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At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Removal of double-stranded contaminants from RNA transcripts: synthesis of adenovirus VA RNAI from a T7 vector.

Bacteriophage RNA polymerases are widely used to synthesize defined RNAs on a large scale in vitro. Unfortunately, the RNA product contains a small proportion of contaminating RNAs, including complementary species, which can lead to errors of interpretation. We cloned the gene encoding Ad2 VA RNAI into a vector containing a T7 RNA polymerase promoter in order to generate large quantities of VA RNA for the study of its interaction with the dsRNA-dependent protein kinase DAI. Exact copies of VA RNAI were synthesized efficiently, but were contaminated with small amounts of dsRNA which activated DAI and confounded interpretation of kinase assays. We therefore developed a method to remove the dsRNA contaminants, allowing VA RNAI and mutants to be tested for their ability to activate or inhibit DAI. This method appears to be generally applicable.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Preclinical evaluation of AMPLICOR hepatitis C virus test for detection of hepatitis C virus RNA.

We compared a single-enzyme, combined reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR; AMPLICOR HCV Test; Roche Molecular Systems, Branchburg, N.J.) with an independent, two-enzyme, standard RT-PCR (SRT-PCR) assay for the detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in serum and plasma. Test samples included a proficiency testing panel consisting of 10 undiluted plasma samples, three separate dilution series, and sera from 99 patients with chronic liver disease. The quantity of HCV RNA in each patient serum sample was determined by a branched DNA (bDNA) signal amplification assay (Quantiplex HCV-RNA assay; Chiron, Emeryville, Calif.). There was complete concordance between the results of the RT-PCR assays with the 10 undiluted plasma samples used for proficiency testing (3 positive and 7 negative samples). However, the analytical sensitivity of SRT-PCR was 4- to 10-fold greater than that of the AMPLICOR test in the dilution series. HCV RNA was detected in 44, 45, and 40 of the patient serum samples, by SRT-PCR, the AMPLICOR test, and the bDNA assay, respectively. There was 97% agreement between the results of the RT-PCR assays, with only three discrepancies. Review of the patients' medical records resolved all three discrepancies in favor of the AMPLICOR results (two false-negative SRT-PCR results and one false-positive SRT-PCR result). The quantity of HCV RNA in sera from five (11%) patients with viremia detected by AMPLICOR was below the bDNA assay cutoff (< 3.5 x 10(5) RNA equivalents per ml). AMPLICOR compared favorably with SRT-PCR, with key advantages of speed, ease of use, increased sample throughput, and protection against false-positive results because of amplicon carryover.

Adult↗

Activation of purified hepatoma RNA polymerase I by homologous protein kinase NII.

We have recently purified a cyclic nucleotide-independent, heparin-sensitive nuclear protein kinase (NII) from Morris hepatoma 3924A and demonstrated an apparent relationship of this kinase to the two subunits (Mr = 42,000 and 24,600) of RNA polymerase I. When homogeneous protein kinase NII was recombined with purified homologous RNA polymerase I containing limiting quantities of endogenous kinase, RNA synthesis was stimulated as much as 5-fold during a 90-min incubation. The enhanced RNA synthesis was due to an increase in the average RNA chain length; protein kinase did not alter the number of RNA molecules synthesized by the polymerase. Phosphorylation of RNA polymerase occurred at serine and threonine moieties. Unlike the NII kinase, purified homologous NI kinase did not phosphorylate RNA polymerase I and, as a result, did not alter transcription. These data indicate that 1) RNA polymerase I is activated by protein kinase NII, 2) endogenous protein kinase NII remaining with highly purified RNA polymerase I does not fully phosphorylate RNA polymerase I in vitro, and 3) protein kinase NII is capable of regulating RNA polymerase I activity by preventing premature termination of RNA chains.

Animals↗

A liquid chromatographic preparation of retroviral RNA.

Liquid chromatography was used to prepare native dimer RNA from Moloney murine leukemia retrovirus by gel filtration on a TSK 6000PW column. Three RNA peaks were separated from viral lysate. RNA from the first eluted peak migrated in gel electrophoresis as a native dimer prepared by phenolic extraction and saccharose gradient separation. The last eluted RNA peak likely represents tRNA for proline. HPLC preparation was twice as fast and 20 times more productive than the other method, considering the quantity of pure RNA obtained for the same volume of viral lysate. Using several natural RNAs, it was verified that the dispersion coefficient was inversely proportional to RNA size, at least between 3.6 and 16.6 kb. Within the range of laboratory use, peak surface was in a direct ratio to the injected quantity of a given RNA species. Thus size exclusion chromatography could represent a valuable tool for preparation, analysis, and quantitation of large RNAs.

