Cloning and 5′ End Nucleotide Sequences of Two Juvenile Hormone-Inducible Vitellogenin Genes of the African Migratory Locust

Screening of lambda libraries prepared with locust (Locusta migratoria) genomic DNA yielded overlapping clones containing two complete vitellogenin genes, designated A and B, along with extensive 3'- and 5'-flanking sequences. Genes A and B are about 12 kb and 10.5 kb long, respectively, and both hybridize on Northern blots with 6300-nucleotide RNAs previously identified as vitellogenin mRNAs. Each gene contains a large intron near the 5' end and must also contain other introns. Repetitive "Lm1 elements," similar to the human Alu repetitive DNA elements, and other repeated sequences occur within the large intron and in the 3'- and 5'-flanking regions of each gene. Southern blots showed no cross-hybridization between the major portions of mRNA-coding sequences of genes A and B. DNA sequences have been determined for the 5' terminal exons and flanking regions of both genes. Both genes contain short (56-58 nucleotide) 5' leader exons, which, unlike the rest of the coding region, are highly conserved in sequence (87% identical) and code for amino acids that resemble the amino-terminal sequences of vertebrate vitellogenins. The upstream 5'-flanking sequences of the two genes contain several short stretches of similarity that may be involved in juvenile hormone regulated expression.