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J M Short

Publications and source records attributed to J M Short.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Analysis of spontaneous and induced mutations in transgenic mice using a lambda ZAP/lacI shuttle vector.

A short term, in vivo mutagenesis assay has been developed utilizing a lacl target gene contained within a lambda ZAP shuttle vector which has been incorporated into transgenic mice. Following chemical exposure, the target gene was recovered from mouse genomic DNA by mixing the DNA with in vitro lambda phage packaging extract. Mutations within the lacl target were identified by infecting host E. coli with the packaged phage and plating on indicator plates containing Xgal. Phage plaques with mutations in the lacl appeared blue, while intact phage were colorless. The ratio of blue plaques to colorless plaques is a measure of the mutagenicity of the compound. This system was used to obtain significant induction (up to 74-fold) over background levels for a variety of compounds, including N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), cyclophosphamide, and methylnitrosourea. Sequence analysis of selected mutant clones derived from this system was accomplished through the use of partial filamentous phage origins which allow rapid transfer of the target gene from phage to plasmid. Sequence analysis of spontaneous mutants derived from the mice primarily found of base substitutions, differing markedly from the previous data for spontaneous mutations in lacl derived from E. coli, where the preponderance of mutations were found at a single site, a repeated tetramer sequence. Upon sequence analysis of BaP derived base substitutions, only transversions were obtained, consistent with the known mechanism of BaP mutagenesis. Use of the well-characterized lacl gene in transgenic mice should allow for extrapolation of the extensive pool of in vitro data to whole animals, as well as provide insight into the tissue specific effects of mutagenic compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Identification and characterization of a gene responsible for inhibiting propagation of methylated DNA sequences in mcrA mcrB1 Escherichia coli strains.

Identifying and eliminating endogenous bacterial enzyme systems can significantly increase the efficiency of propagation of eukaryotic DNA in Escherichia coli. We have recently examined one such system which inhibits the propagation of lambda DNA rescued from transgenic mouse tissues. This rescue procedure utilizes lambda packaging extracts for excision of the lambda DNA from the transgenic mouse genome, as well as E. coli cells for subsequent infection and propagation. This assay, in combination with conjugal mating, P1 transduction, and gene cloning, was used to identify and characterize the E. coli locus responsible for this difference in efficiency. It was determined that the E. coli K-12 mcrB gene when expressed on a high-copy-number plasmid can cause a decrease in rescue efficiency despite the presence of the mcrB1 mutation, which inactivates the classic McrB restriction activity. (This mutation was verified by sequence analysis.) However, this McrB1 activity is not observed when the cloned mcrB1 gene is inserted into the E. coli genome at one copy per chromosome. A second locus was identified which causes a decrease in rescue efficiency both when expressed on a high-copy-number plasmid and when inserted into the genome. The data presented here suggest that this locus is mrr and that the mrr gene product can recognize and restrict cytosine-methylated sequences. Removal of this DNA region including the mrr gene from E. coli K-12 strains allows high rescue efficiencies equal to those of E. coli C strains. These modified E. coli K-12 plating strains and lambda packaging extract strains should also allow a significant improvement in the efficiency and representation of eukaryotic genomic and cDNA libraries.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Development of a short-term, in vivo mutagenesis assay: the effects of methylation on the recovery of a lambda phage shuttle vector from transgenic mice.

Transgenic mice suitable for the in vivo assay of suspected mutagens at the chromosome level have been constructed by stable integration of a lambda phage shuttle vector. The shuttle vector, which contains a beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) target gene, can be rescued from genomic DNA with in vitro packaging extracts. Mutations in the target gene are detected by a change in lambda phage plaque color on indicator agar plates. Initial rescue efficiencies of less than 1 plaque forming unit (pfu)/100 micrograms of genomic DNA were too low for mutation analysis. We determined the cause of the low rescue efficiencies by examining primary fibroblast cultures prepared from fetuses of lambda transgenic animals. The rescue efficiency of 5-azacytidine-treated cells increased 50-fold over non-treated controls indicating that methylation was inhibiting rescue. The inhibitory role of methylation was supported by the observation that mcr deficient E. coli plating strains and mcr deficient lambda packaging extracts further improved lambda rescue efficiency. Present rescue efficiencies of greater than 2000 pfu/copy/micrograms of genomic DNA represent a 100,000-fold improvement over initial rescue efficiencies, permitting quantitative mutational analysis. The background mutagenesis rate was estimated at 1 x 10(-5) in two separate lineages. Following treatment with the mutagen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (EtNU), a dose dependent increase in the mutation rate was observed in DNA isolated from mouse spleen, with significant induction also observed in mouse testes DNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The use of transgenic mice for short-term, in vivo mutagenicity testing.

