Nucleotide sequence and thermal property of 5S rRNA from the elder aphid. Acyrthosiphon magnoliae.

The nucleotide sequence of 5S rRNA from the elder aphid. Acyrthosiphon magnoliae was determined by using postlabeling sequencing techniques. The aphid 5S rRNA consists of 120 nucleotides and the sequence differs from those of Bombyx and Drosophila 5S rRNAs in 14 and 16 positions, respectively. A secondary structure model based on the sequence has two distinctive features : the helix I is shorter and the total free energy lower. Judging from the thermal profile, the aphid 5S rRNA likely assumes a conformation somewhat different from those of the other two insects.