Genomic and phylogenic comparisons of the alpha-globin and beta-globin intergenic sequences between zebra fish (Danio rerio) and six closely related Cyprinindae species.

The alpha-globin and beta-globin genes of the zebrafish are tightly linked on the same chromosome in a 3'-5' and 5'-3' configuration, respectively. Although the location of the controlling sequences has been mapped to the intergenic region, analysis determining the uniqueness of this unusual arrangement to zebrafish has not been undertaken. To explore this, we isolated, sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed the intergenic region between globin gene families of seven Cyprinindae species including zebrafish. These species were grouped into an in group (immediate relatives, not so distant relatives), and an out group (distant relative). Cellulose acetate electrophoresis of hemoglobin (Hb) detected multiple variants in each species, but a band with electrophoretic mobility (EM) of 6.7 x 10(-5) cm(2).volt(-1).sec(-1) was shared between species. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the intergenic globin gene region also detected a 1.0-kb fragment that was repeated in the in group and a 1.2-kb fragment in the out group. Sequence comparison confirmed that the genetic orientation and controlling sequences location were conserved throughout this region in all seven species. This phylogenic footprinting indicated that the configuration was not exclusive to zebrafish. To confirm sequence alignment, maximum parsimony phylogenic analysis, was performed. Only one member of that group the giant danio, was not closely clustered, being located almost equidistance between the immediate relative and the species of the other clusters. This may represent an ancestral configuration prior to transposition of the alpha globin and beta-globin genes families to nonsynteny.