title: The human ribosomal protein genes: sequencing and comparative analysis of 73 genes.
abstract: The ribosome, as a catalyst for protein synthesis, is universal and essential for all organisms. Here we describe the structure of the genes encoding human ribosomal proteins (RPs) and compare this class of genes among several eukaryotes. Using genomic and full-length cDNA sequences, we characterized 73 RP genes and found that (1) transcription starts at a C residue within a characteristic oligopyrimidine tract; (2) the promoter region is GC rich, but often has a TATA box or similar sequence element; (3) the genes are small (4.4 kb), but have as many as 5.6 exons on average; (4) the initiator ATG is in the first or second exon and is within plus minus 5 bp of the first intron boundaries in about half of cases; and (5) 5'- and 3'-UTRs are significantly smaller (42 bp and 56 bp, respectively) than the genome average. Comparison of RP genes from humans, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed the coding sequences to be highly conserved (63% homology on average), although gene size and the number of exons vary. The positions of the introns are also conserved among these species as follows: 44% of human introns are present at the same position in either D. melanogaster or C. elegans, suggesting RP genes are highly suitable for studying the evolution of introns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan.
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshihama
authors.forename: Tamayo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uechi
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asakawa
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Seishi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Sayomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higa
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Shinsei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minoshima
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kenmochi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D017238:Genes, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D017344:Genes, Insect / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020071:Interspersed Repetitive Sequences / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012269:Ribosomal Proteins