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Biomedical subjects

B R Migeon

Publications and source records attributed to B R Migeon.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Signal sequence and DNA-mediated expression of human lysosomal alpha-galactosidase A.

Twelve complementary DNA clones for human lysosomal alpha-galactosidase A were isolated from an Okayama-Berg library constructed from SV40-transformed human fibroblasts. The identity of these clones was confirmed by complete colinearity of the nucleotide-deduced amino acid sequence with that determined by direct chemical sequencing of human placental alpha-galactosidase A. Hybridization of the alpha-galactosidase A cDNA to genomic DNA from individuals with varying numbers of X chromosomes as well as from interspecies somatic-cell hybrids showed only a single locus in the genome at Xq 13.1-Xq 22. One cDNA clone (pcD-AG210) contained the complete coding sequence for both the signal peptide and mature alpha-galactosidase A. The signal peptide of 31 amino acids contains the expected hydrophobic domains consisting of Leu-Gly-Cys-Ala-Leu-Ala-Leu and Phe-Leu-Ala-Leu-Val and has Ala at the signal peptidase cleavage site. Twelve out of fifteen G residues flanking the 5' end of the cDNA in pcD-AG210 were removed and the truncated fragment was ligated into the original vector. This construct, pcD-AG502, encoded enzymatically active human alpha-galactosidase A in monkey COS cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Molecular studies of marsupial X chromosomes reveal limited sequence homology of mammalian X-linked genes.

To explore the extent to which the X chromosome has been conserved during mammalian evolution, we compared six loci that are X-linked in the human genome with the corresponding genes of the North American marsupial, the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Our analysis shows that in the opossum genome there are sequences highly homologous to those of human cDNAs for housekeeping genes, glucose-6-phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT), phosphoglycerate kinase A (PGK1), and alpha-galactosidase A (GLA). However, ornithine transcarbamylase and blood clotting Factor IX--tissue-specific genes that are X-linked in eutherians mammals--have no highly conserved homologs in the marsupial genome. By cloning opossum G6PD and HPRT, we found that these genes are X-linked in the opossum and that homologous sequences are limited to coding regions. As all genomic fragments hybridizing with the human GLA probe show dosage effects, it is likely that the opossum counterpart is X-linked. Finally, the pattern of hybridization suggests that the autosomal pseudogenes of HPRT and PGK1 in the opossum have remained highly homologous to the human X-linked genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

DNA methylation stabilizes X chromosome inactivation in eutherians but not in marsupials: evidence for multistep maintenance of mammalian X dosage compensation.

In marsupials and eutherian mammals, X chromosome dosage compensation is achieved by inactivating one X chromosome in female cells; however, in marsupials, the inactive X chromosomes is always paternal, and some genes on the chromosome are partially expressed. To define the role of DNA methylation in maintenance of X chromosome inactivity, we examined loci for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase in a North American marsupial, the opossum Didelphis virginiana, by using genomic hybridization probes cloned from this species. We find that these marsupial genes are like their eutherian counterparts, with respect to sex differences in methylation of nuclease-insensitive (nonregulatory) chromatin. However, with respect to methylation of the nuclease-hypersensitive (regulatory) chromatin of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase locus, the opossum gene differs from those of eutherians, as the 5' cluster of CpG dinucleotides is hypomethylated in the paternal as well as the maternal gene. Despite hypomethylation of the 5' CpG cluster, the paternal allele, identified by an enzyme variant, is at best partially expressed; therefore, factors other than methylation are responsible for repression. In light of these results, it seems that the role of DNA methylation in eutherian X dosage compensation is to "lock in" the process initiated by such factors. Because of similarities between dosage compensation in marsupials and trophectoderm derivatives of eutherians, we propose that differences in timing of developmental events--rather than differences in the basic mechanisms of X inactivation--account for features of dosage compensation that differ among mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Comparison of factor IX methylation on human active and inactive X chromosomes: implications for X inactivation and transcription of tissue-specific genes.

