15. Mainzer Allergie-Workshop 2003

The Primary Structure of Several Hemoglobin Genes from the Genome of Chironomus tentans

In addition to Chironomus thummi thummi, Chironomus tentans is another Chironomid species in which the Hb proteins have been investigated (1) and in which the Hb genes have been localized (2). Thus, this species is an ideal candidate for the study of Hb gene structure and evolution.

Complete Nucleotide Sequence of a Hemoglobin Gene Cluster from the Midge Chironomus thummi piger

The aquatic larvae of non-biting midges (Chironomidae, Diptera) contain a variety of Hb proteins in their hemolymph that enable them to survive in an anoxic environment (1). In Chironomus thummi thummi, 12 different Hb variants have been identified and their amino acid sequences determined (2). Based on these primary structures, the evolutionary relationships between the five monomeric and the s e v e n dimeric Hb proteins have been deduced (2). The two groups are thought to have evolved in two different lineages which separated more than 255 million years ago.

17. Mainzer Allergie-Workshop