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The aim of this study was to phylogenetically characterize the location of the RNase T2 enzyme in the starfish (Asterias amurensis). We isolated an RNase T2 ribonuclease (RNase Aa) from the ovaries of starfish and determined its amino acid sequence by protein chemistry and cloning cDNA encoding RNase Aa. The isolated protein had 231 amino acid residues, a predicted molecular mass of 25,906 Da, and an optimal pH of 5.0. RNase Aa preferentially released guanylic acid from the RNA. The catalytic sites of the RNase T2 family are conserved in RNase Aa; furthermore, the distribution of the cysteine residues in RNase Aa is similar to that in other animal and plant T2 RNases. RNase Aa is cleaved at two points: 21 residues from the N-terminus and 29 residues from the C-terminus; however, both fragments may remain attached to the protein via disulfide bridges, leading to the maintenance of its conformation, as suggested by circular dichroism spectrum analysis. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that starfish RNase Aa is evolutionarily an intermediate between protozoan and oyster RNases.

A base non-specific and acid RNase was isolated from cellular slime mold (Dictyostelium discoideum) cells in a homogeneous state (about 2.4 kDa) by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The RNase (RNase DdI) has a pH optimum of 5.0. The amino acid sequence of RNase DdI was determined by a combination of protein chemistry, a search of Data base, Dicty cDB and further sequence analysis of cDNA from the same bank. RNase DdI consists of 198 amino acid residues, and about 13.3, 0.9, 1.2, 3.3, and 1.0 residues of mannose, xylose, glucose, GlcNAc, and GalNAc, respectively. RNase DdI has two characteristic conserved segments of the RNase T2 family, and thus belongs to the RNase T2 family. Considering the fact that most of the RNase activity of D. discoideum is present in the lysosomal fraction [Wiener and Ashworth (1970) Biochem. J. 118, 505-512], it was concluded that the lysosomal RNase in D. discoideum is a member of the RNase T2 family. The amino acid sequence of RNase DdI is highly homologous with that of Physarum polycephalum RNase (RNase Phyb), and its amino acid sequence seems to be similar to those of plant/animal type RNases, rather than fungal RNases. The location of RNase DdI in the phylogenetic tree of the RNase T2 family was estimated.