Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B G Forget

Publications and source records attributed to B G Forget.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Nucleotide sequence of 3' untranslated portion of human alpha globin mRNA.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of 75 nucleotides of the 3'-untranslated portion of normal human alpha globin mRNA which corresponds to the elongated amino acid sequence of the chain termination mutant Hb Constant Spring. This was accomplished by sequence analysis of cDNA fragments obtained by restriction endonuclease or T4 endonuclease IV cleavage of human globin cDNA synthesized from globin mRNA by use of viral reverse transcriptase. Analysis of cRNA synthesized from cDNA by use of RNA polymerase provided additional confirmatory sequence information. Possible polymorphism has been identified at one site of the sequence. Our sequence overlaps with, and extends the sequence of 43 nucleotides determined by Proudfood and coworkers for the very 3'-terminal portion of human alpha globin mRNA. The complete 3'-untranslated sequence of human alpha globin mRNA (112 nucleotides including termination codon) shows little homology to that of the human or rabbit beta globin mRNAs except for the presence of the hexanucleotide sequence AAUAAA which is found in most eukaryotic mRNAs near the 3'-terminal poly (A).

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Production of mouse globin in heterokaryons of mouse erythroleukaemia cells and human fibroblasts.

In an effort to activate the globin genes of non-erythroid cells, tetraploid murine erythroleukaemia cells (Friend cells) were fused with diploid human amniotic fibroblasts. When the Friend cells were pretreated with dimethylsulphoxide, an average of 27% heterokaryons was observed. These cells stained with benzidine, an indication that they contained haemoglobin. The cells incorporated radioactive amino acids into proteins. Electrophoresis of [3H]leucine-labelled lysates on SDS urea polyacrylamide gels indicated that up to 7% of the newly synthesized protein co-electrophoresed with globin. CM cellulose chromatography demonstrated the presence of mouse but not human globin chains. Hybridization analyses of cytoplasmic RNA also revealed only mouse globin mRNA in the heterokaryons. Although heterokaryons form readily between mouse erythroleukaemia cells and human fibroblasts, and globin synthesis does occur, only the erythroid partner in the fusion system employed here directs globin production.

Animals↗

Structure of human hemoglobin messenger RNA and its relation to hemoglobinopathies.

1. One-fifth to 1/4 of globin mRNA is untranslated sequence other than polyadenylic acid. 2. The untranslated sequences of mRNA vary markedly in their sequence and in their length. 3. Globin mRNAs demonstrate a marked bias in codon selection. 4. Viral mRNA shows a quite different pattern of codon selection; therefore, the selection of codons is not uniform for all mRNAs functioning in animal cells. 5. Elongated hemoglobin chains can be accounted for by frame-shift mutations, or point mutations within the normal termination codon. The additional amino acids are then coded for by sequences that are normally untranslated. 6. Certain hemoglobin deletion mutants occur at sites where there are partially reiterated sequences within the heomoglobin messenger RNA.

Base Sequence↗

Hemoglobinopathies.

The determination of the structure of hemoglobin is one of the milestones of molecular biology. This information has provided an intimate understanding of the way in which the molecule functions physiologically; Study of hemoglobin has proved relevant to a number of biomedical disciplines. This protein is a prototype of a general class of allosteric enzymes whose function depends upon transition from one conformation to another. Recently, attention has been focused on environmental factors, including 2,3-DPG, hydrogen ion concentration, and CO2, which can modify and perhaps regulate the behavior of hemoglobin within the red cell. Comparisons of primary amino acid sequences of animal hemoglobins have provided new and independent phylogenetic insights. Furthermore, surveys of human hemoglobin phenotypes have been of considerable utility in the study of population genetics. Finally, certain variants are responsible for specific clinical syndromes. As we shall discuss in detail, in most cases the clinical features can be directly attributed to lesions at a submolecular level. This chapter will first present a detailed account of interrelationships between hemoglobin structure and function. Secondly, we will consider the various factors in health and disease which can modify hemoglobin's physiologic role. This background information will be useful in the consideration of inherited and acquired disorders of hemoglobin structure and function.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital↗

Erythroid cell differentiation.

We have reviewed erythroid cell differentiation from two points of view: 1) differences between fetal and adult human red cells with particular reference to alterations which can occur in the normal pattern of erythroid cell development during the course of leukemia; 2) beochemical events which occur during erythroid cell maturation, as a model system for the study of the control of gene expression. During the course of many leukemias there is the synthesis of red cells containing fetal hemoglobin. In most cases this phenomenon is limited to a small population or clone of red cells and probably represents a nonspecific response of the bone marrow to a hematologic stress. However, in juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia and, in rare cases of erythroleukemia, there is a major reversion to fetal erythropoiesis, with progressive increase in fetal hemoglobin levels and synthesis of red cells which contain not only fetal hemoglobin but have a true fetal pattern of protein synthesis affecting proteins other than Hb F, namely Hb A2, carbonic anhydrase and the membrane antigens i and I. In this case, the fetal erythropoiesis may be a more specific manifestation of the leukemic process and may be related to the phenomenon of fetal protein synthesis (alpha-fetoprotein of carcinoembryonic antigen) observed in other types of neoplasia. Further information on the etiology and pathogenesis of abnormal cell proliferation and differentiation in the leukemias can be obtained by the study of experimental systems permitting the investigation of the regulation of gene expression in differentiating mammalian cells. Maturing erythroid cells provide a promising system for such investigations for many reasons: differentiating erythroid cells can be obtained relatively free of other cell types; a large amount of a well characterized product, hemoglobin, is synthesized; techniques are now available that permit isolation of erythroid precursors at different stages of differentiation (5-8); and finally, highly sensitive methods of measuring globin mRNA levels by DNA-RNA hybridization are currently available (13, 26, 27). We have used such techniques to measure levels of globin mRNA in separated populations of murine erythroid cells at different stages of maturation. These studies demonstrated a correlation between globin mRNA content and degree of morphological maturation. In the least well differentiated cells, however, there appeared to be a disproportionate amount of mRNA for the level of hemoglobin synthesis in these cells. These results suggest the presence of some translational control of globin mRNA in the early stages of erythroid development, although the major control of globin gene expression in this system seems to be at the transcriptional level...

