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Biomedical subjects

T Komano

Publications and source records attributed to T Komano.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Participation of the hup gene product in site-specific DNA inversion in Escherichia coli.

The closely related Escherichia coli genes hupA and hupB each encode a bacterial histone-like protein HU. We report here that DNA inversion mediated by hin, gin, pin and rci but not by cin is blocked in a hupA hupB double mutant, although inversions in these systems occur in the hupA or hupB single mutant as efficiently as in the wild-type strain. These findings show that HU protein participates in site-specific DNA inversion in E. coli and that only one subunit, either HU-1 or HU-2, is sufficient for this inversion.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Detection of multidrug resistance (MDR1) gene RNA expression in human tumors by a sensitive ribonuclease protection assay.

The human MDR1 gene encoding P-glycoprotein, an energy-dependent drug-efflux pump, was initially isolated from a multidrug-resistant KB carcinoma cell. When a 3 kb genomic sequence isolated from normal human tissue including the major downstream promoter and the first and second exons of the MDR1 gene was compared to the equivalent fragment from KB cells, the MDR1 gene from KB carcinoma cells was found to have a point mutation in the first exon. Although this mutation does not affect the downstream promoter sequence or the coding sequence of the MDR1 gene, it creates a single base mismatch between the 5' KB genomic fragment previously used for RNase protection analysis of MDR1 RNA expression in normal tissues and thereby reduces the sensitivity of this assay. Using the DNA fragment from normal tissues rather than KB cells, we have reanalyzed MDR1 mRNA levels in 12 renal carcinomas and 4 colon adenocarcinomas. By this RNase protection assay, MDR1 RNA levels are as high in these tumors as in the multidrug-resistant cell line, KB-8-5. The ribonuclease protection assay indicated that the major downstream promoter was mainly used in these clinical samples including two samples of RNA from metastatic renal cancer. This assay appears to be a very sensitive and specific assay for detecting MDR1 mRNA levels and mRNA initiation sites in clinical samples.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Control mechanism of the Escherichia coli K-12 cell cycle is triggered by the cyclic AMP-cyclic AMP receptor protein complex.

The role of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in the cell cycle of Escherichia coli K-12 was studied in three mutant strains. One was KI1812, in which the cya promoter is replaced by the lacUV5 promoter. In KI1812, isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside induced the synthesis of cya mRNA, and at the same time cell division was inhibited and short filaments containing multiple nuclei were formed. The other strains were constructed as double mutants (NC6707 cya sulB [ftsZ(Ts)] and TR3318 crp sulB [ftsZ(Ts)]). In both double mutants, filamentation was repressed at 42 degrees C, but it was induced again by addition of cAMP in strain NC6707 and introduction of pHA7 containing wild-type crp in TR3318. These results indicate that lateral wall synthesis in the E. coli cell cycle is triggered by the cAMP-cAMP receptor protein complex.

Cell Cycle↗

Nucleotide sequences of fic and fic-1 genes involved in cell filamentation induced by cyclic AMP in Escherichia coli.

The nucleotide sequences of fic-1 involved in the cell filamentation induced by cyclic AMP in Escherichia coli and its normal counterpart fic were analyzed. The open reading frame of both fic-1 and fic coded for 200 amino acids. The Gly at position 55 in the Fic protein was changed to Arg in the Fic-1 protein. The promoter activity of fic was confirmed by fusing fic and lacZ. The gene downstream from fic was found to be pabA (p-aminobenzoate). There is an open reading frame (ORF190) coding for 190 amino acids upstream from the fic gene. Computer-assisted analysis showed that Fic has sequence similarity with part of CDC28 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, CDC2 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and FtsA of E. coli. In addition, ORF190 has sequence similarity with the cyclosporin A-binding protein cyclophilin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and sequencing of an Escherichia coli gene, nlp, highly homologous to the ner genes of bacteriophages Mu and D108.

An nlp (Ner-like protein) gene was isolated from Escherichia coli. The nucleotide sequence of a 1,342-base-pair chromosomal DNA fragment containing the nlp gene was analyzed. It contained two open reading frames; one encoded 91 amino acid residues with an Mr of 10,361, and the other (ORFX) encoded 131 amino acid residues of the carboxyl-terminal region of a truncated polypeptide. The amino acid sequence deduced from the DNA sequence of nlp was highly homologous (62 to 63%) to the Ner proteins of bacteriophages Mu and D108. The amino-terminal region of Nlp deduced from the complete open reading frame contained a presumed DNA-binding region. The nlp gene was located at 69.3 min on the E. coli genetic map.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Role of the potential secondary structures in phage G4 origin of complementary DNA strand synthesis.

Phage G4 origin of complementary DNA strand synthesis (oric) consists of three stable stem-loop structures (I, II, and III). Mutant oric sequences with alterations in the structure of stem-loop II, stem-loop III, and the stem-loop II-III spacer region have been constructed and cloned into the filamentous phage vectors to assay their functional activity. Changes in the lowermost GC base pair in the stem of stem-loop III, in the 9-bp spacer region between the stems of stem-loops II and III, and in the loop of stem-loop II, impair or abolish in vivo oric function. The results suggest that recognition sequences for dnaG primase must be present in the loop of stem-loop II, and in the spacer region between the stems of stem-loops II and III.

