Abstract
The Sec61 trimeric complex ($\alpha$,$\beta$, and ${\gamma}$ subunits) is one of the Sec-complex responsible for post-translational protein translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane in diverse organisms. In this study, a cDNA encoding the Sec61p ${\gamma}$ subunit homologue was isolated from the cDNA library of the mole cricket, Gryllotalpa orientalis. Sequence analysis of a 442-bp cDNA clone showed it to contain an open reading frame of 68 amino acid residues consisted of 204-bp. The homologues of the gene were found in the GenBank database in a diverse organism including insect, mammals, fungi, and plants. The deduced amino acid sequence of Sec61p ${\gamma}$ subunit homologue of the mole cricket showed the highest homology to the gene of the singly known insect, Drosophila melanogester (93% identity), and the least homology to that of the baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (37.2%). Phylogenetic analysis also confirmed a close relationship between the insect Sec61p ${\gamma}$ subunit homologues of G. orientalis and D. melanogester. Hydropathy analysis of the cricket mole and published other data suggested that the hydrophobic segment close to C-terminus is predicted to be the putative membrane anchor, Multiple alignment of the Sec61p ${\gamma}$ subunit homologue among several organisms showed the presence of several conserved domains including the conserved proline at position 28.
