Structural and evolutionary analysis of the two chimpanzee alpha-globin mRNAs.
Two distinct alpha-globin mRNAs were detected in chimpanzee reticulocyte mRNA using a primer extension assay. DNA copies of these two mRNAs were cloned in the bacterial plasmid pBR322, and their sequence was determined. The two alpha-globin mRNAs have obvious structural homology to the two human alpha-globin mRNAs, alpha 1 and alpha 2. Comparison of the two chimpanzee alpha-globin mRNAs to each other and to their corresponding human counterparts revealed evidence of a recent gene conversion in the human alpha-globin complex and a marked heterogeneity in the rate of structural divergence within the alpha-globin gene.
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005796:Genes; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005914:Globins; D004247:DNA