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R W Davis

Publications and source records attributed to R W Davis.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Genetic selection for genes encoding sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins.

We describe a genetic selection method designed to facilitate the cloning of genes encoding sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins. The strategy selects for clones expressing particular sequence-specific DNA-binding activities from a library of clones encoding other, nonspecific proteins. Specific DNA-binding sites have been placed near the start of transcription of the strong synthetic conII promoter to create promoters that can be repressed by the corresponding sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins. Transcription from the conII derivatives in the absence of repression interferes with the phenotypic expression of an adjacent drug-resistance gene, aadA. Sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins are shown to repress these promoters and alleviate transcriptional interference of aadA, resulting in drug resistance in cells expressing the appropriate DNA-binding protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Rapid screening of a human genomic library in yeast artificial chromosomes for single-copy sequences.

A yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library in Saccharomyces cerevisiae consisting of 30,000 clones with an average insert size of 0.1 megabase pair of human DNA has been generated from primary fibroblast DNA. A YAC vector was modified to enable the recovery of both ends of a human DNA insert in plasmids in Escherichia coli and to confer G418 resistance to mammalian cells. A rapid method for yeast colony hybridization was used that exploits the ability of yeast spheroplasts to regenerate in a thin layer of calcium alginate. This method permits direct replica plating and processing of colonies from the primary transformation plate to nitrocellulose filters. Yeast colony hybridization conditions have been established to identify, within a YAC library of human genomic DNA, artificial chromosomes with homology to human DNA probes of unique single-copy sequence. An artificial chromosome with a 0.1-megabase-pair insert from the human Xq28 region has been identified by hybridization to a DNA probe that detects a unique sequence near the 3' end of the factor VIII gene.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1989

Position and density effects on repression by stationary and mobile DNA-binding proteins.

We have investigated the effects of two types of DNA-binding proteins on bacterial repression. First, the effects of operator positioning on repression by stationary DNA-binding proteins, the Lac repressor and the Trp repressor, were examined in vivo. Both operator number and positioning play a role in determining in vivo levels of repression. Operators located within a promoter are more efficient regulators than those positioned at the start of transcription. Second, we investigated the effects of DNA-binding protein density on repression using a mobile DNA-binding protein, Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. We employed a transcriptional interference assay using convergent transcriptional units. The strong synthetic promoter conI and its derivatives were observed to interfere with expression of the aadA gene, which confers spectinomycin resistance upon its host. Transcriptional interference by RNA polymerase occurred only in cis and had a strong dependence on polymerase density that was modulated by varying the promoter strengths. A change in the density of approximately fourfold completely abolished the observed transcriptional interference. Several models are discussed to explain the repression patterns observed for stationary and mobile DNA-binding proteins.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1989

The hydrophobic domain of cytochrome b5 is capable of anchoring beta-galactosidase in Escherichia coli membranes.

Cytochrome b5 is inserted posttranslationally into membranes in vivo and spontaneously into liposomes in vitro by a short carboxyl-terminal hydrophobic membrane-anchoring sequence. DNA corresponding to this hydrophobic sequence has been synthesized, and two gene fusions with the Escherichia coli enzyme beta-galactosidase have been constructed by locating the hydrophobic domain in one case at the EcoRI site near the C terminus and in the other at the normal C terminus of the enzyme. The latter fusion protein was enzymatically active, having approximately 50% of the specific activity of beta-galactosidase, and cells expressing this protein grew normally with lactose as the sole carbon source. Both fusion proteins were localized to the E. coli inner membrane, converting beta-galactosidase from a cytoplasmic enzyme to a membrane-associated enzyme. The hydrophobic domain of cytochrome b5 therefore contains the information required to target polypeptides containing this domain to the membrane. Use of the cytochrome b5 hydrophobic peptide, either alone or in conjunction with other localizing sequences such as signal sequences, provides a general procedure for associating proteins with membranes. Polypeptides bearing this hydrophobic peptide may have considerable use as pharmaceuticals when associated with liposomes or cellular membranes.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1989

DNA damage induction of ribonucleotide reductase.

