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Biomedical subjects

L Hirth

Publications and source records attributed to L Hirth.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Hereditary ataxia and the sixth chromosome.

Possible linkage of the gene or genes for dominant hereditary ataxia and three genetic markers on the short arm of the sixth chromosome (HLA, properdin factor B [Bf], and glyoxalase I) was investigated in five families. Logarithmic odds (lod scores) were calculated for the linkages and found to be either inconclusive or in favor of nonlinkage. Caution is advised in the summing of lod scores for separate families because of the wide spectrum of clinical and anatomical manifestations of dominant hereditary ataxia. Three families with recessive hereditary ataxia were also studied. Identical haplotypes occurred in affected and unaffected siblings. It did not appear likely that the recessive genes of the parents were transmitted in linkage with the markers on the short arm of the sixth chromosome.

Ataxia↗

Nucleotide sequence of cauliflower mosaic virus DNA.

The complete nucleotide sequence (8024 nucleotides) of the circular double-stranded DNA of cauliflower mosaic virus has been established. The DNA molecule is known to possess three discrete single-stranded discontinuities, often referred to as "gaps," two in one strand and one in the other. The sequence data indicate that gap 1, the single discontinuity in the alpha strand, corresponds to the absence of no more than one or two nucleotides with respect to the complementary beta strand. The two discontinuities in the beta strand, however, are not authentic gaps since no nucleotides are missing, but are instead regions of sequence overlap: a short sequence (19 residues for gap 2, t least 2 residues for gap 3) at one terminus of each discontinuity, probably the 5' terminus, is displaced from the double helix by an identical sequence at the other boundary of the discontinuity. Analysis of the distribution of nonsense codons in the DNA sequence is consistent with other evidence that only the alpha strand is transcribed. The coding region extends around the circular molecule from 4 map units of gap 1, the map origin, to map position 91, and consists of six long open reading frames. Our findings suggest, but do not prove, that the DNA sequence of the open reading frames is colinear with viral protein sequences. The cistron for the viral coat protein, which is probably synthesized in the form of a precursor, has been situated in coding region IV on the basis of its unusual amino acid composition.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Infectivities of native and cloned DNA of cauliflower mosaic virus.

Infectivity assays on turnips reveal that (i) cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) DNA, whether circular or linear, is as infectious as the complete virus; (ii) linear DNA obtained with restriction enzymes from the native CaMV DNA has the same specific infectivity as when first cloned in plasmid (pBR322) or bacteriophage (lambda gtWES) vectors and then restricted at the cloning site; (iii) in all cases studied mosaic symptoms are accompanied by virus production. DNA isolated from these viruses is again circular and possesses the three "gaps" characteristic of CaMV DNA. The cloned CaMV DNA, when linked to the vector DNA, is noninfectious or exhibits very low infectivity.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Ultrasonic absorption evidence of structural fluctuations in viral capsids.

When the coat protein of the small icosahedral virus, brome mosaic virus, reassembles into capsids, the ultrasonic absorption of the solution greatly increases. Submitting the solution to an ultrasonic field thus appears to reveal spontaneous molecular motions within a protein assembly. Confirmatory evidence of a dynamics of a protein shell comes from measurements on brome mosaic virus at various degrees of swelling and on tomato bushy stunt virus treated with the crosslinking agent glutaraldehyde. The detected fluctuations may be related either with cooperative deformational motion in the capsid or with more localized structural changes. Such structural changes may help liberate the RNA at an early stage of viral infection.

Mosaic Viruses↗

Nucleotide sequence at the 5' extremity of tobacco-mosaic-virus RNA. 1. The noncoding region (nucleotides 1-68).

The sequence of the 5' noncoding region of tobacco mosaic virus RNA has been determined. The noncoding region is 68 nucleotides long and is unusual in that it contains no internal guanosine residues. The long T1 oligonucleotide containing the guanosine-free tract was isolated from a T1 ribonuclease digest of tobacco mosaic virus RNA and sequenced by labelling techniques in vitro using polynucleotide kinase. The guanosine-free tract is terminated by the first potential initiation codon in the RNA molecule and several lines of evidence suggest that this AUG triplet is operational in initiating viral protein synthesis (see following paper). The 5'-noncoding region cannot base-pair extensively with the 3'-terminal sequence of 18-S ribosomal RNA from rabbit reticulocytes.

Base Sequence↗

Physical map of DNA from a new cauliflower mosaic virus strain.

The restriction enzymes AluI, BamHI, BglII, EcoRI, HindIII, and SalI have been used to characterize and map a new cauliflower mosaic virus strain (Cabb-S). These fragments have been ordered by examining their overlapping regions after double enzymatic digestion. The single SalI cleavage site was chosen as the point of origin. We compare this strain with those already described.

Base Sequence↗

Valylation of the two RNA components of turnip-yellow mosaic virus and specificity of the tRNA aminoacylation reaction.

A comparative study of the aminoacylation of the two RNA components of turnip yellow mosaic virus, of yeast tRNAVal, tRNAfMet and of tRNAPhe by purified yeast valyl-tRNA synthetase is reported. Aminoacylations were performed in the presence of pure yeast tRNA nucleotidyltransferase, since 85% of the viral RNA molecules lacked the 3'-adenosine. We find that aminoacylation of the viral RNAs, like tRNA aminoacylation, reflects an equilibrium between the acylation and deacylation reactions. The kinetic parameters of TYM virus RNA valylation resemble the values found for tRNAVal valylation; in particular, there is a strong affinity between the viral RNA and valyl-tRNA synthetase and the rate constant for TYM virus RNA valylation is only slightly lower than that for tRNAVal. This result contrasts with the reduced rates observed in tRNA mischarging, and suggests that the viral RNA could be easily aminoacylated in vivo. Considering the fact that the 3'-terminal sequence of TYM virus RNA has only a few points of resemblance to a tRNA sequence, we propose that there are some structural motifs found in both tRNAVal and TYM virus RNA which are brought in a similar spatial arrangement recognized by valyl-tRNA synthetase.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