In order to develop a short-term, in vivo assay to study the mutagenic effects of chemical exposure, transgenic mice were generated using a lambda shuttle vector containing a lacZ target gene. Following exposure to mutagens, this target can be rescued efficiently from genomic DNA prepared from tissues of the treated mice using restriction minus, in vitro lambda phage packaging extract and restriction minus Escherichia coli plating cultures. Mutations in the target gene appear as colorless plaques on a background of blue plaques when plated on indicator agar. Spontaneous background levels were approximately 1 x 10(-5) in each of three mouse lineages analyzed. Exposure of lambda transgenic mice to N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea resulted in as much as a 14-fold induction in detected mutations over background levels. The assay is currently being modified to incorporate lacI as the target for ease of mutation detection as well as in vivo excision properties of the Lambda ZAP vector, facilitating sequence analysis of mutant plaques.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Identification of human antibody fragment clones specific for tetanus toxoid in a bacteriophage lambda immunoexpression library.

We have applied a molecular biology approach to the identification of human monoclonal antibodies. Human peripheral blood lymphocyte mRNA was converted to cDNA and a select subset was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. These products, containing coding sequences for numerous immunoglobulin heavy- and kappa light-chain variable and constant region domains, were inserted into modified bacteriophage lambda expression vectors and introduced into Escherichia coli by infection to yield a combinatorial immunoexpression library. Clones with binding activity to tetanus toxoid were identified by filter hybridization with radiolabeled antigen and appeared at a frequency of 0.2% in the library. These human antigen binding fragments, consisting of a heavy-chain fragment covalently linked to a light chain, displayed high affinity of binding to tetanus toxoid with equilibrium constants in the nanomolar range but did not cross-react with other proteins tested. We estimate that this human immunoexpression library contains 20,000 clones with high affinity and specificity to our chosen antigen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Cloning of the immunological repertoire in Escherichia coli for generation of monoclonal catalytic antibodies: construction of a heavy chain variable region-specific cDNA library.

Efficient generation of catalytic antibodies is uniquely dependent on the exact nature of the binding interactions in the antigen-antibody complex. Current methods for generation of monoclonal antibodies do not efficiently survey the immunological repertoire and, therefore, they limit the number of catalysts that can be obtained. We are exploring methods to clone and express the immunological repertoire in Escherichia coli. As the essential first step, we present here a method for the establishment of a highly diverse heavy chain variable region library. Consequently, it should now be possible to express and recombine the heavy and light chain variable region fragments to generate a large array of functional combining portions of the antibody molecule. This technology may provide an alternative to the hybridoma methodology for accessing the monoclonal antibody specificity of the immune system.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Lambda ZAP: a bacteriophage lambda expression vector with in vivo excision properties.

A lambda insertion type cDNA cloning vector, Lambda ZAP, has been constructed. In E. coli a phagemid, pBluescript SK(-), contained within the vector, can be excised by f1 or M13 helper phage. The excision process eliminates the need to subclone DNA inserts from the lambda phage into a plasmid by restriction digestion and ligation. This is possible because Lambda ZAP incorporates the signals for both initiation and termination of DNA synthesis from the f1 bacteriophage origin of replication (1). Six of 21 restriction sites in the excised pBluescript SK polylinker, contained within the NH2-portion of the lacZ gene, are unique in lambda ZAP. Coding sequences inserted into these restriction sites, in the appropriate reading frame, can be expressed from the lacZ promoter as fusion proteins. The features of this vector significantly increase the rate at which clones can be isolated and analyzed. The lambda ZAP vector was tested by the preparation of a chicken liver cDNA library and the isolation of actin clones by screening with oligonucleotide probes. Putative actin clones were excised from the lambda vector and identified by DNA sequencing. The ability of lambda ZAP to serve as a vector for the construction of cDNA expression libraries was determined by detecting fusion proteins from clones containing glucocerbrosidase cDNA's using rabbit IgG anti-glucocerbrosidase antibodies.

