Nucleotide sequences of 5s rRNAs from sponge Halichondria japonica and tunicate Halocynthia roretzi and their phylogenetic positions.

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from sponge Halichondria japonica and tunicate Halocynthia roretzi were determined by chemical and enzymatic gel methods. Their phylogenetic positions among metazoans were derived from the 5S rRNA sequences by a computer analysis based on the maximum parsimony principle. It was suggested that the sponge is closely related to several invertebrates and the tunicate has affinity to vertebrates rather than invertebrates.