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Biomedical subjects

S M Kingsman

Publications and source records attributed to S M Kingsman.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

The yeast ROAM mutation--identification of the sequences mediating host gene activation and cell-type control in the yeast retrotransposon, Ty.

When the yeast retrotransposon, Ty, integrates into the 5' flanking region of a gene it can activate the expression of that gene. At the same time the activated gene is brought under cell-type specific control such that expression is high in haploid a or alpha cells but low in a/alpha diploids. These Ty mediated mutations are known as ROAM mutations. In this study we have used a ROAM mutation created in vitro to identify the sequences within Ty that mediate this phenomenon. We show that a single activator located within the coding region of the Ty element is responsible for ROAM activation. This sequence, which is regulated by the mating type of the cell, differs from classical enhancer elements in that its activity is strictly orientation dependent. An independent activator located downstream of the ROAM sequence activated transcription only in the non-ROAM orientation. This sequence may be part of an internal promoter that controls expression of the sub-genomic 5.0kb Ty transcript.

DNA Transposable Elements↗
PubMed1987

The production of hybrid Ty:IFN virus-like particles in yeast.

The yeast retrotransposon Ty encodes proteins that assemble into virus-like particles (Ty-VLPs) which can be readily purified. We have recently shown that expression of the pl protein encoded by the TYA gene of Ty is sufficient for particle formation. In this paper we show that when a heterologous coding sequence, human interferon-alpha 2 (IFN), is fused in frame to the TYA gene, the resulting p1-IFN fusion protein is still assembled into VLPs. These Ty:IFN-VLPs can be easily purified to near homogeneity and furthermore, they induce an antibody response to interferon when they are injected into rabbits. Therefore, these data show that hybrid Ty-VLPs can be used as a convenient system for the efficient purification of fusion proteins in yeast.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The UAS of the yeast PGK gene contains functionally distinct domains.

The upstream activation site (UAS) of the yeast phosphoglycerate kinase gene (PGK) has been localised by deletion analysis (1). Here we show that the UASPGK contains two functionally distinct domains. These two domains, designated activator (A) and modulator (M), appear to be located within bases -460 to -402 and -531 to -461, respectively, relative to the initiating ATG; although it is possible that part of the M domain resides within the A domain. They have been shown, using a heterologous assay promoter, to have distinct transcriptional functions. Domain A is responsible for activation of transcription whilst domain M is required for carbon source dependent regulation of transcription. Protein-DNA binding studies have demonstrated that the DNA fragment containing domain M has high affinity for at least one specific DNA-binding protein, whilst domain A does not appear to interact strongly in protein-binding assays under the same conditions. The domain M binding activity is dependent on the carbon source in the growth medium and may be functional in the carbon source control of PGK expression.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

A transcriptional activator is located in the coding region of the yeast PGK gene.

Expression of heterologous genes from the PGK promoter on high copy number plasmids in yeast is relatively poor compared to the intact PGK gene because of low steady-state RNA levels. In this paper we show that low levels of heterologous RNA are not due to instability of mRNA but result from inefficient transcription due to a defect in RNA synthesis. A comparison of RNA levels from homologous and heterologous transcription units allowed the identification of a positive activator for transcription within the PGK coding region which is required for efficient expression of the PGK gene. Deletion of this region, the "downstream activator sequence", causes a six to ten fold reduction in transcriptional efficiency from the PGK 5' noncoding region.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

The functions and relationships of Ty-VLP proteins in yeast reflect those of mammalian retroviral proteins.

We have identified the major structural core proteins of Ty virus-like particles (Ty-VLPs) and shown that they are generated by proteolytic cleavage of the primary translation product of TYA, p1. This precursor protein is therefore functionally similar to the gag precursor of retroviruses. Cleavage is mediated by a Ty-encoded protease located at the 5' region of TYB and is accompanied by a change in particle morphology. p1 contains sufficient information for the assembly of a pre-Ty-VLP complex, which does not require the presence of either Ty protease or reverse transcriptase. The results indicate that the requirements and pathway of Ty-VLP formation reflect the initial stages of mammalian retroviral assembly and further support the idea of a common origin for Ty elements and retroviruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

The genetic organization of the yeast Ty element.

The genetic organization of the yeast transposon Ty resembles that of higher eukaryotic retroviruses and other elements such as the copia-like sequences of Drosophila. The Ty genome is 5.9 kb (10(3) bases) long. It has 340 bp (base pairs) terminal repeats known as delta sequences and it produces a terminally redundant 5.7 kb RNA that starts in the 5' delta and ends in the 3' delta. Ty transcription is directed by signals upstream and downstream of the major RNA start site and is regulated by the mating-type configuration of the cell. The 5.7 kb transcriptional unit is divided into two overlapping open reading frames, TYA and TYB. TYA occupies approximately the first quarter of the transcriptional unit while TYB occupies the rest. TYB overlaps TYA by either 38 or 44 nucleotides, depending on the element, and is in the plus one reading frame with respect to TYA. TYA is expressed to produce protein p1 (50 x 10(3) Mr) and TYB is expressed as a TYA:TYB fusion protein, p3 (190 x 10(3) Mr). Both of these proteins are subsequently cleaved to produce proteins p2, p4, p5, p6, reverse transcriptase and a protease that is responsible for some of these cleavage events. These proteins are assembled into virus-like particles (Ty-VLPs) that contain Ty RNA and reverse transcriptase activity. It is likely that the Ty-VLPs are units of transposition as Ty transposes via an RNA intermediate.