Chromatography, Gel↗

cDNA microarray analysis with amplified RNA after isolation of intact cellular RNA from neoplastic and non-neoplastic prostate tissue separated by laser microdissections.

Laser microdissection is a valuable tool to prepare pure cell populations from complex tissues for further analyses. Gene expression studies by real-time RT-PCR and cDNA arrays of microdissected tissues are becoming widely used methods. The integrity and quantity of prepared RNA must be proven to ensure reliable results in subsequent applications such as quantitative RT-PCR and cDNA-arrays. In the present study we used RNAlater trade mark protected prostate tissue for laser microdissection of tumor and tumor-free tissues. RNA quality and quantity was assessed using automated capillary gel electrophoresis. By using quantitative real time-RT-PCR before and after mRNA amplification the insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) gene expression was shown to be down-regulated in three out of five cases and DD3 was up-regulated in cancer tissues in all cases. The up-regulation of DD3 and the down-regulation of IGFBP-3 gene expression in cancer tissue were conserved after RNA amplification. A cDNA microarray also revealed an IGFBP-3 down-regulation in cancer tissue as well as several genes known to be differerentially expressed in prostate cancer. Taken together, we present a novel method for the isolation of intact RNA from laser microdissection-derived prostate cancer tissue useful for downstream applications of real-time RT-PCR and cDNA microarrays.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

One hundred base pairs of 5' flanking sequence of a vaccinia virus late gene are sufficient to temporally regulate late transcription.

A vaccinia virus late gene coding for a major structural polypeptide of 11 kDa was sequenced. Although the 5' flanking gene region is very A+T rich, it shows little homology either to the corresponding region of vaccinia early genes or to consensus sequences characteristic of most eukaryotic genes. Three DNA fragments (100, 200, and 500 base pairs, respectively), derived from the flanking region and including the late gene mRNA start site, were inserted into the coding sequence of the vaccinia virus thymidine kinase (TK) early gene by homologous in vivo recombination. Recombinants were selected on the basis of their TK- phenotype. Cells were infected with the recombinant viruses and RNA was isolated at 1-hr intervals. Transcripts initiating either from the TK early promoter, or from the late gene promoter at its authentic position, or from the translocated late gene promoters within the early gene were detected by nuclease S1 mapping. Early after infection, only transcripts from the TK early promoter were detected. Later in infection, however, transcripts were also initiated from the translocated late promoters. This RNA appeared at the same time and in similar quantities as the RNA from the late promoter at its authentic position. No quantitative differences in promoter efficiency between the 100-, 200-, and 500-base-pair insertions were observed. We conclude that all necessary signals for correct regulation of late-gene expression reside within only 100 base pairs of 5' flanking sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure of the zebrafish snail1 gene and its expression in wild-type, spadetail and no tail mutant embryos.

Mesoderm formation is critical for the establishment of the animal body plan and in Drosophila requires the snail gene. This report concerns the cloning and expression pattern of the structurally similar gene snail1 from zebrafish. In situ hybridization shows that the quantity of snail1 RNA increases at the margin of the blastoderm in cells that involute during gastrulation. As gastrulation begins, snail1 RNA disappears from the dorsal axial mesoderm and becomes restricted to the paraxial mesoderm and the tail bud. snail1 RNA increases in cells that define the posterior border of each somite and then disappears when somitic cells differentiate. Later in development, expression appears in cephalic neural crest derivatives. Many snail1-expressing cells were missing from mutant spadetail embryos and the quantity of snail1 RNA was greatly reduced in mutant no tail embryos. The work presented here suggests that snail1 is involved in morphogenetic events during gastrulation, somitogenesis and development of the cephalic neural crest, and that no tail may act as a positive regulator of snail1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A procedure for the small-scale isolation of plant RNA suitable for RNA blot analysis.

A small-scale method for the isolation of total RNA from plant tissue is described. The method provides RNA of suitable quantity and quality from 0.2 g fresh tissue for the detection of mRNA species by RNA blot analysis. The entire procedure is adapted to 1.5-ml microfuge tubes and takes less than 5 h. This method is well suited for the isolation of RNA from large numbers of samples or from samples of limited quantity.

