Molecular structure and evolutionary origin of human cardiac muscle actin gene.

Abstract

Two recombinant phages that contain cardiac muscle actin gene were isolated from a human DNA library and their structures were determined. Restriction analysis indicates that both clones carry the same EcoRI 13-kilobase fragment where the coding sequence is mapped. The cloned DNA hybridized with poly(A) RNA from human fibroblasts, which directs the synthesis of cytoplasmic .beta.- and .gamma.-actin in vitro. Sequence determination of the cloned DNA showed that the entire coding sequence perfectly matched the amino acid sequence of cardiac muscle actin. The initiation codon is followed by a cysteine codon that is not found at the amino-terminal site of any actin isoform, suggesting the necessity of post-translational processing for in vivo actin synthesis. There are 5 introns interrupting exons at codons 41/42, 150, 204, 267 and 327/328. These intron locations are exactly the same as those of the rat skeletal muscle actin gene but different from those of nonmuscle .beta.-actin gene. Nucleotide sequences of all exon/intron boundaries agree with the G-T/A-G rule (G-T at the 5'' and A-G at the 3'' termini of each intron). The 3''-untranslated sequence has no homology to that of nonmuscle .beta.- or .gamma.-actin gene, but Southern blot hybridization has shown that this region has considerable homology to that of one of the other actin genes. The recombinant phages which were isolated contain cardiac muscle actin genes which together with skeletal muscle actin genes have been derived from an ancestor gene at a relatively recent time in evolutionary development.