cDNA sequence analysis of proteins involved in reproduction and cell cycle of the zebra mussel,Dreissena polymorpha

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Abstract
The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, is a biofouling, highly fecund bivalve accidentally introduced into freshwaters of North America from Europe in the mid-1980s. As an approach to understanding better the mechanisms involved in its reproduction and development, complete or partial cDNA sequences of several genes involved in controlling meiosis and mitosis were determined. A cDNA library was made from mRNA of mature zebra mussel gonads. Sequences were obtained from three types of DNA preparations: (1) random picks of a testes library (actin); (2) sequencing PCR products that were amplified using primers designed to anneal to highly conserved sequences (cyclins A, B, C, D; cdc2; protein phosphatase IIA; tubulin; rad 51; Dmc 1; or (3) using specific PCR products as specific probes, probing the cDNA libraries for corresponding clones (cyclin A, cyclin B). Full-length clones were sequenced for actin, cyclin A, and cyclin B; the remainder are partial sequences. The cyclin B sequence is unusual in having two destruction box sequences and 12 lysine residues in the lysine-rich ubiquitin-mediated destruction region. The actin gene is most similar to cytoskeletal actin isoforms. Most sequences were highly conserved compared to many other organisms. Compared to human homologs, the observed identities for 10 sequences were cyclin A, 46%; cyclin B, 44%; cyclin C, 71%; cyclin D, 53%; cdc2, 78%; protein phosphatase IIA, 96%; actin, 97%; tubulin, 97%; dmcl, 88%; and rad51, 81%.