weevil vitellogenin gene: Nucleotide sequence, structure, and evolutionary relationship to nematode and vertebrate vitellogenin genes. J Mol Evol 34, 478–492 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00160462

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00160462

Key Words

  • Coleopteran insect
  • Yolk proteins
  • Sequence comparisons
  • Conservation of intron positions