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A Lebedev

Publications and source records attributed to A Lebedev.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Mapping of trypsin cleavage and antibody-binding sites and delineation of a dispensable domain in the beta subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase.

We have mapped principal sites in the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase molecule that are exposed to attack by trypsin under limited proteolysis conditions. The 1342-amino acid-long beta subunit is alternatively cleaved at Arg903 or Lys909. The cleavage occurs adjacent to a dispensable domain (residues 940-1040) that is absent in the homologous RNA polymerase subunits from chloroplasts, eukaryotes, and archaebacteria. In E. coli, this region can be disrupted with genetic deletions and insertions without the loss of RNA polymerase function. Insertion of 127 amino acids into this region introduces a new highly labile site for trypsin proteolysis. The dispensable domain carries the epitope for monoclonal antibody PYN-6 (near residue 1000), which can be used for anchoring the catalytically active enzyme on a solid support. We also report the identification of a secondary trypsin cleavage at Arg81 of the beta' subunit within a putative zinc-binding domain that is conserved in prokaryotes and chloroplasts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mapping of the priming substrate contacts in the active center of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase.

The active center of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase performs the principal biochemical reaction of gene expression. Using cross-linkable substrate analogs and site-directed mutations, two evolutionarily invariant amino acids in the beta subunit of the Escherichia coli enzyme (Lys1065 and His1237) were mapped close to the binding site of the priming substrate of the reaction. Surprisingly, the mutational substitution of these residues (Lys1065----Arg and His1237----Ala) did not inactivate the catalytic function, but inhibited transition from the initiation to the elongation stage of transcription.

Affinity Labels↗

Detection of nucleic acids by cycling probe technology on magnetic particles: high sensitivity and ease of separation.

Cycling Probe Technology (CPT) is a signal amplification system that allows detection of nucleic acid target sequences without target amplification. CPT employs a sequence specific chimeric probe, typically DNA-RNA-DNA, which hybridizes to a complementary target DNA sequence and becomes a substrate for RNase H. Cleavage occurs at the RNA internucleotide linkages and results in dissociation of the probe from the target, thereby making it available for the next probe molecule. This communication describes the use of oligonucleotides attached to solid supports for target capture and release followed by solution and solid phase cycling. Through the attachment of chimeric probes to Sera-Mag magnetic particles (SMP) a simple and effective method of separating the cleaved probe from non-cycled probe has been developed. By capturing the target DNA on particles and separating it from the extraneous non-specific DNA we are able to dramatically reduce background and thus discriminate between samples of Methicillin Resistant (MRSA) and Methicillin Sensitive (MSSA) Staphylococcus Aureus. We conjugated oligonucleotide probes to SMPs (approximately 1 um) and Nylon beads (NB) which were coated with ID Biomedical's proprietary coating materials (R, patent pending). The general structure of the constructs is shown below: [table: see text]

Magnetics↗