Identification and characterization of the SMT3 cDNA and gene encoding ubiquitin-like protein from Drosophila melanogaster

A SMT3 cDNA encoding ubiquitin-like protein from Drosophila melanogaster was isolated and sequenced. Drosophila SMT3 genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and its nucleotide sequence was found to be identical to that of the cDNA, indicating the absence of intron in its protein coding region. The sequence of 90 amino acids of Drosophila SMT3 exhibited 55%, 73%, 70% and 52% identity to yeast SMT3, human SMT3A, SMT3B and SMT3C protein.