Homology between actin coding and its adjacent sequences in widely divergent species.

Eco RI restriction endonuclease DNA fragments from several representatives of the kingdoms Protista and Animalia were electrophoretically separated and transferred to the nitrocellulose filters. These DNA's were hybridized with [32p]-labelled actin coding sequence from Drosophila melanogaster (Dm). The results indicate that the nucleic acid sequences of the genes coding for actin(s) has been highly conserved throughout evolution. Similar experiments were performed using the sequence derived from the 5' end of Drosophila actin gene as a probe. Cross-hybridization was observed between Drosophila and Acanthamoeba castellanii. This may indicate a functionally important region at the 5' end which has been conserved.