Isolation of a cDNA encoding Aspergillus oryzae Taka-amylase A: evidence for multiple related genes

Complementary and genomic DNAs encoding Aspergillus oryzae Taka-amylase A (Taa) were cloned and sequenced. The coding sequence of the cDNA comprised the signal peptide [21 amino acids (aa)] and mature Taa (478 aa). The deduced aa sequence agrees well with the published aa sequence, except for one insertion, one deletion and ten aa substitutions. These differences might be due to the difference in the strains used. Sequence comparison of the cDNA and genomic DNA indicates the presence of eight introns ranging in size from 55 to 86 bp. Southern-blot analysis showed the presence of at least two Taa genes, and the second gene (Taa-G2) was isolated. All the intron/exon junctions follow the 'GT-AG' rule, except for intron I of the first gene (Taa-G1). The 5'-noncoding region was well conserved among the genomic genes and contained sequences similar to 'CAAT' and 'TATA' boxes at nucleotides -121 and -31, counted from the transcription start point, respectively. The 3'-noncoding regions, however, differed significantly from each other. Taa-G2 contains a sequence identical to that of several independent cDNA clones, suggesting that it may be the major transcribed gene in A. oryzae.