Nucleotide Sequence of beta-tubulin Gene from the Soft Coral Scleronephthya gracillimum (Kukenthal)

Abstract

We cloned the complete cDNA of the beta-tubulin from the soft coral, Scleronephthya gracillimum (Kukenthal) (Alcyonacea, Octocorallia, Anthozoa, Cnidaria), via the random sequencing of a cDNA library and the 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) technique. The full-length cDNA of the S. gracillimum beta-tubulin comprised 1541 bp, not including the poly (A)(+) stretch, also contained a complete open reading frame, which codes for a total of 445 amino acids. The amino acid residues 16402 appeared to be in a state of conservation in a variety of animals. Northern blot analysis clearly demonstrated that the sequence we have obtained is, indeed, the full-length cDNA of the beta-tubulin gene in S. gracillimum.