Mancini P, Pulcrano G, Piscopo M, Aniello F, Branno M, Fucci L
Department of Genetics, General and Molecular Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy.
J Mol Evol. 2004 Oct;59(4):458-63. doi: 10.1007/s00239-004-2637-4.
The H3L histone variant gene in Paracentrotus lividus (sea urchin) shows almost all typical features of the replication-dependent histone genes, but it codes for the H3.3 histone protein with the S.//. A.IG amino acid motif, which is typical of the variants synthesized in a replication-independent manner. "H3L-like" histone genes have been found in several unrelated organisms. These genes are intronless and encode for the typical H3.3 histone proteins. The newly described family of H3L-like variants, nearly ubiquitous within the animal kingdom, could represent the common ancestor of H3 and H3.3 histone genes.
