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Biomedical subjects

L Philipson

Publications and source records attributed to L Philipson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Molecular tools for the mapping of the human genome.

The rapid progress in molecular cloning and DNA analysis techniques, together with the use of cloned DNA probes from specific chromosomes of the human genome might allow localisation and ultimately identification of genes defined by single mutations. The discrepancy between genetic dimensions expressed in centimorgans, each corresponding to millions of base pairs and distances easily accessible by molecular techniques amounting to at the most hundreds of kilobase pairs may be bridged with some new cloning techniques partially developed at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. These techniques were designed to allow rapid cloning and analysis of large regions of mammalian genomes.

Animals↗

Synthesis and structure of proteoglycan core protein.

Studies of the structure and synthesis of cartilage proteoglycan core protein have been carried out. Deglycosylation of completed, secreted proteoglycan by HF-pyridine treatment yielded an intact homogeneous core protein of approximately 210,000 daltons, with a blocked amino-terminus. Greater than 95% of chondroitin sulfate chains and 80% of N- and O-linked oligosaccharides were removed by the procedure, which made the product an excellent xylosyltransferase acceptor. Little alteration of core protein structure occurred during the HF-pyridine treatment as shown by complete immunoreactivity with antiserums prepared against hyaluronidase-digested proteoglycan. In other studies, the initially synthesized precursor for proteoglycan core protein was found to be approximately 376,000 daltons and localized to the rough membrane fractions. This precursor already contained N-linked oligosaccharides, and was also able to accept xylose, thereby initiating chondroitin sulfate chains. The precursor was translocated intact in an energy-dependent manner to smooth membrane-Golgi fractions where further processing of high mannose type of oligosaccharides and addition of glycosaminoglycan chains occurred. The subcellular distribution pattern of the chondroitin sulfate-synthesizing enzymes corroborated the proposed topological modifications of the proteoglycan core protein precursor.

Animals↗

Protein composition of adenovirus nucleoprotein complexes extracted from infected cells.

A viral nucleoprotein complex was extracted from the nuclei of human cells 20 hr after infection with adenovirus type 2 or several of its temperature-sensitive mutants. In its sedimentation property, density in CsCl, and digestion pattern with micrococcal nuclease, the complex resembled viral cores. The polypeptides V, PVII, 11K, and 36K were found associated with this complex which is formed prior to or in the absence of virus assembly. The results suggest that this nucleoprotein complex is a direct precursor to virus assembly.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

The interplay between host and viral genes in adenovirus gene expression.

Only the left end of adenovirus DNA comprising the early E1A and E1B regions is required for transformation of rodent cells and for tumorigenicity in mice and rats. The E1A early region encodes a protein which probably indirectly through a cellular component controls mRNA expression from at least four other early regions at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. Viral early proteins also combine with or control the expression of the cellular transplantation antigens to prepare the host cell for tumor rejection or alternatively to suppress the cellular immune response. DNA replication of the viral genome requires three virus-coded proteins and two cellular proteins and is the first mammalian system where DNA can be efficiently replicated in an in vitro system. Adenovirus late expression is also subject to cellular controls since the virus uses the host cell machinery for transcription and splicing. A late translational control has also been identified which is mediated by a small virus coded RNA (VAI RNA) transcribed by the cellular polymerase III. The viral RNA is probably complexed with a cellular protein when exerting its effect. All these control mechanisms, involving both viral and cellular genes, are now being dissected, and several of the molecules involved have been identified.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Complete sequence of the staphylococcal gene encoding protein A. A gene evolved through multiple duplications.

The gene coding for protein A from Staphylococcus aureus has been isolated by molecular cloning, and a subclone containing an 1.8-kilobase insert was found to give a functional protein A in Escherichia coli. The complete nucleotide sequence of the insert, including the structural gene and the 5' and 3' flanking sequences, has been determined. Starting from a TTG initiator codon, an open reading frame comprising 1527 nucleotides gives a preprotein of 509 amino acids and a predicted Mr = 58,703. The structural gene is flanked on both sides by palindromic structures followed by a stretch of T residues, suggesting transcriptional termination signals. Thus, it appears that protein A is translated from a monocistronic mRNA. The sequence reveals extensive internal homologies involving a 58-amino acid unit, responsible for IgG binding, repeated 5 times and an 8-amino acid unit, possibly responsible for binding to the cell wall of S. aureus, repeated 12 times. Comparisons between the repeated regions show a marked preference for silent mutations, indicating an evolutionary pressure to keep the amino acid sequence preserved. The structure of the gene also suggests how the gene has evolved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An improved positive selection plasmid vector constructed by oligonucleotide mediated mutagenesis.

