Isolation of coding sequences from genomic regions using direct selection.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Lovett.
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Vesicular transport to and from the lysosome and late endosome is defective in patients with Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) and in mutant beige (bg) mice. CHS and bg cells have giant, perinuclear vesicles with characteristics of late endosomes and lysosomes that arise from dysregulated homotypic fusion. CHS and bg lysosomes also exhibit compartmental missorting of proteins, such as elastase, glucuronidase and cathepsin G. Lyst, a candidate gene for bg, was identified by direct complementary DNA selection from a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clone containing a 650-kilobase segment of the bg-critical region on mouse chromosome 13. Lyst is disrupted by a 5-kilobase deletion in bg mice, and Lyst messenger RNA is markedly reduced in bg homozygotes. The homologous human gene, LYST, is highly conserved with mouse Lyst, and contains a frame-shift mutation at nucleotides 117-118 of the coding domain in a CHS patient. Thus bg mice and human CHS patients have homologous disorders associated with Lyst mutations. Lyst encodes a protein with a carboxy-terminal prenylation motif and multiple potential phosphorylation sites. Lyst protein is predicted to form extended helical domains, and has a region of sequence similar to stathmin, a coiled-coil phosphoprotein thought to act as a relay integrating cellular signal response coupling.
Interleukin-13 (IL-13) and IL-4 are cytokines produced by T cells that are encoded by the q23-31 region of human chromosome 5. To investigate the regulation of IL-13 gene expression by T cells, we isolated and sequenced the human IL-13 gene, analyzed its 5'-flanking region for potential transcriptional activation elements, and examined its expression in nontransformed T-lineage cell populations. The human IL-13 gene was located 12.5-kb upstream of the IL-4 gene and 2-kb downstream of a CpG island. The IL-13 gene 5' flank region included a segment with sequence homology to P elements of the IL-4 promoter involved in transcriptional activation in T cells. Mutation of the IL-13 P element site significantly reduced IL-13 promoter activity in response to T-cell activation. Oligonucleotides containing the IL-13 or IL-4 P element sites specifically bound the transcriptional activator protein, nuclear factor-activated T cells, preformed (NF-ATp), when incubated with nuclear protein extracts from activated T cells. Similar to IL-4, IL-13 mRNA expression was highest in T-cell populations enriched for cells that had previously been primed in vivo or in vitro, indicating that priming increases the expression of the IL-13 and IL-4 genes in a coordinate manner. Because the primed T cells contain higher levels of nuclear NF-ATp, capable of binding to P elements of the IL-4 and IL-13 promoters, than do freshly-isolated T cells, the NF-AT-binding P elements are attractive candidates to mediate the coordinate expression of these two cytokine genes.
Various types of physical mapping data were assembled by developing a set of computer programs (Integrated Mapping Package) to derive a detailed, annotated map of a 4-Mb region of human chromosome 13 that includes the BRCA2 locus. The final assembly consists of a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig with 42 members spanning the 13q12-13 region and aligned contigs of 399 cosmids established by cross-hybridization between the cosmids, which were selected from a chromosome 13-specific cosmid library using inter-Alu PCR probes from the YACs. The end sequences of 60 cosmids spaced nearly evenly across the map were used to generate sequence-tagged sites (STSs), which were mapped to the YACs by PCR. A contig framework was generated by STS content mapping, and the map was assembled on this scaffold. Additional annotation was provided by 72 expressed sequences and 10 genetic markers that were positioned on the map by hybridization to cosmids.
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Hereditary multiple exostoses (EXT) is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by short stature and the development of bony protuberances at the ends of all the long bones. Three genetic locl have been identified by genetic linkage analysis at chromosomes 8q24.1, 11p11-13 and 19p. The EXT1 gene on chromosome 8 was recently identified and characterized. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of the EXT2 gene. This gene shows striking sequence similarity to the EXT1 gene, and we have identified a four base deletion segregating with the phenotype. Both EXT1 and EXT2 show significant homology with one additional expressed sequence tag, defining a new multigene family of proteins with potential tumour suppressor activity.
The minibrain (mnb) gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes a serine-threonine protein kinase with an essential role in postembryonic neurogenesis. A corresponding human gene with similar function to mnb could provide important insights into both normal brain development and the abnormal brain development and mental retardation observed in many congenital disorders. Trisomy 21 or Down syndrome (DS) is the most frequent human birth defect. It is associated with mental retardation and a broad spectrum of physical abnormalities. A region on human chromosome 21 has been designated the Down syndrome critical region (DSCR) and when present in three copies, this is responsible for many of the characteristic features of DS, including mental retardation. We have isolated a human homologue of mnb from the DSCR. MNB encodes a 6.1 kb transcript which is expressed in foetal brain, lung, kidney and liver. Using a human probe, two major transcripts (6.1 and 3.1 kb) were identified in mouse and expression was detected in situ in several regions of the mouse brain, including the olfactory bulb, the cerebellum, the cerebral cortex, the pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampus and several hypothalamic nuclei. This expression pattern corresponds to the regions of the brain that are abnormal in individuals with DS and suggests that overexpression of MNB could have detrimental consequences in DS patients.
We compared the desensitization of neurokinin1 and neurokinin2 (NK1 and NK2) receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells to substance P and neurokinin A, respectively. Substance P and neurokinin A stimulated a rapid increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) for both receptors, which was due to release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. This was followed by a plateau in [Ca2+]i, which was due to influx of extracellular Ca2+, and was more sustained for the NK2 receptor. When Ca2+ was present in the extracellular solution, the Ca2+ response of the NK1 receptor, but not the NK2 receptor, rapidly desensitized and slowly resensitized to two exposures to agonist. In contrast, the [Ca2+]i response, measured in Ca2+-free solution, and inositol triphosphate generation desensitized and resensitized similarly for the NK1 and NK2 receptors. Thus, differences in desensitization between the NK1 receptor and the NK2 receptor may be related to differences in entry of extracellular Ca2+. We compared endocytosis of the NK1 and NK2 receptors to determine whether disparities could account for differences in desensitization. Fluorescent and radiolabeled substance P and neurokinin A were internalized similarly by cells expressing NK1 and NK2 receptors. Thus, disparities in internalization cannot account for differences in desensitization. We used inhibitors to examine the contribution of endocytosis, recycling, and phosphatases to desensitization and resensitization of the NK1 receptor. Desensitization did not require endocytosis. However, resensitization required endocytosis, recycling, and phosphatase activity. This suggests that the NK1 receptor desensitizes by phosphorylation and resensitizes by dephosphorylation in endosomes and recycling.
A gene, ATM, that is mutated in the autosomal recessive disorder ataxia telangiectasia (AT) was identified by positional cloning on chromosome 11q22-23. AT is characterized by cerebellar degeneration, immunodeficiency, chromosomal instability, cancer predisposition, radiation sensitivity, and cell cycle abnormalities. The disease is genetically heterogeneous, with four complementation groups that have been suspected to represent different genes. ATM, which has a transcript of 12 kilobases, was found to be mutated in AT patients from all complementation groups, indicating that it is probably the sole gene responsible for this disorder. A partial ATM complementary DNA clone of 5.9 kilobases encoded a putative protein that is similar to several yeast and mammalian phosphatidylinositol-3' kinases that are involved in mitogenic signal transduction, meiotic recombination, and cell cycle control. The discovery of ATM should enhance understanding of AT and related syndromes and may allow the identification of AT heterozygotes, who are at increased risk of cancer.
