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S P Craig

Publications and source records attributed to S P Craig.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

The translation initiation site of recombinant Trypanosoma brucei ornithine decarboxylase varies with different promoters.

Expression of the Trypanosoma brucei ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene in Escherichia coli behind the lambda phage PR promoter led to the production of a recombinant enzyme having the same subunit molecular weight as the native enzyme [4]. However, when the same gene is expressed behind the tac promoter or the phoA promoter, the ODCs produced by the transformed E. coli have subunit molecular weights approximately 2 kDa higher than that of the native enzyme. Amino terminal sequencing of the recombinant proteins indicates that the ODC synthesized under control of the lambda PR promoter actually starts at the second methionine (Met23) of the open reading frame, whereas those produced in the latter two cases begin at the first methionine (Met1). Analysis of the 5'-end of T. brucei ODC mRNA supports the conclusion that translation initiates at Met23. We postulate that, for the lambda PR promoter, translation initiates at Met23 instead of Met1 because of the formation of a stable secondary structure in the region of the Met1 and the presence of a good E. coli consensus translation initiation site upstream of Met23. We have constructed a new plasmid using the pho A promoter to express recombinant T. brucei ODC starting at Met23 in large quantities.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

High level expression in Escherichia coli of soluble, enzymatically active schistosomal hypoxanthine/guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and trypanosomal ornithine decarboxylase.

The bacterial alkaline phosphatase (phoA) promoter and signal peptide have been used previously to control recombinant expression and secretion of eukaryotic proteins in Escherichia coli. Other reports have shown that this expression system can generate relatively modest levels of active hypoxanthine/guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT; hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase; IMP:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.8), which carries part of the signal peptide but remains in the cytosol of the bacteria. Herein, the phoA promoter without its associated signal peptide is used to regulate expression of the HPRT of Schistosoma mansoni and the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC; L-ornithine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.17) of Trypanosoma brucei, two enzymes that have been identified as potential targets for antiparasitic chemotherapy. The levels of recombinant expression range from 20% to 60% of the total bacterial protein, and the majority of both recombinant enzymes was soluble. The specific activity for the recombinant trypanosomal ODC was one-third to two-thirds that of the authentic native enzyme and yields were predicted to be 15-30 mg of active enzyme per liter of bacterial culture. The specific activity for the recombinant schistosomal HPRT was equivalent to that for the native enzyme purified from schistosomes and up to 10 mg of enzymatically active HPRT has been purified from a 0.5-liter culture of treated bacteria. These results represent a break-through in recombinant expression of HPRT and ODC.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase of Schistosoma mansoni. Further characterization and gene expression in Escherichia coli.

Due to the lack of de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) is an essential enzyme in the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni for supplying guanine nucleotides and has been proposed as a potential target for antiparasitic chemotherapy. While the enzyme can be purified from adult schistosome worms, yields are too low to allow extensive structural and kinetic studies. We therefore cloned and sequenced the cDNA and gene encoding the schistosomal enzyme but were unable to positively identify the amino-terminal sequence of the enzyme from the DNA sequence. Knowledge of the exact amino terminus was necessary before accurate expression of active enzyme could be attempted. Therefore, we purified the HGPRTase from crude extracts of the adult worms. The purified enzyme has a subunit molecular mass of 26 kDa and an amino-terminal sequence of Met-Ser-Ser-Asn-Met. This sequence matched one of the potential initiation sites predicted from the cDNA and gene sequence. We next expressed the correct size cDNA of the S. mansoni HGPRTase in Escherichia coli using a vector that is regulated by a bacterial alkaline phosphatase promoter and uses an E. coli signal peptide for secretion of expressed product into the periplasmic space. Using this expression system, some of the recombinant enzyme is secreted and found to have a correct amino terminus. That remaining in the cytoplasm has part of the signal peptide attached to the amino terminus. The recombinant schistosomal HGPRTase isolated from the periplasm of the transformed E. coli was purified and found to have kinetic and physical properties identical to those of the native enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi: repetitive DNA sequence evolution in three geographically distinct isolates.