Bacteriophages↗

A nicked group II intron and trans-splicing in liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha, chloroplasts.

The chloroplast gene rps12 for ribosomal protein S12 in a liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha, is split into three exons by two introns, one of which (intron 1) is discontinuous. Exon 1 of rps12 for the N-terminal portion of the S12 protein is far from exons 2 and 3 for the C-terminal portion on the opposite DNA strand. S1-nuclease protection analysis and Northern hybridization with RNA isolated from the liverwort chloroplasts showed that: (i) the exons 1 and 2-3 of the rps12 gene with the neighboring genes were transcribed separately, (ii) the trans-splicing of intron 1 occurred after the processing of two primary transcripts to two pre-mRNAs, and (iii) there was no particular order for the splicing of intron 1 (trans) and intron 2 (cis) in the rps12 gene. We propose a bimolecular interaction model for trans-splicing by assuming that intermolecular base pairings between two pre-mRNAs result in the formation of the structure typical of group II introns except for disruption in the loop III region. This structure could be constructed in intron 1 of tobacco rps12 gene.

Base Sequence↗

Structure and organization of Marchantia polymorpha chloroplast genome. IV. Inverted repeat and small single copy regions.

We characterized the genes in the regions of large inverted repeats (IRA and IRB, 10,058 base-pairs each) and a small single copy (SSC 19,813 bp) of chloroplast DNA from Marchantia polymorpha. The inverted repeat (IR) regions contain genes for four ribosomal RNAs (16 S, 23 S, 4.5 S and 5 S rRNAs) and five transfer RNAs (valine tRNA(GAC), isoleucine tRNA(GAU), alanine tRNA(UGC), arginine tRNA(ACG) and asparagine tRNA(GUU)). The gene organization of the IR regions in the liverwort chloroplast genome is conserved, although the IR regions are smaller (10,058 base-pairs) than any reported in higher plant chloroplasts. The small single-copy region (19,813 base-pairs) encoded genes for 17 open reading frames, a leucine tRNA(UAG) and a proline tRNA(GGG)-like sequence. We identified 12 open reading frames by homology of their coding sequences to a 4Fe-4S-type ferredoxin protein, a bacterial nitrogenase reductase component (Fe-protein), five human mitochondrial components of NADH dehydrogenase (ND1, ND4, ND4L, ND5 and ND6), two Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins (S15 and L21), two putative proteins encoded in the kinetoplast maxicircle DNA of Leishmania tarentolae (LtORF 3 and LtORF 4), and a bacterial permease inner membrane component (encoded by malF in E. coli or hisQ in Salmonella typhimurium).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Two single-strand DNA initiation signals located in the oriV region of plasmid RSF1010.

Two single-strand initiation signals (ssi) are found in the oriV region of broad-host-range plasmid RSF1010, using a plaque assay system with a mutant M13 phage which lacks the greater part of the complementary DNA strand origin (oric). These two signals, designated ssiA and ssiB, have RSF1010-specific properties, because they require one or more RSF1010-specific factors provided in trans. The functional activity of ssiA is higher than that of ssiB. The two signals are located on separate DNA strands, so that the DNA chain elongations initiated from them in the opposite directions may pass each other. It is conceivable that these signals, ssiA and ssiB, direct DNA priming functions at the initiation stage in vegetative DNA replication of RSF1010.

Base Composition↗

Plasmid pACYC184 contains an ssi signal for initiation of single-strand phage DNA replication.

Using the plaque assay system for screening the single-strand (ss) initiation determinant (ssi) sequences, we have found that 119-bp region in pACYC184, a derivative of the plasmid P15A of Escherichia coli, can direct such ss DNA initiation. This region is located downstream from the P15A origin of replication and conserves consensus sequences of the ssi signals found in the other plasmids. Signals for ss DNA initiation are defined as nucleotide sequences present on ss DNA templates and required for priming DNA synthesis. The direction of chain elongation in DNA synthesis is opposite to that of the leading strand. In this region, we found a potential stem-and-loop structure. The 119-bp DNA segment of plasmid pACYC184 cloned in f1R199 filamentous phage could direct rifampicin-resistant conversion of the ss DNA to the double-stranded replicative form.

Base Sequence↗

Cloning and sequencing of cDNA that encodes goat growth hormone.

The cDNA that encodes goat growth hormone (gGH) was isolated from a goat pituitary cDNA library. The cDNA, about 880 base pairs long, had a coding sequence, 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions and a poly(A) chain. The cDNA could encode a polypeptide of 217 amino acids. The amino acid sequence homology between gGH and the sequences of bovine GH, rat GH and human GH was 99, 83 and 66%, respectively. By Northern blot hybridization, we found that the possible gGH gene is transcribed in the goat pituitary.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

DNA damage induced by ascorbate in the presence of Cu2+.

