Molecular cloning of the UMP synthase gene rudimentary-like from Drosophila melanogaster

The rudimentary-like locus encodes UMP synthase, a bienzyme protein containing the last two enzyme activities of de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis: orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and orotidylate decarboxylase. This locus lies within chromosome region 93B. New mutations have been used to refine the 93B cytogenetic map and a chromosome walk has been executed to clone DNA from this region. DNA encoding UMP synthase was identified using mixed oligonucleotides which were based on sequences derived from conserved peptide tracts of the protein in other species. cDNA clones of the embryonic UMP synthase mRNA have been isolated and used to define the extent of genomic DNA sequences which encode the transcript. The embryonic RNA is approximately 1.75 kb in length.