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Biomedical subjects

J Rine

Publications and source records attributed to J Rine.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

ERG10 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase.

Two recessive alleles of ERG10 and three temperature-sensitive recessive alleles of HMG1 (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase isoenzyme 1) were isolated in a screen for mevalonate auxotrophs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The essential, single-copy ERG10 gene was cloned by complementation of the temperature-sensitive phenotype of erg10-21. The 1,194-base pair continuous open reading frame, encoding a 398-amino acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular mass of 41,681 daltons, was demonstrated to encode cytoplasmic aceto-acetyl-CoA thiolase. Acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase activity corresponded to the number of copies of ERG10 present in cell extracts, and null alleles of ERG10 produced no detectable acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase enzyme activity. The deduced amino acid sequence was 40-95% identical to acetoacetyl-CoA thiolases from other organisms. This identity included the active site cysteines located at amino acids 91 and 384 in the Erg10 protein.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase↗

Silencers and domains of generalized repression.

Gene expression can be affected by the chromosomal position of the gene. An example of this position effect is silencing of the HML and HMR mating-type loci of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An in vitro assay revealed that silencing induced a transcription-independent general occlusion of the DNA at HMR from sequence-specific interactions of proteins with DNA. The minimum boundaries of the silenced chromatin structure were determined, as were the contributions of the E and I silencers to the size of the silenced domain. Examination of endonuclease-sensitive sites provided evidence that neither the integrity of the chromosomal duplex nor covalent linkage of the silencers to HMR was important for maintenance of the silenced structure in vitro.

Cell Nucleus↗

Mutation detection by mismatch binding protein, MutS, in amplified DNA: application to the cystic fibrosis gene.

An experimental strategy for detecting heterozygosity in genomic DNA has been developed based on preferential binding of Escherichia coli MutS protein to DNA molecules containing mismatched bases. The binding was detected by a gel mobility-shift assay. This approach was tested by using as a model the most commonly occurring mutations within the cystic fibrosis (CFTR) gene. Genomic DNA samples were amplified with 5'-end-labeled primers that bracket the site of the delta F508 3-bp deletion in exon 10 of the CFTR gene. The renatured PCR products from homozygotes produced homoduplexes; the PCR products from heterozygotes produced heteroduplexes and homoduplexes (1:1). MutS protein bound more strongly to heteroduplexes that correspond to heterozygous carriers of delta F508 and contain a CTT or a GAA loop in one of the strands than to homoduplexes corresponding to homozygotes. The ability of MutS protein to detect heteroduplexes in PCR-amplified DNA extended to fragments approximately 500 bp long. The method was also able to detect carriers of the point mutations in exon 11 of the CFTR gene by a preferential binding of MutS to single-base mismatches in PCR-amplified DNA.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Identification, characterization, and physical mapping of 14 polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers on human chromosome 21.

Fourteen new dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms specific for human chromosome 21 have been identified, mapped, and characterized. The average heterozygosity of all markers was 0.66. The average PIC value was 0.61. The markers were mapped by STS content mapping of YACs previously assigned to chromosome 21. The correlation of polymorphic genetic markers with substantially complete physical maps should facilitate the identification of loci of interest on chromosome 21.

Base Sequence↗

Regulated degradation of HMG-CoA reductase, an integral membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum, in yeast.