DNA damage induced by ascorbate in the presence of Cu2+ was investigated by use of bacteriophage phi X174 double-stranded supercoiled DNA and linear restriction fragments as substrates. Single-strand cleavage was induced when supercoiled DNA was incubated with 5 microM-10 mM ascorbate and 50 microM Cu2+ at 37 degrees C for 10 min. The induced DNA damage was analyzed by sequencing of fragments singly labeled at their 5'- or 3'-end. DNA was cleaved directly and almost uniformly at every nucleotide by ascorbate and Cu2+. Piperidine treatment after the reaction showed that ascorbate and Cu2+ induced another kind of DNA damage different from the direct cleavage. The damage proceeded to DNA cleavage by piperidine treatment and was sequence-specific rather than random. These results indicate that ascorbate induces two classes of DNA damage in the presence of Cu2+, one being direct strand cleavage, probably via damage to the DNA backbone, and the other being a base modification labile to alkali treatment. These two classes of DNA damage were inhibited by potassium iodide, catalase and metal chelaters, suggesting the involvement of radicals generated from ascorbate hydroperoxide.

Ascorbic Acid↗

Divergent mRNA transcription in the chloroplast psbB operon.

The genes psbB, psbH, petB and petD for the components in photosystem II and the cytochrome b6/f complex are clustered and co-transcribed in liverwort Marchantia polymorpha chloroplasts. On the opposite DNA strand in the spacer region between the genes psbB and psbH, we deduced an open reading frame consisting of 43 sense codons, and designated it as the ORF43 gene. The ORF43 gene was actively transcribed in liverwort chloroplasts. The ORF43 transcripts were entirely complementary to a part of the primary transcripts of the psbB operon. Heterogeneous Northern hybridization showed that the mRNA transcripts for the ORF43 gene increased with greening in pea seedlings. This is the first demonstration of divergent overlapping transcription in chloroplasts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nucleotide sequence of the rci gene encoding shufflon-specific DNA recombinase in the IncI1 plasmid R64: homology to the site-specific recombinases of integrase family.

Shufflon is a novel type of DNA rearrangement in which four DNA segments are flanked by seven 19-bp repeat sequences. The site-specific recombination between any inverted repeats results in an inversion of the DNA segment(s) either independently or in groups. The recombination is mediated by a gene designated rci. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the rci gene and found that it encodes a basic protein with 384 amino acid residues. The rci gene was fused with lacZ and its gene product was identified by Western blot analysis. The Rci protein shows regional homologies to the site-specific recombinases encoded by the bacteriophage genomes, including those of lambda, phi 80, P22, P2, 186, P4 and P1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ordered processing and splicing in a polycistronic transcript in liverwort chloroplasts.

From the complete sequence of the chloroplast DNA in a liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha, an unidentified open reading frame, ORF203, was found between the psbB and rps12' (trans-split) genes. ORF203 was a split gene consisting of three exons and two group II introns. Multiple transcripts for ORF203 were detected on Northern blots of the chloroplast RNA preparation. The ORF203 locus was primarily co-transcribed with the downstream genes rps12' and rpl20, and then processed into a monomeric precursor. S1 nuclease mapping gave the transcription initiation site 52 nucleotides upstream from the coding sequence of ORF203. The spliced RNA molecules were identified, as predicted, by the use of synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes specific to ligated exon sequences. The splicing reaction proceeded successively from the 5' to 3' direction. These results indicate that ordered RNA processing occurs in the chloroplast of land plants. Trans-membrane analysis by a computer indicated that ORF203 gene product could be associated with a chloroplast membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A runaway-replication plasmid pSY343 contains two ssi signals.

Taking advantage of the plaque morphology method, we detected two single-stranded initiation (ssi) signals in the plasmid pSY343; one was in the 170-nucleotide (nt) EcoRV-ThaI segment (170P), and the other was in the 93-nt DraI-FnuDII segment (93F), which were designated as ssiA and ssiB, respectively. We cloned the two ssi signals in the filamentous phage vectors M13 delta lac184 and flR199. A conserved 7-nt consensus sequence involved in the n' recognition site for priming DNA initiation on single-stranded (ss) DNA templates (A. Van der Ende, R. Teerstra, H. Van der Avoort, and P.J. Weisbeek, 1983, Nucleic Acids Res. 11, 4957-4975) was found, three copies in 170P and one in 93F. These two ssi signals contain possible stem and loop structures. The 170P overlapped partly with the origin (ori) region of pSY343 and the 93F was away from the ori region. Growth of chimera phages such as M13 delta lac184/ssiA and M13 delta lac184/ssiB was 38- and 71-fold greater, respectively, than that of M13 delta lac184, 8 h after phage infection. The conversion efficiency in vivo of ss to replicative form (RF) DNA of these chimera phages carrying ssiA and ssiB was 1.9- and 2.2-fold greater, respectively, than that of M13 delta lac184, 50 min after infection.

Base Sequence↗