Sequence analysis of the beta B2-crystallin cDNA of hamster containing a domain conserved among vertebrates

The cDNA sequence of the beta B2-cry was determined from hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) and compared to the corresponding genes of bovine, frog, chicken, human, mouse and rat. Multispecies comparison demonstrated high homology between the hamster, rat and mouse gene, but larger distances to man, bovine, chicken and frog. There is striking identity within a strech of 36 deduced amino acids (aa) between the Greek key motif 3 and part of motif 4. This 36-aa domain contains a putative phosphorylation site for protein kinase C and is highly conserved among all known basic beta B-Cry; however, it can neither be detected in the acidic beta A-nor in the gamma-Cry.