Numerous integral membrane proteins are degraded in the mammalian ER. HMG-CoA reductase (HMG-R), a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway by which isoprenoids and sterols are synthesized, is one substrate of ER degradation. The degradation of HMG-R is modulated by feedback signals from the mevalonate pathway. We investigated the role of regulated degradation of the two isozymes of HMG-R, Hmg1p and Hmg2p, in the physiology of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hmg1p was quite stable, whereas Hmg2p was rapidly degraded. Degradation of Hmg2p proceeded independently of vacuolar proteases or secretory traffic, indicating that Hmg2p degradation occurred at the ER. Hmg2p stability was strongly affected by modulation of the mevalonate pathway through pharmacological or genetic means. Decreased mevalonate pathway flux resulted in decreased degradation of Hmg2p. One signal for degradation of Hmg2p was a nonsterol, mevalonate-derived molecule produced before the synthesis of squalene. Genetic evidence indicated that a farnesylated protein may also be necessary for Hmg2p degradation. Studies with reporter genes demonstrated that the stability of each isozyme was determined by its noncatalytic NH2-terminal domain. Our data show that ER protein degradation is widely conserved among eukaryotes, and that feedback control of HMG-R degradation is an ancient paradigm of regulation.

Endopeptidases↗

Feedback regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In eukaryotic cells all isoprenoids are synthesized from a common precursor, mevalonate. The formation of mevalonate from 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) is catalyzed by HMG-CoA reductase and is the first committed step in isoprenoid biosynthesis. In mammalian cells, synthesis of HMG-CoA reductase is subject to feedback regulation at multiple molecular levels. We examined the state of feedback regulation of the synthesis of the HMG-CoA reductase isozyme encoded by the yeast gene HMG1 to examine the generality of this regulatory pattern. In yeast, synthesis of Hmg1p was subject to feedback regulation. This regulation of HMG-CoA reductase synthesis was independent of any change in the level of HMG1 mRNA. Furthermore, regulation of Hmg1p synthesis was keyed to the level of a nonsterol product of the mevalonate pathway. Manipulations of endogenous levels of several isoprenoid intermediates, either pharmacologically or genetically, suggested that mevalonate levels may control the synthesis of Hmg1p through effects on translation.

Animals↗

Origin recognition complex (ORC) in transcriptional silencing and DNA replication in S. cerevisiae.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the HMR-E silencer blocks site-specific interactions between proteins and their recognition sequences in the vicinity of the silencer. Silencer function is correlated with the firing of an origin of replication at HMR-E. An essential gene with a role in transcriptional silencing was identified by means of a screen for mutations affecting expression of HMR. This gene, known as ORC2, was shown to encode a component of the origin recognition complex that binds yeast origins of replication. A temperature-sensitive mutation in ORC2 disrupted silencing in cells grown at the permissive temperature. At the restrictive temperature, the orc2-1 mutation caused cell cycle arrest at a point in the cell cycle indicative of blocks in DNA replication. The orc2-1 mutation also resulted in the enhanced mitotic loss of a plasmid, suggestive of a defect in replication. These results provide strong evidence for an in vivo role of ORC in both chromosomal replication and silencing, and provide a link between the mechanism of silencing and DNA replication.

Alleles↗

Isolation and DNA sequence of the STE14 gene encoding farnesyl cysteine: carboxyl methyltransferase.

We isolated a mutant defective in C-terminal farnesyl cysteine:carboxyl methyltransferase activity from a screen for mutations causing a-specific sterility. A genomic fragment was cloned from a yeast multi-copy library that restored mating. Both the cloned gene and the sterile mutation were allelic to the STE14 gene. A ste14-complementing 2.17 kb BamHI fragment subclone was sequenced and found to encode a 239 amino acid protein with a molecular weight of 27,887 Daltons. The hydrophobicity profile of the methyltransferase reveals the presence of at least five potential transmembrane domains. In comparisons of the C-terminal methyltransferase amino acid sequence with those in the PIR and Swiss protein databases, no significantly similar sequences were found nor were conserved regions from other methyltransferases present.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification and characterization of dinucleotide repeat (CA)n markers for genetic mapping in dog.