Blotting, Northern↗

Regulation of simian virus 40 gene expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Expression of the simian virus 40 (SV40) early and late regions was examined in Xenopus laevis oocytes microinjected with viral DNA. In contrast to the situation in monkey cells, both late-strand-specific (L-strand) RNA and early-strand-specific (E-strand) RNA could be detected as early as 2 h after injection. At all time points tested thereafter, L-strand RNA was synthesized in excess over E-strand RNA. Significantly greater quantities of L-strand, relative to E-strand, RNA were detected over a 100-fold range of DNA concentrations injected. Analysis of the subcellular distribution of [35S]methionine-labeled viral proteins revealed that while the majority of the VP-1 and all detectable small t antigen were found in the oocyte cytoplasm, most of the large T antigen was located in the oocyte nucleus. The presence of the large T antigen in the nucleus led us to investigate whether this viral product influences the relative synthesis of late or early RNA in the oocyte as it does in infected monkey cells. Microinjection of either mutant C6 SV40 DNA, which encodes a large T antigen unable to bind specifically to viral regulatory sequences, or deleted viral DNA lacking part of the large T antigen coding sequences yielded ratios of L-strand to E-strand RNA that were similar to those observed with wild-type SV40 DNA. Taken together, these observations suggest that the regulation of SV40 RNA synthesis in X. laevis oocytes occurs by a fundamentally different mechanism than that observed in infected monkey cells. This notion was further supported by the observation that the major 5' ends of L-strand RNA synthesized in oocytes were different from those detected in infected cells. Furthermore, only a subset of those L-strand RNAs were polyadenylated.

Animals↗

Direct detection of circulating hepatitis C virus RNA using probes from the 5' untranslated region.

Diagnostic testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection currently is based on the presence of anti-HCV antibodies or a positive HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Although HCV RNA PCR is a sensitive and specific technique, widespread application is limited. Moreover, HCV RNA PCR is subject to false-positive reactions through contamination and is inherently difficult to standardize and quantitate. To overcome limitations of HCV RNA PCR, we produced both cDNA and riboprobes from a 241 nucleotide sequence of the 5' untranslated region of the HCV genome for slot hybridization. Hybridization was absent using normal human serum, horse serum, or hepatic cellular RNA from noninfected liver. Hybridization occurred predominantly with positive-stranded HCV RNA and was abolished by pretreatment with RNase A. Slot hybridization was performed on serum samples from 60 patients with chronic HCV infection and a positive HCV RNA PCR and 20 patients with liver diseases unrelated to HCV who had a negative HCV RNA PCR. Slot hybridization with cDNA and riboprobes showed concordance with HCV RNA PCR of 95 and 98.3%, respectively. There were no false-positive reactions in controls. The sensitivity of riboprobe hybridization was comparable to that of one stage HCV RNA PCR using 5' untranslated region primers. Riboprobe hybridization with the HCV H strain standard was positive in the dilution corresponding to 10(-6) chimpanzee infectious doses50/ml. The density of the hybridization signals correlated significantly with the mass of an RNA standard extracted from the liver of a patient with HCV infection. The relative quantities of HCV RNA in the sera of selected patients varied and were not correlated with the duration of disease or the histopathological stage. The highest relative quantities were associated with concurrent immunosuppression. We conclude that slot hybridization is a sensitive, specific alternative to HCV RNA PCR that can be directly quantitated using appropriate HCV RNA standards.

Base Sequence↗

Virus-ribosome complexes from cell-free translation systems supplemented with cowpea chlorotic mottle virus particles.

When particles of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) were added to cell-free extracts from wheat germ, the encapsidated viral genome was translated into polypeptides similar to the translation products specified by unencapsidated viral RNA (as shown before by M.J. Brisco, R. Hull, and T.M.A. Wilson, 1986, Virology 148, 210-217). The rate of protein synthesis observed upon addition of virus particles was much slower than that of extracted RNA and the quantity of protein formed was only 10% of that of extracted RNA. Using sucrose and cesium-chloride gradient analysis, virus-ribosome complexes, containing up to four ribosomes per virus particle, were isolated from translation mixtures supplemented with CCMV particles. These complexes, with densities intermediate of those of virus (1.36 g cm-3) and ribosomes (1.58 g cm-3), were analyzed and quantified in the electron microscope. Less than 5% of the particles was found in association with ribosomes. To verify whether these complexes were involved in the process of cotranslational disassembly, tobacco mosaic virus was analyzed with the same techniques and methods. The results found for TMV were similar to those found for CCMV except that virus-ribosome complexes with up to 20 ribosomes per virus particle were observed. The implications of the process of virion-directed translation for the structure of the particle as well as the role of this process in vivo are discussed.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗

Changes in the quantity of histone and actin messenger RNA during the development of preimplantation mouse embryos.

