The nucleotide sequence of the gene coding for Drosophila melanogaster yolk protein 3

The entire sequence of the Drosophila melanogaster yolk protein 3 (YP3) gene (yp3), including 1822 nucleotides (nt) of 5'- and 834 nt of 3'-flanking DNA, has been determined. In addition, the 5' and 3' ends of the mRNA and the two introns have been mapped. The predicted amino acid sequence of YP3 has considerable homology (43%) to the other two yolk proteins of D. melanogaster. The nucleotide sequence of yp3 was compared to the other two yolk protein genes which have the same developmental pattern of expression. In addition to extensive homology between the protein coding regions, we found two small regions of homology between yp3 flanking sequences and a segment of DNA required for normal expression of the yolk protein 1 gene in adult female fat bodies.