An Escherichia coli plasmid vector, pUN121, has been constructed which allows for positive selection of transformants harboring DNA inserts. The positive selection of transformants harboring DNA inserts. The vector is based on plasmid pTR262 (Roberts et al. Gene, 12, (1980), 123-127) in which the tetracycline resistance gene is under transcriptional control of the repressor protein coded by the phage lambda cI gene. This plasmid has been rearranged, using in vitro recombinant techniques including oligonucleotide mediated mutagenesis to yield a smaller plasmid (4.4 kb) with unique cloning sites for EcoRI, XmaI and SmaI in addition to the unique HindIII and BclI sites. The plasmid has a functional ampicillin resistance gene and the new restriction sites (EcoRI, XmaI and SmaI) when used for cloning, give rise to tetracycline resistant transformants.

Ampicillin↗

Loci for human U1 RNA: structural and evolutionary implications.

Three clones U1-1, U1-6, and U1-8 containing sequences related to human U1 RNA have been studied by sequence analysis. The results show that each of the three clones represents a distinct locus. The U1-6 locus is closely related to the HU1-1 locus, which is believed to represent a functional U1 gene. The U1-1 and U1-8 loci are pseudogenes by definition, since they contain sequences that are closely related to but not identical with the human U1 RNA sequence. The U1-6 locus contains the sequence T-A-T-A-T close to the 5'-end of the U1 sequence but it is unclear if this represents the promoter. When the U1-8 locus was compared to the U1-6 locus, it was observed that the 5'-flanking sequences, except in the immediate vicinity of the pseudogene, are as well-conserved as the U1-related sequence itself, at least up to position -220. The high degree of homology in the 5'-flanking region suggests that U1 genes have a much more strict sequence requirement with regard to 5'-flanking sequences than most other eukaryotic genes. The U1-6 and U1-8 loci contain the sequence T-A-T-G-T-A-G-A-T-G-A between positions -211 and -221. An identical sequence is present in the equivalent position in the HU1-1 locus, and may represent the promoter. The high degree of conservation in the postulated promoter region indicates that pseudogenes like U1-8 possibly could be expressed. A truncated U1-related sequence is present between 106 to 150 nucleotides upstream from the U1 gene/pseudogene in the U1-6, the U1-8 and the HU1-1 loci, suggesting that the U1 genes may have been clustered early in evolution. The U1-1 locus has a strikingly different structure from the U1-8 locus; the pseudogene itself is as closely related to the U1 RNA sequence as is the U1-8 pseudogene but the flanking sequences, both on the 5' and the 3' side, share no detectable homology with the corresponding regions in the U1-6 or U1-8 loci. It may therefore be postulated that small nuclear RNA pseudogenes are created by several different mechanisms.

Base Sequence↗

Isolation and characterization of multiple human genes homologous to the oncogenes of avian erythroblastosis virus.

Human DNA sequences complementary to the oncogenes v-erbA and v-erbB of avian erythroblastosis virus have been isolated from a genomic DNA library. Two clones, lambda he-A1 and lambda he-A2, were related to the erbA gene and one to the erbB gene (lambda he-B). The two erbA genes were only distantly related to each other as judged from hybridization analysis. Furthermore, human chromosomal DNA appears to contain one or two additional genes analogous to the lambda he-A2 sequence, whereas the mouse genome contained only two genes complementary to lambda he-A1 and lambda he-A2, respectively. Polyadenylated RNA species, 5.0 kb in size, were found in the human HeLa and the human hematopoietic K562 cell lines, suggesting that at least some of the erb-related genes are active and do not represent pseudogenes. Taken together, the data demonstrate that two distantly related classes of erbA genes exist in human and mouse DNA, and that multiple copies of genes belonging to one of these two classes exist in the human genome.

Alpharetrovirus↗

DNA homology between the arsenate resistance plasmid pSX267 from Staphylococcus xylosus and the penicillinase plasmid pI258 from Staphylococcus aureus.

