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Biomedical subjects

F Galibert

Publications and source records attributed to F Galibert.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Characterization of cDNA clones for human glycophorin A. Use for gene localization and for analysis of normal of glycophorin-A-deficient (Finnish type) genomic DNA.

Glycophorin A is the major membrane sialoglycoprotein of human erythrocytes and represents a typical example of a transmembrane glycoprotein. The functional role of this cell-surface component is not known but it represents a receptor for viruses, bacteria and parasites like Plasmodium falciparum. 1. Two cDNA clones encoding glycophorin A have been characterized from human fetal cDNA libraries. The longer cDNA extended from the coding region of glycophorin A (residues 4-131) to the 3' untranslated region which included two polyadenylation signals and a poly(A) tail. 2. The structural gene for glycophorin A is located on chromosome 4, q28-q31 as shown by in situ hybridization, thus confirming the previous localization by genetic linkage analysis. 3. Three distinct mRNA species (1.0 kb, 1.7 kb and 2.2 kb) have been identified in erythroid spleen. Northern blot analyses with a probe directed against the 3' untranslated region of the mRNAs indicated that all these species share a homologous 3' non-coding region and that the first polyadenylation signal downstream the stop codon is not used. 4. Preliminary studies by Southern blot analysis of the genomic DNA from normal En(a+) and rare En(a-) donors suggest that the glycophorin A gene has a complex organization and is largely deleted in donors of the En(a-) phenotype (Finnish type) who lack glycophorin A on their red cells.

Base Sequence↗

Replacement of lys 622 in the ATP binding domain of P100gag-mil abolishes the in vitro autophosphorylation of the protein and the biological properties of the v-mil oncogene of MH2 virus.

Lysine 622 in the ATP-binding domain of P100gag-mil, the translation product of the v-mil oncogene of MH2, has been replaced with methionine using oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis. This substitution results in the inactivation of the serine/threonine-specific autophosphorylation of P100gag-mil in vitro, indicating that this activity is an intrinsic property of the viral protein. This substitution also suppresses two of the biological properties of MH2 which have previously been shown to be dependant upon the expression of v-mil, namely, the production of chicken myelomonocytic growth factor (cMGF) by v-myc-transformed chicken macrophages and the sustained proliferation of chicken neuroretina cells. These data strongly suggest that the biological properties of v-mil are mediated by the phosphorylation at serine/threonine residues of key cellular substrates. In contrast to the in vitro situation, both the mutant and wild-type proteins appear to be phosphorylated at the same sites and to the same extent in either transformed fibroblasts or macrophages. This, together with the fact that the sites phosphorylated in vivo and in vitro are essentially different indicate that most of the phosphate associated with P100gag-mil in transformed cells does not result from an obligate autophosphorylation event but from the phosphorylation by as yet uncharacterized cellular kinase(s).

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Identification in chickens of an evolutionarily conserved cellular ets-2 gene (c-ets-2) encoding nuclear proteins related to the products of the c-ets proto-oncogene.

In chicken cells, we previously identified a set of proteins (p58-64) structurally related to, but distinct from, the products encoded by the c-ets proto-oncogene. We report here the isolation and nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding nuclear products of mol. wt 58, 60, 62 and 64 kd, indistinguishable from those detected in chicken cells. The p60 and p64 species appear to represent phosphorylated versions on serine and threonine residues of p58 and p62. The homology of p58-64 to other ets-related proteins, including the v-ets encoded domain of the transforming protein of avian leukemia virus E26 and p54c-ets, the translation product of the chicken (Ck) c-ets gene, is confined to two regions of 175 and 96 amino acid residues localized respectively at the carboxy-terminal domain and close to the amino-terminal domain of these molecules. This cDNA corresponds to a gene localized in a locus distinct from that of c-ets which is transcribed as a 4.0-kb RNA species in most chicken tissues. We also identified the human (Hu) c-ets-2-encoded products as two proteins of 60 and 62 kd, highly related to chicken p58-64. This, together with the fact that the amino acid sequence of the cDNA encoding p58-64 is 95% identical to the reported partial sequence of a Hu-c-ets-2 cDNA, indicates that p58-64 are the translation products of the Ck-c-ets-2 gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Recognition and cleavage site of the intron-encoded omega transposase.

The optional group I intron of the mitochondrial 21S rRNA gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains a 235-codon-long open reading frame the translation product of which (the omega transposase) catalyzes the formation of a double-strand break within the intron-minus (omega-) copies of the same gene. Purified omega transposase generates in vitro a 4-base-pair staggered cut with 3' hydroxyl overhangs at the exact position where the intron eventually inserts in the gene. Using randomly mutagenized synthetic oligonucleotides, single-base mutants were produced at 21 positions around the cleavage site. Experiments with these oligonucleotides show that the recognition site extends over an 18-base pair-long sequence within which minimal sequence degeneracy is tolerated. The intron-encoded omega transposase is, therefore, one of the most specific restriction endonucleases known to date.