Maintenance of dosage compensation for housekeeping genes on the human X chromosome is mediated through differential methylation of clustered CpG nucleotides associated with these genes. To determine if methylation has a role in maintaining inactivity of X-linked genes which show tissue-specific expression, we examined the locus for blood clotting Factor IX. The analysis encompassed 91% of the HpaII and HhaI sites in the 41-kb region that includes the presumed promoter region, 5 kb of 5'- and 4 kb of 3'-flanking sequences. Although there are sex differences in methylation of the locus in leukocytes, the methylation pattern in liver, where the gene is expressed, is essentially the same for loci on the active and inactive X chromosome. The lack of differences in methylation of active and inactive genes makes it unlikely that methylation within the locus has a role in expression of the Factor IX gene. These findings, along with the absence of clustered CpG dinucleotides within the Factor IX locus, suggest that functional differences in DNA methylation related to X chromosome dosage compensation may be limited to CpG clusters. In any event, dosage compensation seems to be maintained regionally, rather than locus by locus.

Factor IX↗
PubMed1986

Reactivation of X-linked genes in human fibroblasts transformed by origin-defective SV40.

To determine if expression of genes on the inactive X is inducible in human cells, we looked for reactivation events in a clone of fibroblasts transformed with origin-defective SV40. The karyotype of these cells was grossly heteroploid so that the aneuploidy associated with SV40 transformation occurs even in the absence of viral replication. This transformed clone, heterozygous for hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT), lacks HPRT activity, as the mutant allele is on the active X and the normal allele on the inactive X. Reactivation of the HPRT+ allele on the inactive X was observed at a frequency of 6 X 10(-5) per cell and increased approximately eightfold following treatment with the cytidine analogs 5-azacytidine (5azaC) and 5-azadeoxycytidine. The fact that spontaneous reactivation is detectable in some clones, but not all, suggests that the environment of the SV40-transformed cell, although not sufficient to induce generalized derepression, increases the frequency of rare reactivation events. The methylation pattern at the HPRT locus revealed transformation-associated alterations that may have predisposed these cells to reactivation events, spontaneous as well as 5azaC-induced.

Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming↗
PubMed1986

Complete reactivation of X chromosomes from human chorionic villi with a switch to early DNA replication.

Mammalian sex-dosage compensation is mediated by maintaining activity of only one X chromosome. The asynchronous DNA synthesis characterizing the silent human X chromosome is thought to be reversible only during ontogeny of oocytes. We have previously shown that the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) locus (G6PD) on the allocyclic X chromosome in chorionic villi is partially expressed. We now show that in hybrids derived from a clone of chorionic villi cells (heterozygous for G6PD A) and mouse A9 cells, the loci for G6PD, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) and phosphoglycerate kinase are expressed on both human X chromosomes; the human X chromosomes carrying either G6PD A or B replicate synchronously with each other and with murine chromosomes. The X chromosome with G6PD A was identified as the original late-replicating X, because methylation in the body of the HPRT gene on this chromosome remained characteristic of the inactive X chromosome. These results indicate that X-chromosome inactivation is completely reversible in cells of trophoblast origin; induction of full transcriptional activity is accompanied by acquisition of isocyclic replication, showing an intimate relationship between these processes. The molecular events responsible for this reversal may be similar to those occurring during maturation of oocytes. Chorionic villi and derivative hybrids provide in vitro models for exploring early events that program the single active X chromosome.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Translocation of the nucleolus organizer region to the human X chromosome.

We report the unique finding of a satellited X chromosome in a woman with Turner syndrome and a mosaic karyotype 45,X/46,X,mar(X)(sat,QFQ55),var(21)(sat,QFQ55). In PHA-stimulated lymphocytes and in lymphoblast culture, the satellited X chromosome was consistently late replicating. The translocated nucleolus organizer region (NOR) genes in the stalk of the satellite, however, remained transcriptionally active, and an unusual, late-replicating band was seen at the distal end of Xp. Analysis of fibroblast clones containing the satellited X chromosome suggests that the mar(X) is relatively stable.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Three related centromere proteins are absent from the inactive centromere of a stable isodicentric chromosome.