Actins↗
PubMed1986

Characterization of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) promoter-regulatory region. I. Multiple hormone regulatory elements and the effects of enhancers.

Transcription of the gene for cytosolic Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (EC 4.1.1.32) (PEPCK) from rat liver is increased by cAMP and glucocorticoids and decreased by insulin. A PEPCK-thymidine kinase (TK) chimeric gene was transfected into FTO-2B rat hepatoma cells, which were TK-deficient. Previous studies showed that a cAMP regulatory element is located at the 5' end of the PEPCK gene. In this report, we demonstrate that the 5' end of the gene also contains a glucocorticoid regulatory element, but not one for insulin. Regions of the PEPCK gene that contain these regulatory elements were attached to the Herpes simplex virus TK structural gene containing its own promoter. The hormone regulatory elements within the 5' flanking region of the PEPCK gene conferred cAMP and glucocorticoid responsiveness on the TK gene after transfection into FTO-2B cells. Like viral enhancer elements, these regulatory elements functioned properly when placed in either orientation at various positions 5' or 3' to TK. The presence of the SV40 enhancer element upstream from the PEPCK-TK gene had little effect on the basal level of expression or hormonal regulation of the chimeric gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Characterization of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) promoter-regulatory region. II. Identification of cAMP and glucocorticoid regulatory domains.

Hormonal regulatory elements within the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (EC 4.1.1.32) (PEPCK) promoter region were mapped using a series of 5' deletions linked to the amino-3'-glycosyl phosphotransferase structural gene. These deletion mutants were stably transfected into the genome of FTO-2B hepatoma cells. A 47-base pair region of the PEPCK promoter was identified which was essential for stimulation by dibutyryl cAMP. A 12-base pair core sequence (CTTACGTCAGAG) within this region shows significant homology with sequences in four other cAMP-regulated genes. There are two glucocorticoid regulatory elements within the promoter, as well as an inhibitory element which depresses the level of basal gene transcription. The deletion of this inhibitory sequence prevents the induction of the chimeric gene by dexamethasone. The existence of the hormone regulatory domains within the PEPCK promoter was confirmed by attaching these elements upstream of the heterologous Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase structural gene, containing its own promoter.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Selection of a rat glutamine synthetase cDNA clone.

We have selected a glutamine synthetase clone (pGSRK-1) from a rat kidney cDNA library. A partial restriction map has been constructed for the 1.65 kilobase pair (kbp) glutamine synthetase cDNA. Northern hybridization analysis indicates that 1) GS-specific RNA increases many-fold during adipocyte differentiation and 2) dexamethasone increases and insulin decreases GS-specific RNA in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1984

Identification of a cAMP regulatory region in the gene for rat cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP). Use of chimeric genes transfected into hepatoma cells.

cAMP stimulates the transcription of the gene for the cytosolic form of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (EC 4.1.1.32) (PEPCK) in rat liver. We have investigated the nucleotide sequences required for regulation of PEPCK gene expression by cAMP. A chimeric gene was constructed in which a 620-base pair fragment of the 5'-end of the PEPCK gene (including 547 base pairs of 5'-flanking sequence) was ligated to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) structural gene. The PEPCK promoter fragment was introduced either in the proper orientation for transcription of the TK gene or in the opposite orientation. These fusion genes and the parent vector, pOPF, which contains the intact TK gene, were transfected individually into TK-deficient FTO-2B rat hepatoma cells. FTO-2B cells contain an active endogenous PEPCK gene which is stimulated by cAMP. Cells were selected in HAT medium and grown either as mass cell cultures or as individual clones. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) plus theophylline (16 h) stimulated TK activity 1.6-6.1-fold in cell lines transfected with the PEPCK-TK fusion gene containing the PEPCK promoter fragment in the correct orientation. However, the intact TK gene was not induced by Bt2cAMP after transfection, nor was there any expression of the PEPCK-TK fusion gene in cells which contained the PEPCK promoter fragment in the wrong transcriptional orientation. Bt2cAMP also increased the levels of TK mRNA in cells transfected with the PEPCK-TK fusion gene, but not in cells transfected with the intact TK gene. The chimeric PEPCK-TK mRNA initiated at the PEPCK start site, as determined by S1 nuclease mapping. There was no relationship between the number of copies of the PEPCK-TK gene integrated in the various cell lines and either the basal level of TK activity or its inducibility of Bt2cAMP.

Animals↗