Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone encoding Scylliorhinus caniculus protamine Z2.

A cDNA library was constructed from a protamine-enriched fraction of dogfish (Scylliorhinus caniculus) mRNA. The nucleotide sequence of a 440-bp insert was determined, and its produced protein sequence confirmed its identification as a cysteine-rich protamine Z2 [Martinage, A., Gusse, M., Belaiche, D., Sautiere, P. and Chevaillier, P. (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 831, 172-178]. The frequency of utilization of the different triplets coding for arginine, which represents 30-70% of the total amino acid residues for trout, mouse and dogfish protamines, is discussed. An alternative repetitive sequence of CGC-AGG was found in the N terminus of the protein. Analysis of the 3' flanking region after the mRNA-terminating TAA codon identified an inverted repeat sequence and an ACCA sequence, which may be possible vestiges of a histone-like termination signal.