We developed an aqueous spreading procedure that permits simultaneous analysis of human chromosomes by Q-banding and indirect immunofluorescence. Using this methodology and anticentromere antibodies from an autoimmune patient we compared the active and inactive centromeres of an isodicentric X chromosome. We show that a family of structurally related human centromere proteins (CENP-A, CENP-B, and CENP-C) is detectable only at the active centromere. These antigens therefore may be regarded both as morphological and functional markers for active centromeres.

Cell Transformation, Viral↗
PubMed1985

Evidence for a relationship between DNA methylation and DNA replication from studies of the 5-azacytidine-reactivated allocyclic X chromosome.

We examined the sequence of DNA synthesis of the human active, inactive and reactivated X chromosomes in mouse-human hybrid cells. The two independent reactivants, induced by 5-azacytidine (5-azaC), expressed human hypoxanthinephosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT), and one also expressed human glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK). Restriction enzyme analysis of DNA methylation at the re-expressed loci revealed hypomethylation of CpG clusters, that characterizes the relevant genes on the active X. The transfer of active and inactive X chromosomes from the native environment of the human fibroblast to the foreign environment of the hybrid cell did not affect the specific replication sequence of either human X chromosome. The silent X chromosome when reactivated, remained allocyclic, and the first bands to replicate were the same as prior to reactivation. In one reactivant, however, further progression of replication was significantly altered with respect to the order in which bands were synthesized. This alteration in the replication of the silent X following 5-azaC-induced reactivation suggests that DNA methylation may modulate the replication kinetics of chromosomal DNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Incomplete X chromosome dosage compensation in chorionic villi of human placenta.

Studies of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in heterozygous cells from chorionic villi of five fetal and one newborn placenta show that the locus on the allocyclic X is expressed in many cells of this trophectoderm derivative. Heterodimers were present in clonal populations of cells with normal diploid karyotype and a late replicating X chromosome. The expression of the two X chromosomes was unequal, based on ratios of homodimers and heterodimers in clones. Studies of DNA, digested with Hpa II and probed with cloned genomic G6PD sequences, indicate that expression of the locus in chorionic villi is associated with hypomethylation of 3' CpG clusters. These findings suggest that dosage compensation, at least at the G6PD locus, has not been well established or maintained (or both) in placental tissue. Furthermore, the active X chromosome in these human cells of trophoblastic origin can be either the paternal or maternal one; therefore, paternal X inactivation in extraembryonic lineages is not an essential feature of mammalian X dosage compensation.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1985

Localization of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in mouse and man by in situ hybridization: evidence for a single locus and transposition of homologous X-linked genes.

By hybridizing a tritiated human genomic probe (pGD3) to metaphase chromosomes in situ, we have localized the gene for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in both the human and mouse complement. The locus on the intact human X chromosome is close to the telomere on the long arm, confirming the assignment based on studies of an X/autosome translocation in human-mouse hybrids. Although the signal:background ratio was reduced for the heterologous hybridization of the human probe to mouse metaphases, 20% of the grains were on the X chromosome and 93% of these were in the A region, relatively close to the centromere. The location of G6PD in mouse and man reflects intrachromosomal transposition of these homologous X loci. Genomic DNAs from mouse and man and from hybrids with human X/autosome translocations were digested with several restriction enzymes including EcoRI, PstI, and HpaII, and Southern blots were probed with 32P-pGD3. The results of the analysis also confirm the human G6PD assignment and are consistent with a single copy of the locus in the haploid genome of both species.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Complete concordance between glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and hypomethylation of 3' CpG clusters: implications for X chromosome dosage compensation.