Anemia, Hemolytic↗

Absence of messenger RNA and gene DNA for beta-globin chains in hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin.

The relative amounts of alpha-amd beta-globin mRNA and globin gene DNA were measured in reticulocyte RNA and lymphocyte DNA of an individual with homozygous hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin whose red blood cells contain 100% fetal hemoglobin (hb F: alpha2gamma2.) Molecular hybridization assays used as probes full-length DNA copies of human alpha- and beta-globin messenger RNA. The results of these hybridization assays demonstrated the expected amounts of alpha-globin mRNA and gene DNA, but absence of beta-globin mRNA and absence of beta-globin gene DNA. In the individual studied, hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin is associated with total deletion of the beta-globin structural gene.

Child↗

Synthesis of DNA complementary to separated human alpha and beta globin messenger RNAs.

Human globulin messenger RNA, purified by oligo(dT)-cellulose column chromatography, is reproducibly separated into two bands by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 99% formamide. The more rapidly migrating (fast) band is somewhat more abundant than the slow band in normal (nonthalassemic) total reticulocyte globin messenger RNA. In alpha-thalassemic (Hb H disease) messenger RNA, the slow band is 6.5 times more abundant than the fast band, whereas in beta-thalassemic messenger RNA the fast band is three times more abundant than a second band, which has a slightly greater mobility than the slow band of normal and alpha-thalassemic RNA. The RNA bands of nonthalassemic globin messenger RNA were eluted from the gel and efficiently transcribed into DNA copies by use of the RNA-dependent DAN polymerase of avian myeloblastosis virus. Hybridization of these copy DNAs to fast and slow band RANs and to nonfractionated normal, alpha-thalassemic, and geta-thalassemic messenger RNAs revealed that the eluted fast band RNA contains predominantly alpha-chain specific sequences, whereas the eluted slow band RNA contains predominantly beta-chain specific sequences. Nucleotide sequence analysis of 32-P-labeled RNA transcribed from the slow band copy DNA also indicated that the slow band RNA is beta messenger RNA.

Avian Myeloblastosis Virus↗

Nucleotide sequences of the 3'-terminal untranslated region of messenger RNA for human beta globin chain.

In normal messenger RNA for the human beta-globin chain, nucleotide sequences have been identified which can be matched to the amino-acid sequence of the abnormally long segment of the beta-chain of hemoglobin Cranston. The finding of these sequences strengthens the hypothesis that the betaCranston chain arose by a frameshift mutation allowing the "readthrough" of the normal termination codon and translation of usually untranslated portions of the messenger RNA for the beta-globin chain. The oligonucleotides which match the amino-acid sequence of hemoglobin Cranston provide a sequence of 36 nucleotides which follows the normal beta-chain termination codon UAA.

Base Sequence↗

Thalassemia.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Blood Transfusion↗

Absence of functional messenger RNA activity for beta globin chain synthesis in beta 0-thalassemia.

Functional human globin messenger RNA was isolated from reticulocytes of two patients with homozygous beta 0-thalassemia, three patients with sickle cell beta 0-thalassemia, and one patient doubly heterozygous for beta 0-thalassemia and hemoglobin Lepore. When incubated in the Krebs type II mouse ascites tumor-cell-free system, messenger RNA from these patients actively directed the synthesis of human beta s and/or alpha- and gamma-globin chains but failed to stimulate the synthesis of any beta A-chains, even though nonthalassemic human globin mRNA preparations consistently stimulated two to four times as much beta A- or beta S-globin chain synthesis as alpha-chain synthesis when incubated in the same system under the same conditions. These results strongly suggest that functional beta A-chain-specific globin mRNA is absent in beta 0-thalassemia.

Anemia↗

Nucleotide sequences of human globin messenger RNA.

Globin messenger RNA, isolated from human peripheral blood reticulocytes, was transcribed into complementary DNA by use of the RNA-dependent DNA polymerase of avian myeloblastosis virus. The complementary DNA was then transcribed into (32)P-labeled complementary RNA by E. coli RNA polymerase in the presence of alpha-(32)P-labeled ribonucleoside triphosphates. The fingerprint pattern obtained from ribonuclease T1 digests of human globin complementary RNA was specific and reproducible. Different patterns were obtained from digests of duck, mouse, and rabbit globin complementary RNA. The fingerprint patterns obtained from digests of purified natural human 10S globin messenger RNA, labeled in vitro with (125)I or with [gamma-(32)P]ATP and polynucleotide kinase, were similar to that of the complementary RNA but contained some additional oligonucleotides. Sufficient nucleotide sequence information has been obtained from about 50% of the intermediate sized oligonucleotides (8-14 base residues long), to make possible examination of correspondence between these nucleotide sequences and globin amino-acid sequences. Approximately 70% of these oligonucleotide sequences can be matched to unique amino-acid sequences in the alpha- or beta-globin chains. The other 30% do not match known amino-acid sequences and presumably correspond to untranslated portions of the mRNA; some of these sequences, however, can be matched to amino-acid sequence in the abnormally long segment of the alpha chain of hemoglobin Constant Spring, which is thought to result from a chain-termination mutation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