DNA Transposable Elements↗
PubMed1987

The organization and expression of the yeast retrotransposon, Ty.

The genome of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains several copies of a mobile genetic element, Ty, which is representative of a group of eukaryotic transposable elements, retrotransposons. The organization and expression of Ty have several features in common with retroviral proviruses but they also show some important differences.

DNA Transposable Elements↗
PubMed1986

Expression strategies of the yeast retrotransposon Ty: a short sequence directs ribosomal frameshifting.

The Ty element of yeast is a member of a class of eukaryotic transposons which bear a striking resemblance to retroviral proviruses in their structure and expression strategies (1,2). A direct comparison can be drawn between the production of a fusion protein encoded by Ty, resulting from a frameshift event which fuses two out-of-phase open reading frames TYA and TYB, and the production of Pr180gag-pol in a retrovirus such as Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) (3,4). We present data which shows, definitively, that RNA splicing is not responsible for the frameshift in Ty. By in vitro mutation of a class I element, Ty1-15, we demonstrate that 31 nucleotides contained within the region where the TYA and TYB open reading frames overlap direct the frameshift. Within this short sequence there is a region of homology with a class II element which we show is also able to frameshift.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Drosophila ARSs contain the yeast ARS consensus sequence and a replication enhancer.

A number of restriction fragments that function as autonomously replicating sequences (ARSs) in yeast have been isolated from Drosophila melanogaster DNA. The behaviour in yeast of plasmids containing Drosophila ARS elements was studied and compared to that exhibited by the archetypal yeast ARS-1 plasmid. ARS functions were localised by subcloning and BAL-31 deletion analysis. These studies demonstrated the structural and functional complexity of Drosophila ARSs. Each Drosophila ARS element has at least two domains, one essential for replication (the replication sequence, RS) and a second (the replication enhancer, RE) which is essential for maximum function of the RS. The RS of three Drosophila ARSs was shown to contain a sequence identical to an 11 bp yeast ARS consensus sequence (5' A/T TTTATPuTTT A/T 3'). These observations lend support to the hypothesis that heterologous ARS elements may be of biological significance.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Multiple control elements in the TRP1 promoter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The TRP1 promoter generates two groups of mRNAs, transcript I and transcript II. The difference in size between the largest and smallest mRNAs is about 200 base pairs. A series of one-sided and internal deletions were constructed in vitro throughout the TRP1 promoter, and the effect of each deletion on transcription was assessed by Northern blotting. We showed that 395 base pairs of the TRP1 promoter were sufficient for the normal transcription of all RNAs and that the promoter contained two control domains. The control domain for transcript I consisted of one positive element and one negative element, while the control domain for transcript II contained two positive elements. The negative element, mapped between -293 and -318, expression of transcript I. Two regions of transcript I. Two regions (-280 to -236 and -235 to -209) were required for accurate initiation of transcript I. Each region contained sequences homologous to known consensus sequences of the TATA box.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases↗
PubMed1986

Efficient expression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae PGK gene depends on an upstream activation sequence but does not require TATA sequences.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae PGK (phosphoglycerate kinase) gene encodes one of the most abundant mRNA and protein species in the cell. To identify the promoter sequences required for the efficient expression of PGK, we undertook a detailed internal deletion analysis of the 5' noncoding region of the gene. Our analysis revealed that PGK has an upstream activation sequence (UASPGK) located between 402 and 479 nucleotides upstream from the initiating ATG sequence which is required for full transcriptional activity. Deletion of this sequence caused a marked reduction in the levels of PGK transcription. We showed that PGK has no requirement for TATA sequences; deletion of one or both potential TATA sequences had no effect on either the levels of PGK expression or the accuracy of transcription initiation. We also showed that the UASPGK functions as efficiently when in the inverted orientation and that it can enhance transcription when placed upstream of a TRP1-IFN fusion gene comprising the promoter of TRP1 fused to the coding region of human interferon alpha-2.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1985

The Ty transposon of Saccharomyces cerevisiae determines the synthesis of at least three proteins.

Two new Ty determined proteins have been identified by placing a Ty transcriptional unit under the control of a high efficiency yeast expression vector. One of these proteins is the product of a post-translational processing event and it binds nucleic acids. A previously identified protein, pl (Tyl-15), has also been shown to bind nucleic acids and to be modified by phosphorylation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Factors affecting heterologous gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The 'promoter' fragment from the yeast phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) gene has been used to direct the expression of human interferon-alpha-2 (IFN alpha 2) on a high-copy-number plasmid in yeast. The yields of IFN alpha 2 are only 1-3% of yeast total protein, whereas the maximum yield of PGK produced by the PGK gene on a high-copy-number plasmid is at least 50%. IFN alpha 2 is turned over more rapidly than PGK but in addition a major reason for the relatively low level of IFN alpha 2 is that IFN-specific RNA levels are much lower. This does not reflect differences in plasmid copy number or integrity, or differences in the 5' and 3' untranslated regions of the transcripts or DNA flanking regions. It appears that the presence of heterologous coding sequences, or the absence of specific yeast sequences causes a reduction in heterologous RNA levels in yeast.

Cloning, Molecular↗