To explore the molecular basis of X chromosome inactivation, we have examined the human locus for glucose-6-phosphate dehydro-genase (G6PD) in various human tissues. Studies of DNA from males and females and from somatic cell hybrids with active or inactive X chromosomes, show that two remarkably dense clusters of CpG dinucleotides in the 3' coding sequences are hypomethylated in active G6PD genes but extensively methylated in inactive ones. Reacquisition of G6PD activity, either spontaneous or induced by 5-azacytidine, is accompanied by demethylation of both clusters; however, the clusters remain methylated in reactivants that express HPRT but not G6PD. Our observations implicate these 3' CpG clusters in the transcription of G6PD and in maintenance of dosage compensation for X linked housekeeping genes.

Alleles↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of reiterated human DNA with respect to mammalian X chromosome homology.

Recombinants containing human repetitive DNA sequences were identified by dot hybridization and classified with respect to presence on the X chromosome and homology to mouse DNA. Using genomic probes that differ in number of X chromosomes, we observed extensive homology between human autosomal and X sequences. Hybridization to genomic probes that differ in species of origin indicate that these reiterated sequences have diverged between mouse and man. Eleven recombinants, each containing a different reiterated sequence(s), were hybridized in situ to metaphase chromosomes of mouse and man. These studies indicate that reiterated DNA which is homologous to the human X chromosome is more similar to DNA of human autosomes than to any murine chromosome. Therefore, it seems that reiterated DNA sequences on the human X chromosome have diverged as much during mammalian evolution as sequences on human autosomes. Moreover, the extensive modification of the original mammalian X has not interferred with the X inactivation process.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of a cloned DNA sequence that is present at centromeres of all human autosomes and the X chromosome and shows polymorphic variation.

We have identified a human DNA recombinant (p308) with a 3.0-kilobase (kb) BamHI insert that hybridizes in situ exclusively to the centromeric region of all human autosomes and the X chromosome. This highly repetitive sequence is significantly enriched on several chromosomes, most prominently on chromosome 6. In all individuals, the majority of genomic repeats are organized as tandem 3.0-kb BamHI repeats, each containing one Taq I site; the others are organized into BamHI and Taq I repeats of variable size that have some chromosome specificity. Using mouse-human hybrids, we have defined the specific organization of this sequence on chromosomes 6, 3, and X. In some individuals, there are differences in the number and nature of the tandem repeats. These polymorphisms segregate in families as if chromosome specific. Although variable from one chromosome to another, 308 contains sequences homologous to DNA present in centric heterochromatin of essentially all human chromosomes and is evolutionarily conserved. Therefore, a significant component of pericentric DNA is similar for all human chromosomes.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Methylation of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase locus on the human X chromosome: implications for X-chromosome inactivation.

To explore the role of DNA methylation in maintaining dosage compensation of X chromosome-linked genes and in regulating the transcriptional activity of "housekeeping" genes, we characterized DNA methylation of active, inactive, and derepressed alleles at the locus for hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) on the human X chromosome. The methylation of Hpa II and Hha I sites in HPRT alleles on the active X chromosome was the same in all tissues. The consensus pattern includes hypomethylation of 5' clustered sites and extensive methylation of the 3' sequence. The striking feature of methylation of inactive X-chromosome alleles is nonuniformity and less extensive hypomethylation of the 5' cluster. Analysis of HPRT alleles reactivated in response to 5-azacytidine showed at least partial restoration of the consensus pattern. These observations indicate that methylation of housekeeping genes on the X chromosome is the same as that of autosomal ones and that the overall pattern and methylation of multiple sites within a cluster may cooperate to facilitate transcription. Furthermore, the fidelity of methylation of the active allele and the extensive drift in methylation of the inactive allele suggest that mechanisms involved in X-chromosome dosage compensation may be directed at the active rather than inactive X chromosome.

Alleles↗
PubMed1984

Assignment of the haemophilia B (factor IX) locus to the q26-qter region of the X chromosome.

Two independent approaches have provided an assignment for the factor IX (Haemophilia B) locus to Xq26-qter, the distal region of the X chromosome long arm. Cloned DNA sequences of the gene were hybridized to restriction enzyme digests of DNA prepared from a series of somatic cell hybrids containing different X-chromosomal regions and also in situ to prepared metaphase chromosomes.

Animals↗