Direct selection of genes within the interval of chromosome 17q21 containing BRCA1 was performed. YAC and cosmid contigs spanning the BRCA1 region were used to select cDNA clones from pools of cDNAs derived from human placenta, HeLa cells, activated T cells, and fetal head. A minimum set of 48 fragments of nonoverlapping cDNAs that unequivocally mapped within a 1-Mb region was identified, although it is not yet known how many of these are derived from the same transcript. DNA sequence analyses revealed that 4 of these cDNAs were derived from known genes (EDH17B2, glucose-6-phosphatase, IAI.3B, and E1AF), 1 is a member of a previously described gene family (HMG-17), and 7 share substantial identity with previously described genes from human or other species. The remainder showed no significant homology to known genes. Limited PCR-based expression profiles of a set of 13 of the genes were performed, and all gave positive results with at least some cDNA sources supporting the contention that they truly represent transcribed sequences. A comparison between genes obtained from this region by direct selection with those obtained by direct screening or exon trapping (see accompanying papers, this issue) revealed that over 90% of the genes identified by exon trapping were represented in the selected material and that at least two additional genes that appear to represent low abundance transcripts with restricted expression profiles were identified by selection but not by other means.
Many of the actions of the neuropeptide substance P (SP) that are mediated by the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1-R) desensitize and resensitize, which may be associated with NK1-R endocytosis and recycling. We delineated this endocytic pathway in transfected cells by confocal microscopy using cyanine 3-SP and NK1-R antibodies. SP and the NK1-R were internalized into the same clathrin immunoreactive vesicles, and then sorted into different compartments. The NK1-R was colocalized with a marker of early endosomes, but not with markers of late endosomes or lysosomes. We quantified the NK1-R at the cell surface by incubating cells with an antibody to an extracellular epitope. After exposure to SP, there was a loss and subsequent recovery of surface NK1-R. The loss was prevented by hypertonic sucrose and potassium depletion, inhibitors of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Recovery was independent of new protein synthesis because it was unaffected by cycloheximide. Recovery required endosomal acidification because it was prevented by an H(+)-ATPase inhibitor. The fate of internalized 125I-SP was examined by chromatography. SP was intact at the cell surface and in early endosomes, but slowly degraded in perinuclear vesicles. We conclude that SP induces clathrin-dependent internalization of the NK1-R. The SP/NK1-R complex dissociates in acidified endosomes. SP is degraded, whereas the NK1-R recycles to the cell surface.
Cri-du-chat is a well described partial aneusomy resulting from deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5. The hallmark clinical feature of cri-du-chat, a high-pitched monochromatic cry, has recently been localized to 5p15.3, separate from the remaining clinical features of the syndrome, which have been localized to 5p15.2. Five chromosome 5-specific probes from the latter region, designated the cri-du-chat critical region (CDCCR), were used to isolate 30 cosmids from the LANL chromosome 5 specific cosmid library. The 30 framework cosmids were used in a direct selection with three cDNA sources to isolate an initial set of expressed sequences. Nine unique cDNAs were found that hybridized to four discrete sets of cosmids in the CDCCR. The nine cDNAs are novel by sequence database comparisons, and conservatively represent four transcription units. More recently, we have also constructed a YAC contig of the CDCCR which spans approximately 2 Mb. As expected, ESTs derived from the nine novel cDNAs map back to the contig. Limited expression profiles of these cDNAs have been obtained. Two cDNAs that map to one discrete set of cosmids have different expression patterns, suggesting that they represent two different genes and increasing the number of putative genes to five. Further characterization of these genes and the estimated 100 additional genes deleted in cri-du-chat should lead to better diagnostic markers and an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the disease.
To date, only a small percentage of human genes have been cloned and mapped. To facilitate more rapid gene mapping and disease gene isolation, chromosome 5-specific cDNA libraries have been constructed from five sources. DNA sequencing and regional mapping of 205 unique cDNAs indicates that 25 are from known chromosome 5 genes and 138 are from new chromosome 5 genes (a frequency of 79.5%). Sequence complexity estimates indicate that each library contains -20% of the approximately 5000 genes that are believed to reside on chromosome 5. This study more than doubles the number of genes mapped to chromosome 5 and describes an important new tool for disease gene isolation.