A 29.5-kb plasmid, pSX267, from Staphylococcus xylosus DSM 20267 was found to code for arsenate, arsenite, and antimony (III) resistance. The isolated plasmid was transformed into S. aureus, where the same resistances were expressed. It was of special interest to see whether pSX267 showed any DNA sequence homology with the well-studied penicillinase plasmid from S. aureus pI258, also conferring arsenate, arsenite, and antimony III resistance. By the use of the Southern blotting technique, it was found that DNA sequence homology exists in the region of arsenate, arsenite, and antimony resistance, in addition to the region where the origin of replication, the incompatibility, and the replication A function were mapped on pI258. This finding was confirmed by electron microscope heteroduplex analysis, which allowed a correlation between the genetic and physical maps of pI258 and pSX267. Duplex DNA was formed at the arsenate operon of pI258, with a length of 2.6 kb, and at the incompatibility and replication A region, comprising a length of 2.5 kb. Adjacent to this latter region, two small regions of DNA homology were present, with lengths of 0.2 and 0.27 kb. Both plasmids share approximately 20% DNA sequence homology. The DNA homology of the arsenate, arsenite, and antimony III resistance coding regions between pI258 and pSX267 indicate that these plasmid-determined resistance markers are highly conserved and distributed among different staphylococcal species.

Antimony↗

Gene fusion vectors based on the gene for staphylococcal protein A.

Two plasmid vectors, containing the gene coding for staphylococcal protein A and adapted for gene fusion, have been constructed. These vectors will allow fusion of any gene to the protein A gene, thus giving hybrid proteins which can be purified, in a one-step procedure, by IgG affinity chromatography. As an example of the practical use of such vectors, the protein A gene has been fused to the lacZ gene of Escherichia coli. E. coli strains containing such plasmids produce hybrid proteins with both IgG binding and beta-galactosidase activities. The hybrid protein(s) can be immobilized on IgG-Sepharose by its protein A moiety with high efficiency without losing its enzymatic activity and they can be eluted from the column by competitive elution with pure protein A. The fused protein(s) also binds to IgG-coated microtiter wells which means that the in vivo product can be used as an enzyme conjugate in ELISA tests.

Base Sequence↗

Chemical synthesis and molecular cloning of a STOP oligonucleotide encoding an UGA translation terminator in all three reading frames.

We have chemically synthesized an oligonucleotide 5'd(TGATTGATTGA)3' 3'd(ACTAACTAACT)5' that encodes the translation termination codon TGA in all three reading frames. After ligation of appropriate restriction endonuclease linkers to the ends, the double-stranded oligonucleotide (STOP-oligonucleotide) was joined to the plasmid pBR322 between the EcoRI and BamHI, or HindIII and BamHI sites, and the hybrid plasmids were transformed into Escherichia coli HB101. Four different constructions were obtained: (i) EcoRI-STOP-BamHI (STOP-oligonucleotide flanked by EcoRI and BamHI linkers; pKTH606), (ii) HindIII-STOP-BamHI (pKTH601), (iii) BamHI-STOP-HindIII (pKTH604), and (iv) HindIII-STOP-POTS-BamHI (two STOP-oligonucleotides in opposite orientation; pKTH605). The inserts in pKTH606 and pKTH601 were excised and transferred to a modified plasmid constructed previously for the expression and secretion of foreign gene products from Bacillus subtilis. The resulting secretion plasmids now contain the promoter/signal sequence region of the alpha-amylase gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens joined to the STOP-oligonucleotide by EcoRI or HindIII linkers. Foreign genes can be cloned into these sites. The plasmids can be used to express foreign genes truncated at their C-terminal end and therefore lacking their own translation termination codon. One such plasmid has been successfully used to express the Semliki Forest virus (SFV) membrane protein E1 truncated at its C-terminus.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Gene for staphylococcal protein A.

The gene for protein A from Staphylococcus aureus was cloned into pBR322 in Escherichia coli. An immunoassay was used to detect production of the protein. Protein A produced in E. coli was found in the periplasmic space and was purified and concentrated by IgG-Sepharose affinity chromatography. DNA sequence assay of the gene revealed a region with the general features of a prokaryotic signal peptide and a fifth structural region homologous to the four repetitive regions found earlier by amino acid sequence determination of the mature protein. Upstream from the structural gene there is a possible promoter region and a ribosomal binding sequence typical of gram-positive bacteria. The initiation codon is TTG.

Base Sequence↗

Control of adenovirus gene expression: cellular gene products restrict expression of adenovirus host range mutants in nonpermissive cells.

Adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) host range mutants dl312 and hr-1, with lesions in region E1A (0 to 4.5 map units) of the viral genome, fail to accumulate virus-specific early RNA during infection in HeLa cells. In a recent report, we showed that the addition of anisomycin, a stringent inhibitor of protein synthesis, at 1 h after infection of HeLa cells with hr-1 virus resulted in the accumulation of properly spliced and translatable mRNA from all early regions (M. G. Katze, H. Persson, and L. Philipson, Mol. Cell. Biol. 1:807-813, 1981). Based on these results we proposed a model in which expression of early mutant RNA was achieved through inactivation of a cellular protein normally causing a reduction in the amount of viral RNA. These studies have been extended in the present report, which shows that early viral proteins can be detected in Ad5 dl312- and Ad5 hr-1-infected HeLa cells which have been treated for several hours with anisomycin either shortly after infection or before infection. A pulse of drug treatment also resulted in expression of substantial amounts of adenovirus structural proteins after infection with both Ad5 hr-1 and Ad5 dl312, whereas in drug-free controls no late proteins were detected. The Ad5 hr-1 virus previously reported to be DNA replication negative in nonpermissive HeLa cells was found to replicate its DNA, albeit at low levels, when anisomycin was present either from 1 to 5 h postinfection or for 5 h before infection. When infectious virus production was examined in mutant-infected cells the titer of Ad5 dl312 virus was found to increase at least 500-fold in anisomycin-treated HeLa cells. Taken together, these and our previous results suggest that the block in gene expression characteristic for complementation group I Ad5 host range mutants in HeLa cells can be overcome by inactivating cellular gene products serving as negative regulators of viral gene expression.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Avian acute leukemia virus OK 10: analysis of its myc oncogene by molecular cloning.

Several DNAs representing the genome of the avian acute leukemia virus OK 10 were isolated by molecular cloning from a transformed quail cell line, 9C, which contained at least six OK 10 proviruses. Recombinant lambda phages harboring the OK 10 genome and additional flanking cellular DNA sequences were studied by restriction endonuclease mapping and hybridization to viral cDNA probes. Six of the clones represented complete proviruses with similar, if not identical, viral sequences integrated at different positions in the host DNA. The organization of the OK 10 genome was determined by electron-microscopic analysis of heteroduplexes formed between the cloned OK 10 DNA and DNAs representing the c-myc gene and the genomes of two other avian retroviruses, Rous-associated virus-1 and MC29. The results indicated that the OK 10 proviral DNA is about 7.5 kilobases in size with the following structure: 5'-LTR-gag-delta polmyc-delta env-LTR-3', where LTR indicates a long terminal repeat. The oncogene of OK 10, v-mycOK 10, forms a continuous DNA segment of around 1.7 kilobases between pol and env. It is similar in structure and length to the v-myc gene of MC29, as demonstrated by restriction endonuclease and heteroduplex analyses. Two of the OK 10 proviruses were tested in transfection experiments: both DNAs gave rise to virus with the transforming capacities of OK 10 when Rous-associated virus-1 was used to provide helper virus functions.

Animals↗

Sequence dependent interaction of hnRNP proteins with late adenoviral transcripts.

Irradiation with ultraviolet light was used to induce covalent linkage between hnRNA and its associated proteins in intact HeLa cells, late after infection with adenovirus type 2. Covalently linked hnRNA-protein complexes, containing polyadenylated adenoviral RNA, were isolated and their protein moiety characterized. Host 42,000 Mr hnRNP proteins proved to be the major proteins crosslinked to viral hnRNA. To investigate their possible involvement in RNA processing, the localization of these cross-linked polypeptides on adenoviral late transcripts was determined. Sequences of RNA around the attachment sites of the protein were isolated. After in vitro labeling they were hybridized to Southern blots of adeno DNA fragments. The hybridization patterns revealed that the 42,000 Mr polypeptides can be linked to adenoviral transcripts over the entire length of the RNA, corresponding to 16.2-91.5 m.u. of the viral genome. Fine mapping within the Hind III B region (16.8-31.5 m.u.) established, however, that the localization of the cross-linked polypeptides was not random in all parts of the transcript. Sequences around the third leader and the 3' part of the i-leader were overrepresented, whereas the regions encoding VA I and VA II RNA and the late region 1 mRNA bodies were underrepresented in the cross-linked RNA. Using genomic DNA fragments and a cDNA clone containing the tripartite leader it appeared that leader and intervening sequences were represented about equally in cross-linked RNA fragments. Although these results do not support the notion that introns or exons are specifically interacting with one RNP protein, they demonstrate that the 42,000 hnRNP proteins are non randomly positioned on the RNA sequence.

Adenoviruses, Human↗