Binding Sites↗

An invariant asparagine residue belonging to a highly conserved domain in all protein kinases is instrumental in the protein kinase activity of the v-mil gene product.

P100gag-mil, the translation product of the v-mil oncogene of MH2 is a protein kinase specific of serine/threonine residues. We report here that the P100gag-mil encoded by the MH2-Hd isolate displays a considerably reduced kinase activity in vitro. Construction of chimeric viruses and sequencing revealed that the lesion responsible for this reduced activity results from a single point mutation converting an asparagine residue at position 720 in fully active P100gag-mil kinase into serine in the P100gag-mil of MH2-Hd. Since this asparagine residue together with an invariant aspartate residue bracket a highly conserved 6 amino-acid region in all known protein kinases as well as in phosphotransferases of bacterial origin, our results indicate that integrity of this region is essential to enzymatic function and support the notion that it could be directly involved in ATP binding or phosphate transfer from ATP to kinase substrates.

Animals↗

Determination of the spectrum of beta-thalassemia genes in Spain by use of dot-blot analysis of amplified beta-globin DNA.

We have delineated the molecular lesions causing beta-thalassemia in Spain, a country that has witnessed the passage of different Mediterranean populations over the centuries, in order to evaluate the extent of heterogeneity of these mutations and to make possible simplified prenatal diagnosis of the disorder in that country. The use of the polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) technique to preferentially amplify beta-globin DNA sequences that contain the most frequent beta-thalassemia mutations in Mediterraneans enabled us to rapidly analyze 58 beta-thalassemia alleles in a dot-blot format either by hybridization with allele-specific radiolabeled oligonucleotide probes or by direct sequence analysis of the amplification product. The Spanish population carries seven different beta-thalassemia mutations; the nonsense codon 39 is predominant (64%), whereas the IVS1 position 110 mutation, the most common cause of beta-thalassemia in the eastern part of the Mediterranean basin, is underrepresented (8.5%). The IVS1 mutation at position 6 accounts for 15% of the defects and leads to a more severe form of beta+-thalassemia than originally described in most of the patients we studied. In this study, we demonstrate further the usefulness of the dot-blot hybridization of PCR-amplified genomic DNA in both rapid population surveys and prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia.

Base Sequence↗

Evolutionary conservation of the product of human c-myc exon 1 and its inducible expression in a murine cell line.

The human c-myc proto-oncogene contains an open reading frame within its first exon which is translated into protein (MYCHEX1). While the murine c-myc exon 1 is obviously non coding, we show that in mouse cells there are polypeptides closely related to human MYCHEX1. These polypeptides share the same immunological reactivities with the human polypeptides. Furthermore, the 32 kDa polypeptide of murine cells has, like its human counterpart, the ability to dimerise in a 58 kDa form in denaturing and reducing SDS-PAGE. The human gene was introduced into a murine cell line by transfection. A cell line was studied, in which the inducible expression of the gene allows a substantial increase in the concentration of the corresponding protein. This inducible protein behaves in any respect like the murine one, either in SDS-PAGE or in a specific immunoassay. These shared properties constitute a further proof that the human and mouse MYCHEX1 proteins are encoded by the sequence overlapping the human myc exon 1 and a related murine sequence. The gene contained in the human c-myc exon 1 is not, therefore, a specific feature of human cells.

Animals↗

Cloning and sequencing of Plasmodium falciparum DNA fragments containing repetitive regions potentially coding for histidine-rich proteins: identification of two overlapping reading frames.

DNA sequences, potentially coding for histidine-rich proteins, were isolated from a P. falciparum genomic library using an oligonucleotide probe consisting of histidine codon repeats. Sequencing revealed that the different DNA fragments contain long repetitive regions very homologous to the probe. One clone was fully sequenced and contains two open reading frames that overlap in the repetitive region but are located on opposite strands. Analysis suggests that both are coding. One frame could code for a small histidine-rich protein, the other for a protein containing many aspartic acid residues. Southern blotting revealed that these sequences are conserved in all three P. falciparum strains studied.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and sequencing of a rat CuZn superoxide dismutase cDNA. Correlation between CuZn superoxide dismutase mRNA level and enzyme activity in rat and mouse tissues.

The molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone (pR SOD) for rat CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) is reported. Nucleotide sequence homology with human superoxide dismutase is 86% for the coding region and 71% for the 3' untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence is given and the homologies with the sequences reported for other species are presented. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from various rat and mouse tissues and from two mouse cell lines show that pR SOD hybridizes with one mRNA species of about 0.7 kb. The amount of CuZnSOD mRNA in each tissue, measured by densitometry of the Northern blot autoradiograms, correlates with the enzymatic activity based on protein content. These results indicate that the control of CuZnSOD activity in mammalian tissues is largely dependent on the regulation of CuZnSOD mRNA levels. In human liver, fibroblasts and FG2 hepatoma cells, two CuZnSOD mRNAs (0.7 kb and 0.9 kb) are observed. The level of CuZnSOD mRNA in FG2 is 25% that of the liver and four times more abundant than in fibroblasts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Complete amino acid sequence of the human progesterone receptor deduced from cloned cDNA.