RNR2 encodes the small subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, the enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the pathway for the production of deoxyribonucleotides needed for DNA synthesis. RNR2 is a member of a group of genes whose activities are cell cycle regulated and that are transcriptionally induced in response to the stress of DNA damage. An RNR2-lacZ fusion was used to further characterize the regulation of RNR2 and the pathway responsible for its response to DNA damage. beta-Galactosidase activity in yeast strains containing the RNR2-lacZ fusion was inducible in response to DNA-damaging agents (UV light, 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide [4-NQO], and methyl methanesulfonate [MMS]) and agents that block DNA replication (hydroxyurea [HU] and methotrexate) but not heat shock. When MATa cells were arrested in G1 by alpha-factor, RNR2 mRNA was still inducible by DNA damage, indicating that the observed induction can occur outside of S phase. In addition, RNR2 induction was not blocked by the presence of cycloheximide and is therefore likely to be independent of protein synthesis. A mutation, rnr2-314, was found to confer hypersensitivity to HU and increased sensitivity to MMS. In rnr2-314 mutant strains, the DNA damage stress response was found to be partially constitutive as well as hypersensitive to induction by HU but not MMS. The induction properties of RNR2 were examined in a rad4-2 mutant background; in this genetic background, RNR2 was hypersensitive to induction by 4-NQO but not MMS. Induction of the RNR2-lacZ fusion in a RAD(+) strain in response to 4-NQO was not enhanced by the presence of an equal number of rad4-2 cells that lacked the fusion, implying that the DNA damage stress response in cell autonomous.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide↗
PubMed1989

Identification of the DNA damage-responsive element of RNR2 and evidence that four distinct cellular factors bind it.

The RNR2 gene encodes the small subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, the enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the pathway for the production of the deoxyribonucleotides needed for DNA synthesis. Transcription of this gene is induced approximately 20-fold in response to environmental stimuli that damage DNA or block DNA replication. Deletion and subcloning analysis identified two, and possibly three, upstream activating sequences (UAS) and one repressing (URS) element in the RNR2 regulatory region. A 42-base-pair (bp) fragment from this region was found to be necessary for proper regulation of RNR2 and to be capable of conferring DNA damage inducibility upon a heterologous promoter. This fragment contained both positively and negatively acting sequences. Four DNA-binding factors interacted with the RNR2 regulatory region. One factor was identified as the GRF1 protein, the product of the RAP1 gene. GRF1 bound to the UAS2 element of RNR2, which was found to be directly adjacent to the 42-bp fragment. UAS2 activity was repressed by the 42-bp fragment. Three other factors bound to the 42-bp fragment; one of these factors, RRF3, had a second binding site in the RNR2 promoter. These factors are likely to mediate the response of RNR2 to DNA damage.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Purification of a yeast centromere-binding protein that is able to distinguish single base-pair mutations in its recognition site.

A centromere-specific DNA-binding protein has been purified to homogeneity by a combination of conventional and sequence-affinity chromatography from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This protein (designated CBP-I) has an apparent molecular weight of 16,000. It binds specifically to the CDEI (centromere DNA element I) region of yeast centromere DNA, as shown by the electrophoretic mobility retardation assay and DNase I protection analysis, but does not bind specifically to other regions of yeast centromere DNA such as CDEII and CDEIII. The relative binding affinity of purified CBP-I to five different point mutations of CDEI correlates directly with the previously determined ability of each point mutation to convey centromere function in a mitotic chromosome segregation assay (J. H. Hegemann, J. H. Shero, G. Cottarel, P. Philippsen, and P. Hieter, Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:2523-2535, 1988). This supports the authenticity of CBP-I as a functional component of the yeast kinetochore.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Change in drinking behaviors with retirement: findings from the normative aging study.

This study examines changes in drinking behaviors over an approximately 2-year span in two groups of community-dwelling men: 100 men who retired between baseline (T1) and follow-up (T2) and 316 men who remained employed. Measures were obtained from two drinking surveys conducted as part of a panel study of aging. Results indicate that the event of retirement was not a significant predictor of changes in average alcohol consumption, although retirees showed more variability between T1 and T2. Considering other binary drinking behavior variables, continuing workers and eventual retirees did not differ in the proportions moving into or out of the nondrinker status, or the situation of consuming an average of 3+ drinks/day. However, retirees by T2 were more likely to report the onset of periodic heavier drinking and problems with drinking. Evidence from this study indicates that retirement generally heralds no great shift in alcohol consumption or drinking behaviors.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

