title: Genomic organization of a gene encoding the spicule matrix protein SM30 in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.
abstract: We report the characterization of a genomic clone containing portions of two tandemly arranged genes that encode a spicule matrix protein, SM30, of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. The isolated 18.4-kilo-base genomic clone contains the complete genomic sequence of one SM30 gene, designated SM30-alpha, and a portion of another SM30 gene, designated SM30-beta. Southern blot analysis shows that SM30 protein is encoded by a small gene family of two to four members. RNase protection assays indicate that the SM30-alpha gene is expressed at the time of spicule formation in the sea urchin embryo. In addition, mapping of SM30-alpha shows that a large single intron interrupts the coding sequence. Comparison of the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the SM30-alpha genomic sequence and the previously isolated SM30 cDNA reveals them to be very similar, but not identical. We also demonstrate that 2.6 kilobases of upstream sequence of SM30-alpha are sufficient to direct primary mesenchyme cell-specific expression of a reporter gene construct.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akasaka
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Frudakis
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Killian
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamasu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Khaner
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Wilt
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005091:Exons; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D012617:Sea Urchins
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C071119:SM30 protein, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus