Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of alpha- and beta-globin cDNAs from yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata

Two alpha- and two beta-globin genes from the yellowtail were cloned and their nucleotide sequences determined. The entire open reading frames of alpha-globin A and B genes were 432 and 435 bp long, respectively, whereas the corresponding values of the yellowtail beta-globin A and B genes were both 447 bp. Amino acid identity of the yellowtail alpha- or beta-globin gene compared with those reported in other vertebrates including shark, teleosts and human, ranged from 35.4 to 83.0%. The yellowtail alpha-globin B has a unique inserted amino acid residue in the 48th position, not found in other fish alpha-globin genes. The orientation of alpha- and beta-globin genes open reading frames was head-to-head.