The Drosophila homologue of ribosomal protein L8

We have cloned the gene encoding the Drosophila melanogaster homologue of ribosomal protein L8. It contains two introns: one in the 5' untranslated region and the second in the beginning of the ORF, and encodes a 256-residue protein which is highly conserved when compared with RpL8 proteins of other organisms. The gene is present as a single copy in the Drosophila genome and maps at position 62E6-7 on polytene chromosomes. It is expressed ubiquitously at all stages of development. It is located close to the gene encoding RpL12 and both are candidate targets of the Minute mutation, M(3)LS2, mapped in the region 62E-63A.