Sequence analysis of the transcribed and 5′ non-transcribed regions of the ribosomal RNA gene in Dictyoslelium discoideum

The nucleotide sequence of Dictyostelium discoideum rDNA extending over almost the entire transcribed region and a part of the 5′ non-transcribed spacer region has been determined. Computer analysis revealed that there were several conserved sequences in the 17S, 5.8S and 26S coding regions when compared with the sequences at analogous positions in some eukaryotic rDNA genes. The data also showed that the D. discoideum rDNA contains several extra sequences, which have not been found in other eukaryotes' rDNAs, near the 3′ terminus of the 17S coding region and the 5′ terminus of the 26S coding region.