title: cDNA cloning of a developmentally regulated hemocyanin subunit in the crustacean Cancer magister and phylogenetic analysis of the hemocyanin gene family.
abstract: The complete cDNA sequence and protein reading frame of a developmentally regulated hemocyanin subunit in the Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) is presented. The protein sequence is aligned with 18 potentially homologous hemocyanin-type proteins displaying apparent sequence similarities. Functional domains are identified, and a comparison of predicted hydrophilicities, surface probabilities, and regional backbone flexibilities provides evidence for a remarkable degree of structural conservation among the proteins surveyed. Parsimony analysis of the protein sequence alignment identifies four monophyletic groups on the arthropodan branch of the hemocyanin gene tree: crustacean hemocyanins, insect hexamerins, chelicerate hemocyanins, and arthropodan prophenoloxidases. They form a monophyletic group relative to molluscan hemocyanins and nonarthropodan tyrosinases. Arthropodan prophenoloxidases, although functionally similar to tyrosinases, appear to belong to the arthropodan hexamer-type hemolymph proteins as opposed to molluscan hemocyanins and tyrosinases.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Charleston, Oregon 97420, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Durstewitz
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Terwilliger
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D003386:Brachyura / Q000235:genetics*; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D003300:Copper; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008099:Liver; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010179:Pancreas; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D003300:Copper; D006433:Hemocyanins