Sequences of cDNA Clones Encoding α-Actin of Carp and Goldfish Skeletal Muscles

Abstract

We have isolated cDNA clones encoding skeletal muscle α-actins of carp Cyprinus carpio and goldfish Carassius auratus. The complete nucleotide (nt) sequences ofcDNA clones and their deduced amino acid sequences were determined. The coding region of cDNA clones contained 1131 nt for both carp and goldfish, while their 3' untraslated regions showed polyadenylation signals. When the two cDNA nucleotide sequences were compared in the overlapping 1257 nt corresponding to the coordinate from -36 to 1221, 35 nt substitutions were observed. Among these, 21 substitutions occurred between T and C, while 25 of total 28 nt substitutions in the coding region were located at the third base. Totally 377 amino acids were deduced from the coding region of both carp and goldfish, although it was predicted that the two N-terminal amino acid residues, Met followed by Cys, would be processed after translation as the cases of other α-actins so far reported. Amino acid sequence differences between carp and goldfish mature α-actins were Asp/Glu-3 and Thr/Val-5.