Cri-du-chat is a chromosomal deletion syndrome characterized by partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5. The clinical symptoms include growth and mental retardation, microcephaly, hypertelorism, epicanthal folds, hypotonia, and a high-pitched monochromatic cry that is usually considered diagnostic for the syndrome. Recently, a correlation between clinical features and the extent of the chromosome 5 deletions has identified two regions of the short arm that appear to be critical for the abnormal development manifested in this syndrome. Loss of a small region in 5p15.2 correlates with all of the clinical features of cri-du-chat with the exception of the cat-like cry, which maps to 5p15.3. Here we report the construction of a YAC contig that spans the chromosomal region in 5p15.2 that plays a major role in the etiology of the cri-du-chat syndrome. YACs that span the 2-Mb cri-du-chat critical region have been identified and characterized. This YAC contig lays the groundwork for the construction of a transcriptional map of this region and the eventual identification of genes involved in the clinical features associated with the cri-du-chat syndrome. It also provides a new diagnostic tool for cri-du-chat in the shape of a YAC clone that may span the entire critical region.
Interactions between neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (NEP) and the substance P receptor (SPR; NK1) were investigated by examining substance P (SP) degradation, SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization in epithelial cells transfected with cDNA encoding the rat SPR and rat NEP. Expression of NEP accelerated the degradation of SP by intact epithelial cells and by membrane preparations, and degradation was reduced by the NEP inhibitor thiorphan. In cells expressing SPR alone, specific 125I-SP binding after 20 min incubation at 37 degrees C was 92.2 +/- 3.1% of maximal binding and was unaffected by thiorphan. Coexpression of NEP in the same cells as the SPR markedly reduced SP binding to 13.9 +/- 0.5% of maximal, and binding was increased to 82.7 +/- 2.4% of maximal with thiorphan. Coexpression of NEP in the same cells as the SPR also reduced to undetectable the increase in intracellular Ca2+ in response to low concentrations of SP (0.3 and 0.5 nM), and significantly reduced the response to higher concentrations (1 and 3 nM). The Ca2+ response was restored to control values by inhibition of NEP with thiorphan. In contrast, SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization were only slightly reduced when cells expressing SPR alone were mixed with a 3- to 24-fold excess of cells expressing NEP alone. Therefore, in this system, NEP markedly down-regulates SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization only when coexpressed in the same cells as the SPR.
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a myelodysplastic syndrome characterized by abnormal clonal myeloid proliferation and by progression to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). CMML thus offers an opportunity to study early genetic events in the transition to AML. A recently recognized subgroup of CMML has a t(5;12)(q33;p13) balanced translocation. We report that the consequence of the t(5;12) translocation is expression of a fusion transcript in which the tyrosine kinase domain of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR beta) on chromosome 5 is coupled to a novel ets-like gene, tel, on chromosome 12. The tel-PDGFR beta fusion demonstrates the oncogenic potential of PDGFR beta and may provide a paradigm for early events in the pathogenesis of AML.
The human chromosome 5q31--q33 region contains an interesting cluster of growth factor and receptor genes. In addition, several genetic disease loci have been localized within this region, but have not as yet been isolated as molecular clones. These include those loci involved in autosomal dominant limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, diastrophic dysplasia, Treacher Collins syndrome, and myeloid disorders associated with the 5q- syndrome. A yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig of this region would assist in the further localization and isolation of these genes. We have used YACs isolated from the Washington University and Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain YAC libraries, including YACs from the large insert (mega) YAC library to build a contig greater than 3 Mb in size. An STS content strategy coupled with limited walking from YAC ends was used to isolate 22 overlapping YACs with as much as sixfold coverage. A total of 20 STSs, derived from genes, anonymous sequences, and vector Alu-PCR or inverse PCR products, were used to compile this contig. The order of loci, centromere-GRL-D5S207-D5S70-D5S545-D5S546- D5S547-D5S68-D5S548-D5S210-D5S549- D5S686-ADRB2-D5S559-CSF1R-D5S551-RPS14+ ++-D5S519-SPARC-telomere, was derived from the overlapping clones. This contig and clones derived from it will be useful substrates in selecting candidate cDNAs for the disease loci in this interval.