title: The boll weevil vitellogenin gene: nucleotide sequence, structure, and evolutionary relationship to nematode and vertebrate vitellogenin genes.
abstract: 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 lambda gt11 adult female cDNA library. A second partial-length cDNA was isolated from a lambda gt10 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, S1 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 positions 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.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Trewitt
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Heilmann
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Degrugillier
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kumaran
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D001517:Coleoptera; D004247:DNA; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015698:Genomic Library; D007438:Introns; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014819:Vitellogenins; D004247:DNA