A large block of simple sequence repeat (SSR) polymorphisms for the dog genome has been isolated and characterized. Screening of primary libraries by conventional hybridization methods as well as by screening of enriched marker-selected libraries led to the isolation of a large number of genomic clones that contained (CA)n repeats. The sequences of 101 clones showed that the size and complexity of (CA)n repeats in the dog genome were similar to those reported for these markers in the human genome. Detailed analysis of a representative subset of these markers revealed that most markers were moderately to highly polymorphic, with PIC values exceeding 0.70 for 33% of the markers tested. An association between higher PIC values and markers containing longer (CA)n repeats was observed in these studies, as previously noted for similar markers in the human genome. A list of primer sequences that tag each characterized marker is provided, and a comprehensive system of nomenclature for the dog genome is suggested.

Alleles↗

Genetic evidence for in vivo cross-specificity of the CaaX-box protein prenyltransferases farnesyltransferase and geranylgeranyltransferase-I in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Two protein prenyltransferase enzymes, farnesyltransferase (FTase) and geranylgeranyltransferase-I (GGTase-I), catalyze the covalent attachment of a farnesyl or geranylgeranyl lipid group to the cysteine of a CaaX sequence (cysteine [C], two aliphatic amino acids [aa], and any amino acid [X]. In vitro studies reported here confirm previous reports that CaaX proteins with a C-terminal serine are farnesylated by FTase and those with a C-terminal leucine are geranylgeranylated by GGTase-I. In addition, we found that FTase can farnesylate CaaX proteins with a C-terminal leucine and can transfer a geranylgeranyl group to some CaaX proteins. Genetic data indicate that FTase and GGTase-I have the same substrate preferences in vivo as in vitro and also show that each enzyme can prenylate some of the preferred substrates of the other enzyme in vivo. Specifically, the viability of yeast cells lacking FTase is due to prenylation of Ras proteins by GGTase-I. Although this GGTase-I dependent prenylation of Ras is sufficient for growth, it is not sufficient for mutationally activated Ras proteins to exert deleterious effects on growth. The dependence of the activated Ras phenotype on FTase can be bypassed by replacing the C-terminal serine with leucine. This altered form of Ras appears to be prenylated by both GGTase-I and FTase, since it produces an activated phenotype in a strain lacking either FTase or GGTase-I. Yeast cells can grow in the absence of GGTase-I as long as two essential substrates are overexpressed, but their growth is slow. Such strains are dependent on FTase for viability and are able to grow faster when FTase is overproduced, suggesting that FTase can prenylate the essential substrates of GGTase-I when they are overproduced.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

Endoproteolytic processing of a farnesylated peptide in vitro.

Numerous eukaryotic proteins containing a carboxyl-terminal CAAX motif (C, cysteine; A, aliphatic amino acid; X, any amino acid) require a three-step posttranslational processing for localization and function. The a mating factor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one such protein, requiring cysteine farnesylation, proteolysis of the terminal three amino acids, and carboxyl methylation for biological activity. We have used farnesylated a-factor peptides to examine the proteolytic step in the maturation of CAAX-containing proteins. Three distinct carboxyl-terminal protease activities were found in yeast cell extracts that could remove the terminal three residues of a-factor. Two of the proteolytic activities were in cytosolic fractions. One of these activities was a PEP4-dependent carboxypeptidase that was sensitive to phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. The other cytosolic activity was PEP4-independent, sensitive to 1,10-phenanthroline, and effectively inhibited by an unfarnesylated a-factor peptide. In contrast, a protease activity in membrane fractions was unaffected by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 1,10-phenanthroline, or unfarnesylated a-factor peptide. Incubation of membrane preparations from either yeast or rat liver with a radiolabeled farnesylated a-factor peptide released the terminal three amino acids intact as a tripeptide, indicating that this reaction occurred by an endoproteolytic mechanism and that the enzyme most likely possesses a broad substrate specificity. The yeast endoprotease was not significantly affected by a panel of protease inhibitors, suggesting that the enzyme is novel. Zinc ion was shown to inhibit the endoprotease (Ki less than 100 microM). The specific activities of the a-factor carboxyl-terminal membrane endoprotease and methyltransferase clearly indicated that the proteolytic reaction was not rate-limiting in these processing reactions in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An origin of DNA replication and a transcription silencer require a common element.

