Drosophila cyclodiene resistance gene shows conserved genomic organization with vertebrate gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptors.
Genomic clones from the Rdl locus of Drosophila, whose mutant phenotype is resistant to cyclodiene insecticides and picrotoxin, were characterized by restriction mapping and partial sequencing to determine intron/exon structure. The coding region of the gene comprises nine identified exons and spans greater than 25 kb of genomic DNA. The structure of the Drosophila Rdl receptor subunit was compared with those of vertebrate gamma-aminobutyric acid subtype A (GABAA) receptors and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The first six introns in Rdl show positions similar to those in vertebrate GABAA receptors, whereas the last two differ. It is interesting that the last intron appears to be in a position similar to that in nAChRs. These results are examined in relation to the proposal, based on amino acid identities, that Rdl codes for a novel class of GABAA receptor subunit more closely related to glycine receptors, and the possible place of Rdl in the lineage of the receptor superfamily is discussed.
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Entomology Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D016678:Genome; D007305:Insecticide Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D007306:Insecticides; D007438:Introns; D051379:Mice / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics*
D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D007306:Insecticides; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A