Cloning and sequencing of ribosomal protein L27a and a gene similar to human GS1 in Drosophila

Two closely linked genes were identified and characterized in the 24F region on the left arm of chromosome 2 in Drosophila. One cDNA predicts a protein of 231 amino acids, with a molecular mass of 25.7 kDa. The predicted amino-acid sequence of this protein is 47.2% identical to that of the previously reported human GS1 protein, which is encoded by a gene that is of interest because it is one of the few X-linked genes that escapes X-inactivation. We have accordingly named our gene GS1like (GS1l). The second cDNA begins 383 bp proximal to the first. This cDNA encodes a protein of a predicted 149 amino acids and a molecular mass of 17.0 kDa. This protein represents a homolog of ribosomal protein L27a; thus, we have named the gene RpL27a. This gene might be responsible for the Minute mutation located at 24F. An rpL27a gene was previously localized to 87F/88A; thus, this gene might be present in two locations in Drosophila.