1. Middle-repetitive DNA sequences were analyzed by molecular hybridization to determine both the extent of complementarity and time of evolutionary divergence between isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi from Argentina, Mexico, or Venezuela. 2. Although molecular hybridizations showed no significant difference between the middle-repetitive DNAs of the Mexican and Venezuelan isolates, there was a 2.7% base pair mismatch in hybrid molecules formed by association of strands from both the Mexican and Argentine isolates. 3. Using the rates for divergence of middle-repetitive DNA in sea urchins, the Mexican and Argentine isolates were estimated to have diverged approximately 20-25 million years ago. 4. Analysis of the kinetics for the DNA hybridizations indicates that only minor amplifications of specific gene sequences or changes in the complexity of the genomes could have occurred during the divergence of the three isolates studied.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Localisation of neurone-specific enolase (ENO2) to 12p13.

We have localised the human cDNA for neurone-specific enolase (ENO2) to chromosome region 12p13 by in situ hybridisation. Two additional smaller peaks of hybridisation to specific chromosomal subregions were observed. That on chromosome 1p36 probably represents cross-hybridisation to the locus for nonneuronal enolase (ENO1), which has been previously localised to this chromosome and with which ENO2 shares homology. A further gene for a member of the enolase family may be responsible for the hybridisation to chromosome 17.

Chromosome Banding↗
PubMed1989

Evidence for a class of very small introns in the gene for hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase in Schistosoma mansoni.

The single copy gene for the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) of the parasitic trematode, Schistosoma mansoni, contains seven introns, the first four of which are only 31, 33, 42, and 32 bases in length. These are the smallest introns ever discovered in a non-viral nuclear gene coding for protein. These very small introns possess the canonical GT...AG splice site sequences but lack the branching sequence, the secondary structure, and the minimum size of approximately 50 bases believed to be required for the splicing of eucaryotic mRNA precursors. Evidently, a somewhat different splicing mechanism for the transcripts of these very small introns is necessary. Their discovery within the genes of helminths raises theoretical considerations for the evolution of introns in eucaryotes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Assignment of the coding sequence for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and normal cross-reacting antigen (NCA) to human chromosome 19q13.

We have isolated and localized to chromosome 19 a genomic sequence for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). A human cosmid bank was screened with two degenerate oligonucleotide sequences corresponding to N-terminal segments of the protein. Sequence analysis of a selected cosmid has confirmed the presence of an exon representing the 107 amino acids of the first protein domain (plus part of a putative leader sequence). In situ hybridization of both the exon DNA sequence and a more extensive genomic fragment to replication banded chromosomes has indicated that CEA and strongly cross-hybridizing members of the CEA family can be assigned to 19q13. This conclusion is supported by studies with a somatic cell hybrid cell-line.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1988

Analysis of cDNA encoding the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) of Schistosoma mansoni; a putative target for chemotherapy.

Because of the lack of de novo purine biosynthesis, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) is a critical enzyme in the purine metabolic pathway of the human parasite, Schistosoma mansoni. Using a cDNA clone encoding mouse HGPRTase and subsequently a synthetic oligonucleotide derived from sequencing a clone of genomic DNA, two clones were isolated from an adult schistosome cDNA library. One clone is 1.374 Kilobases (Kb) long and has an open reading frame of 693 bases. The deduced 231 amino acid sequence has 47.9% identity in a 217 amino acid overlap with human HGPRTase. Northern blot analysis indicates that the full length of mRNA for the S. mansoni HGPRTase is 1.45-1.6 Kb. Analysis of the primary structures of the putative active site for human and parasite enzymes reveal specific differences which may eventually be exploitable in the design of drugs for the treatment of schistosomiasis.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Genomic DNA sequence polymorphism of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi isolates with phenotypic variation.

1. Single-copy DNA sequences were analyzed by molecular hybridization to determine both the extent of complementarity and time of evolutionary divergence between three isolates obtained from Argentina, Mexico or Venezuela. 2. The Mexico-Venezuela pair appeared much closer than the Mexico-Argentina pair. 3. The tentative values for time of evolutionary divergence were higher than those estimated previously by allozymic variation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Localization of the human dopamine beta hydroxylase (DBH) gene to chromosome 9q34.

A human cDNA clone for dopamine beta hydroxylase (DBH) has been isolated from a phaeochromocytoma library. In situ hybridization of this probe to replication-banded chromosomes has localized the gene to chromosome 9q34. The structural gene for the enzyme is therefore close to the ABO blood group locus. This suggests that the previously described activity variation in levels of serum DBH may reflect alterations in either the structure or regulation of the DBH coding sequences. Both biochemical and genetic evidence therefore indicate independence of DBH from the pterin-dependent aromatic amino acid hydroxylases of the neurotransmitter pathways.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1986

Localization of the human tyrosine hydroxylase gene to 11p15: gene duplication and evolution of metabolic pathways.

Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) are consecutive enzymes in the metabolic pathway leading to the production of catecholamine neurotransmitters. A comparison of recently available sequence data of these enzymes in the rat indicates about 70% homology in the 3' coding regions. We have localized TH by in situ hybridization to human chromosome region 11p15. Consideration of this assignment and that of PAH to chromosome 12, together with the known distribution of other pairs of related genes on these two chromosomes, provides convincing evidence of their ancestral relationship and suggests a role for gene duplication in the diversification of metabolic pathways in the vertebrate ancestors of mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Genome organization and ploidy number in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Trypanosoma cruzi total DNA was analyzed by DNA:DNA reassociation kinetics. The nonlinear least-squares computer solution could reasonably be fitted to three second-order kinetic components. The highly repetitive, middle repetitive, and single copy components comprised 9, 35 and 49% of the genome, respectively. The single copy sequences showed a kinetic complexity of approximately 4 times that of Escherichia coli and of some 11,000 average-sized structural genes. The repetitive sequences (about 6900) presented the long-period pattern of interspersion with a modal length of 7800 bases. The kinetic complexity of total DNA was compatible with a value of at least a diploid genome per cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Characterization of long and short repetitive sequences in the sea urchin genome.

Long and short repetitive sequences were purified from the DNA of Paracentrotus lividus under conditions designed to optimize the yield of complete, end to end sequences. Double-stranded long repeat DNA prepared in this manner ranged in length from approximately 3000 to 15 000 nucleotide pairs with average sizes of approximately 6000 base pairs. In the electron microscope, long repeat DNA was observed to possess continuous sequences that often appeared to be terminated by one or more loops and/or fold backs. Long repeat DNA sequences, resheared to 300 base pairs, were found to have an average melting point identical to that for sheared native DNA. Thus, the reassociated duplexes of long repetitive DNA seem to possess very few mismatched base pairs. Reassociation kinetic analyses indicate that the majority of the long repeat sequences are reiterated only 4--7 times per haploid amount of DNA. Melt-reassociation analyses of short repetitive DNA, at several criteria, support the previously held concept that these sequences belong the sets or families of sequences which are inexact copies of one another. Our studies also support hypotheses suggesting that short repetitive sequences belong to families which may have arisen via distinct salttatory events. The relationships between long and short repetitive DNA sequences are considered with respect to widely held concepts of their sequence organization, evolution, and possible functions within eucaryotic genomes. A model for the possible organization of short repeats within long repetitive DNA sequences is also presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

The evolution of the long and short repetitive DNA sequences in sea urchins.

The rates of evolution of purified long and short repetitive DNA sequences were examined by hybridisation analysis between the DNAs from several species of sea urchins. We find that the rates of nucleotide substitution are very comparable within mutually retained sequences for the two classes of repetitive DNA. The loss of hybridisable sequences between species also occurs at similar rates among both the short and long repetitive DNA sequences. Between species that separated less than 50 million years ago, hybridisable short repetitive sequences are lost all through the spectrum of reiteration frequencies. The long repeats contain a few sequences which are highly conserved within all of the species examined, and which amount to approximately 1% of the total genome. The short repetitive class, on the other hand, does not seem to contain any such highly conserved elements. The long repetitive sequences internally appear to contain short 'units' of reiteration, which may comprise families within the long repetitive class. We find no evidence to indicate that the majority of long and short repetitive sequences evolve by different mechanisms or at different rates.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Internal organization of long repetitive DNA sequences in sea urchin genomes.

In keeping with earlier reports, we have found that reassociated long repeat DNA from sea urchins is thermostable, indicating the absence of evolutionarily diverged families of repeated sequences. However, we found that when fragments of radiolabeled long repeat DNA were denatured and reassociated with intact long repeat driver DNA, then sheared to 350 basepairs and assayed for thermal stability, the level of mismatch found in the duplexes varied inversely with the length of the starting fragments. This effect was shown to be due directly to the physical size of the molecules involved in reassociation. These results are consistent with, and support a model for, long repeat DNA in which short units of repetition are arranged in precise arrays. The significance of this arrangement of sequence units within long repeat DNA is discussed.

Animals↗