A eukaryotic chromosomal origin of replication was identified in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. By several criteria, including map position, deletion analysis, and a synthetic form of saturation mutagenesis, the origin co-localized with the HMR-E silencer, which is a DNA element that represses transcription of the adjacent genes. A specific site within the silencer was required for both initiation of chromosomal replication and for repression of transcription. This analysis directly demonstrates that initiation of eukaryotic chromosomal replication is dependent on specific sequence elements and that a particular element can act in both initiation of chromosomal replication and regulation of transcription.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Construction of small-insert genomic DNA libraries highly enriched for microsatellite repeat sequences.

We describe an efficient method for the construction of small-insert genomic libraries enriched for highly polymorphic, simple sequence repeats. With this approach, libraries in which 40-50% of the members contain (CA)n repeats are produced, representing an approximately 50-fold enrichment over conventional small-insert genomic DNA libraries. Briefly, a genomic library with an average insert size of less than 500 base pairs was constructed in a phagemid vector. Amplification of this library in a dut ung strain of Escherichia coli allowed the recovery of the library as closed circular single-stranded DNA with uracil frequently incorporated in place of thymine. This DNA was used as a template for second-strand DNA synthesis, primed with (CA)n or (TG)n oligonucleotides, at elevated temperatures by a thermostable DNA polymerase. Transformation of this mixture into wild-type E. coli strains resulted in the recovery of primer-extended products as a consequence of the strong genetic selection against single-stranded uracil-containing DNA molecules. In this manner, a library highly enriched for the targeted microsatellite-containing clones was recovered. This approach is widely applicable and can be used to generate marker-selected libraries bearing any simple sequence repeat from cDNAs, whole genomes, single chromosomes, or more restricted chromosomal regions of interest.

Animals↗

Silencing: the establishment and inheritance of stable, repressed transcription states.

Silencing refers to a particular type of transcriptional repression characterized by the formation of a genetically heritable, repressed transcriptional state. Examples of silencing include position-effect variegation, X-chromosome inactivation, and the repression of the silent mating-type gene loci in yeast. Recent discoveries suggest that silencing in yeast, like silencing in larger eukaryotes, results from a particular chromatin structure that defines a chromosomal domain. In addition, a chromosomal origin of DNA replication is required for silencing in yeast, suggesting that DNA replication plays a role in forming functional chromosomal domains.

Animals↗

Silencers, silencing, and heritable transcriptional states.

Three copies of the mating-type genes, which determine cell type, are found in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The copy at the MAT locus is transcriptionally active, whereas identical copies of the mating-type genes at the HML and HMR loci are transcriptionally silent. Hence, HML and HMR, also known as the silent mating-type loci, are subject to a position effect. Regulatory sequences flank the silent mating-type loci and mediate repression of HML and HMR. These regulatory sequences are called silencers for their ability to repress the transcription of nearby genes in a distance- and orientation-independent fashion. In addition, a number of proteins, including the four SIR proteins, histone H4, and an alpha-acetyltransferase, are required for the complete repression of HML and HMR. Because alterations in the amino-terminal domain of histone H4 result in the derepression of the silent mating-type loci, the mechanism of repression may involve the assembly of a specific chromatin structure. A number of additional clues permit insight into the nature of repression at HML and HMR. First, an S phase event is required for the establishment of repression. Second, at least one gene appears to play a role in the establishment mechanism yet is not essential for the stable propagation of repression through many rounds of cell division. Third, certain aspects of repression are linked to aspects of replication. The silent mating-type loci share many similarities with heterochromatin. Furthermore, regions of S. cerevisiae chromosomes, such as telomeres, which are known to be heterochromatic in other organisms, require a subset of SIR proteins for repression. Further analysis of the transcriptional repression at the silent mating-type loci may lend insight into heritable repression in other eukaryotes.

Chromatin↗