A lambda gt10 library containing DNAs complementary to messenger RNAs from human breast cancer T47-D cells was constructed and screened with a cDNA probe encoding the rabbit progesterone receptor. Four overlapping clones have been sequenced. The open reading frame corresponds to a protein of 933 amino acids with a molecular weight of 98,868 Da. The cysteine rich basic region supposed to be involved in DNA binding is completely homologous in the human and rabbit receptors, whereas the C-terminal end, where hormone binding is thought to take place, differs by a single amino acid change. The human progesterone receptor is characterized, as is the rabbit receptor, by the very high proline content of its N-terminal region. When mRNAs from either human breast cancer cell lines T47-D and MCF-7 or from normal human uterus tissue were blotted and probed with the cloned cDNA, four main bands were observed (5100, 4300, 3700, and 2900 nucleotides).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Detection of HBV infectivity by spot hybridization in HBeAg-negative chronic carriers: HBV DNA in sera from asymptomatic and symptomatic subjects.

DNA of hepatitis B virus (HBV DNA) in sera from HBeAg-positive carriers is now the most important and reliable marker of infectivity, but its significance in the progression of chronic hepatitis in anti-HBe carrier status is still under discussion. In this study, viral DNA was tested by a simplified spot hybridization method in sera of 206 HBeAg-negative Italian subjects. In a group of 153 HBsAg carriers, we found that 15.6% of anti-HBe-positive and 10.5% of anti-HBe-negative samples contained viral DNA. No HBV DNA was revealed in 38 HBsAg-negative nor in 15 anti-HBs-positive subjects with different serological markers of HBV. Viral DNA in sera of HBeAg-negative patients with severe chronic liver disease was correlated with increased alaninetransferase activity and IgM anti-HBc. Thus the presence of HBV DNA in these sera not only predicts which subjects are potentially infectious but also indicates chronic progression of hepatitis. Finally, viral DNA extracted from Dane particles of nine anti-HBe-positive sera was characterized by the Southern blot technique. The hybridization pattern shows bands indicating the presence of replicative intermediates.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the LTRs and env genes of SM-FeSV and GA-FeSV.

The nucleotide sequences of the env genes and the LTRs of SM- and GA-FeSV lambda recombinants have been determined by the Maxam and Gilbert method and/or the dideoxy method with specific sequencing primers. Comparison of the two sequences reveals a homology of 93%, the differences being randomly distributed. Two frameshift mutations are observed in the GA-FeSV isolate which close the reading frame and would prevent the synthesis of the env protein. Comparison of these two FeSV sequences with the env sequences of each antigenic subgroup of FeLV (A, B, C) reveals that these two viruses can be assigned to the A/C subgroups.

Animals↗

1731, a new retrotransposon with hormone modulated expression.

We report here the characterisation of 1731, a new copia-like element of Drosophila melanogaster. 1731 was first isolated in a screening for ecdysterone modulated genes. This element is about 4.6 Kb long and is flanked by two long terminal repeats (LTRs) 336 base pairs in length. The whole 1731 element is transcribed into polyA+ RNAs, and these transcripts decrease rapidly upon hormonal treatment. 1731 is moderately repeated in the fly genome and slightly amplified in Kc/cells where extrachromosomal circular forms are found. The LTRs were sequenced in one cloned copy of 1731 and show a structural organisation similar to that of several other copia-like elements and retroviral proviruses. Small nucleotide stretches, similar to those found in Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus LTRs and known to be important in its regulation by a steroid hormone, occur in 1731 LTRs.

Animals↗

On the high conservation of the human c-myc first exon.

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the role that the human c-myc 1st exon is thought to play in the regulation of the expression of the c-myc protein. One of these hypotheses, based on sequencing data showing an open reading frame overlapping that exon, predicts the existence of a protein most probably involved in the regulation of the expression of the c-myc protein. However, mainly because several other published sequences are devoided of such an ORF, this hypothesis did not retain much attention. In this paper, we present two additional sequences fully identical to the 1st exon region sequence we previously published, and discuss the implication of such a high degree of conservation for the human c-myc 1st exon.

Adult↗

Universal code equivalent of a yeast mitochondrial intron reading frame is expressed into E. coli as a specific double strand endonuclease.

The intron of the mitochondrial 21S rRNA gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (r1 intron) possesses a 235 codon long internal open reading frame (r1 ORF) whose translation product determines the duplicative transposition of that intron during crosses between intron-plus strains (omega+) and intron-minus ones (omega-). Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have constructed a universal code equivalent of the r1 ORF that, under appropriate promoter control, allows the overexpression in E. coli of a protein identical to the mitochondrial intron encoded "transposase". This protein exhibits a double strand endonuclease activity specific for the omega- site. This finding demonstrates, for the first time, the enzymatic activity of an intron encoded protein whose function is to promote the spreading of that intron by generating double strand breaks at a specific sequence within a gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