A muscle-specific actin gene from the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata

A characterization of an actin gene isolated from the genome of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, including the complete sequencing of the coding, 3' and 5' flanking regions of this gene and a partial cDNA was carried out. The partial cDNA was derived from the 3' untranslated region of the actin gene described here, and has been used to identify this gene uniquely. The DNA sequence data presented here, together with the pattern of expression exhibited by this gene during development, strongly support the interpretation that this is a muscle-specific actin gene. Peaks of expression are seen in tissues and during temporal phases of development where muscle differentiation is occurring. The derived protein sequence of the Medfly acting gene shows the highest degrees of similarity, 98.4 and 96.6% respectively, with the two muscle-specific actin genes 79B and 88F from D. melanogaster. The Medfly actin gene also has a single intervening sequence, and an intron is found at the same position in the 79B and 88F actin genes. In the coding region at the DNA level, 17.2 and 16.4% nucleotide differences, respectively, are observed between the Medfly actin gene and these same two D. melanogaster actin genes. The disparity between the amino acid and nucleotide comparisons can be explained, in part, by a high level of synonymous changes in the DNA sequence. In addition, despite the many similarities, codon usage appears to be very different between the actin genes of these species.