A family of versatile centromeric vectors designed for use in the sectoring-shuffle mutagenesis assay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A simple assay called the sectoring shuffle was developed to monitor the mutational state of essential genes cloned into yeast centromeric plasmids. The essence of this assay is the creation of a conditional phenotype, colony color sectoring, for an essential gene in the absence of conditional thermosensitive or cold-sensitive alleles of that gene. This allows the quick determination of the mutational state of a cloned essential gene by observing its effect on the sectoring phenotype of the tester strain. During the course of this work we developed a family of 20 Escherichia coli-yeast shuttle vectors, pUN plasmids, containing ARS1 CEN4 and a variety of selectable markers as well as the SUP11 gene which can act as a color marker in the proper background. These vectors are compact and have been very useful for the sectoring-shuffle assay and for gene analysis in general. This paper describes these vectors, the sectoring shuffle and several applications of sectoring phenotypes.

Centromere↗
PubMed1988

SPA1: a gene important for chromosome segregation and other mitotic functions in S. cerevisiae.

Human autoantibodies that recognize the spindle poles of mammals, plants, and insects were found to recognize two antigens in yeast. One of these proteins, called SPA1 (for Spindle Pole Antigen), is antigenically related to the spindle poles of a diverse set of organisms. The gene encoding SPA1 was cloned by immunoscreening a lambda gt11 yeast genomic DNA expression library with autoantibody probes. Mutational analysis of the SPA1 gene demonstrates that it is important for cell growth, chromosome segregation, and other cellular processes; spa1 mutants are viable but grow poorly at 30 degrees C, missegregate chromosomes at an increased frequency, and often contain deformed spindles. A significant fraction of spa1 mutant cells contain two or more nuclei, and others contain none; these abnormal cells may arise through a nuclear migration defect. Thus SPA1 represents a new fidelity gene that is important for chromosome segregation and other mitotic functions.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1988

Tandem array of human visual pigment genes at Xq28.

Unequal crossing-over within a head-to-tail tandem array of the homologous red and green visual pigment genes has been proposed to explain the observed variation in green-pigment gene number among individuals and the prevalence of red-green fusion genes among color-blind subjects. This model was tested by probing the structure of the red and green pigment loci with long-range physical mapping techniques. The loci were found to constitute a gene array with an approximately 39-kilobase repeat length. The position of the red pigment gene at the 5' edge of the array explains its lack of variation in copy number. Restriction maps of the array in four individuals who differ in gene number are consistent with a head-to-tail configuration of the genes. These results provide physical evidence in support of the model and help to explain the high incidence of color blindness in the human population.

Color Vision Defects↗
PubMed1988

Sequence and nitrate regulation of the Arabidopsis thaliana mRNA encoding nitrate reductase, a metalloflavoprotein with three functional domains.

The sequence of nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1) mRNA from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana has been determined. A 3.0-kilobase-long cDNA was isolated from a lambda gt10 cDNA library of Arabidopsis leaf poly(A)+ RNA. The cDNA hybridized to a 3.2-kilobase mRNA whose level increased 15-fold in response to treatment of the plant with nitrate. An open reading frame encoding a 917 amino acid protein was found in the sequence. This protein is very similar to tobacco nitrate reductase, being greater than 80% identical within a section of 450 amino acids. By comparing the Arabidopsis protein sequence with other protein sequences, three functional domains were deduced: (i) a molybdenum-pterin-binding domain that is similar to the molybdenum-pterin-binding domain of rat liver sulfite oxidase, (ii) a heme-binding domain that is similar to proteins in the cytochrome b5 superfamily, and (iii) an FAD-binding domain that is similar to NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Physical mapping of large DNA by chromosome fragmentation.

A technique is described for physically positioning any cloned DNA on a native or artificial Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome. The technique involves splitting a chromosome at a specific site by transformation with short linear molecules containing the cloned DNA at one end and telomeric sequences at the other. Recombination between the end of the linear molecules and homologous chromosomal sequences gives rise to chromosome fragments comprising all sequences distal or proximal to the mapping site depending on the orientation of the cloned DNA. The recombinant products are recovered by screening for stabilization of a suppressor tRNA on the linear molecules using a colony color assay. The cloned DNA is positioned relative to the chromosome ends by sizing the chromosomal fragments using alternating contour-clamped homogeneous electric field gel electrophoresis. Application of this technique to organisms other than S. cerevisiae and to the analysis of exogenous DNA cloned in yeast is discussed.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1988

Direction of chromosome rearrangements in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by use of his3 recombinational substrates.

