Nucleotide sequence and presumed secondary structure of the 28S rRNA of pea aphid: implication for diversification of insect rRNA.

Determination of the entire nucleotide sequence of the aphid 28S ribosomal RNA gene (28S rDNA) revealed that it is 4,147 bp in length with a G + C content of 60.3%. Based on the nucleotide sequence, we constructed a presumed secondary-structure model of the aphid 28S rRNA which indicated that the aphid 28S rRNA is characterized by the length and high G + C content of its variable regions. The G + C content of the aphid's variable regions was much higher than that of the entire sequence of the 28S rRNA, which formed a striking contrast to those of Drosophila with the G + C content much lower than the entire 28S molecule. In this respect, the aphid 28S rRNA somewhat resembled those of vertebrates. This is the third report of a complete large-subunit rRNA sequence from an arthropod, and the first 28S rRNA sequence for a nondipterous insect.