Cloning and Alternative Splicing Analysis of Bombyx mori Transformer-2 Gene using Silkworm EST Database
Bao-Long NIU
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Zhi-Qi MENG
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
*Tel, 86-571-86404031; E-mail, [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorYue-Zhi TAO
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
Search for more papers by this authorShun-Lin LU
Department of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China
Search for more papers by this authorHong-Biao WENG
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
Search for more papers by this authorLi-Hua HE
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
Search for more papers by this authorWei-Feng SHEN
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
Search for more papers by this authorBao-Long NIU
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Zhi-Qi MENG
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
*Tel, 86-571-86404031; E-mail, [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorYue-Zhi TAO
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
Search for more papers by this authorShun-Lin LU
Department of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China
Search for more papers by this authorHong-Biao WENG
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
Search for more papers by this authorLi-Hua HE
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
Search for more papers by this authorWei-Feng SHEN
Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Abstract We have identified Bombyx mori transformer-2 gene (Bmtra-2) cDNA by blasting the EST database of B. mori. It was expressed in the whole life of the male and female silkworm and was observed as a band of 1.3 kb by Northern blot analysis. By comparing corresponding ESTs to the Bmtra-2 DNA sequence, it was revealed that there were eight exons and seven introns, and all splice sites of exons/introns conformed to the GT/AG rule. Bmtra-2 pre-mRNA can produce multiple mRNAs encoding six distinct isoforms of BmTRA-2 protein using an alternative splicing pathway during processing. Six types of Bmtra-2 cDNA clones were identified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. All isoforms of BmTRA-2 protein contain two arginine/serine-rich domains and one RNA recognition motif, showing striking organizational similarity to Drosophila TRA-2 proteins.
Edited by Zu-Xum GONG
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