We used the his3 recombinational substrates (his3 fragments) to direct large interchromosomal (translocations) and intrachromosomal (deletions and tandem duplications) rearrangements in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In strains completely deleted for the wild-type HIS3 gene, his3 fragments, one containing a deletion of 5' amino acid coding sequences and the other containing a deletion of 3' amino acid coding sequences, were first placed at preselected sites by homologous recombination. His+ revertants that arose via spontaneous mitotic recombination between the two his3 fragments were selected. This strategy was used to direct rearrangements in both RAD52+ and rad52 mutant strains. Translocations occurred in the RAD52+ genetic background and were characterized by orthogonal field alternating gel electrophoresis of yeast chromosomal DNA and by standard genetic techniques. An unexpected translocation was also identified in which HIS3 sequences were amplified. Two types of tandem duplications of the GAL(7, 10, 1) locus were also directed, and one type was not observed in rad52 mutants. Recombination mechanisms are discussed to account for these differences.

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMed1988

An electrophoretic karyotype of Neurospora crassa.

A molecular karyotype of Neurospora crassa was obtained by using an alternating-field gel electrophoresis system which employs contour-clamped homogeneous electric fields. The migration of all seven N. crassa chromosomal DNAs was defined, and five of the seven molecules were separated from one another. The estimated sizes of these molecules, based on their migration relative to Schizosaccharomyces pombe chromosomal DNA molecules, are 4 to 12.6 megabases. The seven linkage groups were correlated with specific chromosomal DNA bands by hybridizing transfers of contour-clamped homogeneous electric field gels with radioactive probes specific to each linkage group. The mobilities of minichromosomal DNAs generated from translocation strains were also examined. The methods used for preparation of chromosomal DNA molecules and the conditions for their separation should be applicable to other filamentous fungi.

Chromosomes↗
PubMed1988

Transcription interferes with elements important for chromosome maintenance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Transcription directed into a Saccharomyces cerevisiae autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) causes high-frequency loss of minichromosomes. Conditionally stable artificial yeast chromosomes were constructed that contain an inducible GAL promoter upstream of ARS1. Under growth conditions in which the promoter was inactive, these chromosomes were mitotically stable; however, when the GAL promoter was induced, the chromosomes became extremely unstable as a result of transcriptional impairment of ARS function. This interference by the GAL promoter occurred only in cis but can occur from either side of ARS1. Transcriptional interference of ARS function can be monitored readily by using a visual colony-color assay (P. Hieter, C. Mann, M. Snyder, and R.W. Davis, Cell 40:381-392, 1985), which was further developed as a sensitive in vivo assay for sequences which rescue ARS from transcription. DNA fragments from the 3' ends of genes, inserted downstream of the GAL promoter, protected ARS function from transcriptional interference. This assay is expected to be independent of both RNA transcript stability and processing. Philippsen et al. have shown that transcription into a yeast centromere inhibits CEN function in vivo (L. Panzeri, I. Groth-Clausen, J. Shepard, A. Stotz, and P. Philippsen, Chromosomes Today 8:46-58, 1984). We identified two 200- to 300-base-pair DNA fragments flanking CEN4 that rescued ARS1 from transcription. Both of these fragments protected ARS from transcription when inserted in either orientation. The 3' ends of stable transcripts are encoded by fragments that protected the ARS from transcription, suggesting that the protection was achieved by transcription termination. It is suggested that protection of elements important for the replication and segregation of eucaryotic chromosomes from transcription is necessary for their proper function in vivo.

Chromosomes↗
PubMed1987

Resolution of DNA molecules greater than 5 megabases by contour-clamped homogeneous electric fields.

Excellent resolution of chromosomal DNA molecules from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans and Schizosaccharomyces pombe has been obtained using alternating contour-clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) gel electrophoresis. The largest of these molecules is greater than 5 Mb in size and is resolved after 130 hours in a 0.6% agarose gel at a field strength of 1.3 V/cm and a switching interval of 1 hour. Separation of concatamers of phage lambda DNA reveals four regions of resolution in alternating CHEF gel electrophoresis. There are two regions of good resolution in which mobility approximates a linear function of molecular weight. These are separated by a region of lower resolution and bounded at high molecular weights by a region of little or no resolution. The four regions are of practical and possibly theoretical importance.

Bacteriophage lambda↗