Abstract: As the genome of B. mori is available in GenBank and the EST
database of B. mori is expanding, identification of novel genes of B. mori was
conceivable by data-mining techniques and bioinformatics tools. In this study,
we used the in silico cloning method to identify eukaryotic initiation factor
5A (eIF5A) gene in B. mori. With the hypusine formation, eIF5A is involved in
the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Using the computer program
MEGA3, we conducted a search for homologs of eIF5A among many eukaryotic
species and confirmed that the eIF5A was conserved in all organisms
investigated. This gene has been registered in GenBank under the accession
number DQ104412.
Keywords: eIF5A, Bombyx mori, EST, in silico cloning