Actin and histone H3 mRNA levels in mouse eggs and early embryos have been measured by use of recombinant DNA probes having sequence homology to those mRNA species. Total nucleic acid was extracted from pools of unfertilized eggs, two-cell embryos, eight-cell embryos, and blastocysts. The nucleic acids were resolved electrophoretically, bound to diazotized paper following Northern transfer, and hybridized with 32P-labeled histone or actin DNA probes. Our findings demonstrate that there is a maternal store of histone and actin mRNA in the unfertilized egg but that this mRNA pool is reduced roughly 10-fold on an embryo basis by the mid-two-cell stage. Following this reduction of maternal mRNA, histone and actin mRNA accumulation from the eight-cell cleavage stage to the blastocyst increases proportionally to cell number and appears to be controlled by zygote genome transcription.

Actins↗

Detection of hepatitis C viral RNA sequences in fresh and paraffin-embedded liver biopsy specimens of non-A, non-B hepatitis patients.

In this study methods of HCV-RNA detection in fresh frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver biopsies are described. Of 22 untreated chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis patients and 6 control patients, a plasma sample and part of a liver biopsy were freshly frozen for hepatitis C virus (HCV) cDNA-PCR. From 16 of the same non-A, non-B hepatitis patients and from 5 of the same control patients formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver tissue from the same biopsy was available also for HCV cDNA-PCR. In 13 of 22 non-A, non-B hepatitis patients HCV-RNA could be detected in plasma as well as in liver tissue. In the other 9 non-A, non-B hepatitis patients and in 6 control patients, no HCV-RNA was detectable in either plasma or liver tissue. The comparison between HCV cDNA-PCR results in fresh frozen versus formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver biopsies showed that although detection of HCV-RNA in both correlated 100% the quantity of HCV-RNA was lower in the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver biopsies of 5 of 8 patients for whom end-point dilution titration of liver RNA was performed. We conclude that using the procedures described HCV-RNA can be reliably detected in both fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver biopsies and that HCV cDNA-PCR in liver tissue may become an important assay, especially for monitoring anti-viral therapy.

Biopsy↗

Quantities of infectious virus and viral RNA recovered from sheep and cattle experimentally infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus O UK 2001.

The profiles of virus production and excretion have been established for sheep experimentally infected with the UK 2001 strain of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus by inoculation and by direct and intensive contact. Virus replicated rapidly in the inoculated sheep, from which a peak infectivity of airborne virus of 10(4.3) TCID(50) per sheep per 24 h was recovered. Around 24 h later, contact-infected sheep excreted airborne virus maximally. Similar amounts of airborne virus were recovered from cattle. The excretion of virus by the sheep under these conditions fell into three phases. First, a highly infectious period of around 7-8 days. Second, a period of 1-3 days soon afterwards when trace amounts of viral RNA were recovered in nasal and rectal swabs. Third, at 4 weeks after exposure, the demonstration, by tests on oesophageal-pharyngeal samples, that 50% of the sheep were carriers. The implications of the results and the variable role that sheep may play in the epidemiology of FMD are discussed.

Aerosols↗

Heterologous interference in Aedes albopictus cells infected with alphaviruses.

Maximum amounts of 42S and 26S single-stranded viral RNA and viral structural proteins were synthesized in Aedes albopictus cells at 24 h after Sindbis virus infection. Thereafter, viral RNA and protein syntheses were inhibited. By 3 days postinfection, only small quantities of 42S RNA and no detectable 26S RNA or structural proteins were synthesized in infected cells. Superinfection of A. albopictus cells 3 days after Sindbis virus infection with Sindbis, Semliki Forest, Una, or Chikungunya alphavirus did not lead to the synthesis of intracellular 26S viral RNA. In contrast, infection with snowshoe hare virus, a bunyavirus, induced the synthesis of snowshoe hare virus RNA in both A. Ablpictus cells 3 days after Sindbis virus infection and previously uninfected mosquito cells. These results suggested that at 3 days after infection with Sindbis virus, mosquito cells restricted the replication of both homologous and heterologous alphaviruses but remained susceptible to infection with a bunyavirus. In superinfection experiments the the alphaviruses were differentiated on the basis of plaque morphology and the electrophoretic mobility of their intracellular 26S viral RNA species. Thus, it was shown that within 1 h after infection with eigher Sindbis or Chikungunya virus, A. albopictus cells were resistant to superinfection with Sindbis, Chikungunya, Una, and Semliki Forest viruses. Infected cultures were resistant to superinfection with the homologous virus indefinitely, but maximum resistance to superinfection with heterologous alphaviruses lasted for approximately 8 days. After that time, infected cultures supported the replication of heterologous alphaviruses to the same extent as did persistently infected cultures established months previously. However, the titer of heterologous alphavirus produced after superinfection of persistently infected cultures was 10- to 50-fold less than that produced by an equal number of previously uninfected A. albopictus cells. Only a small proportion (8 to 10%) of the cells in a persistently infected culture was capable of supporting the replication of a heterologous alphavirus.

Aedes↗

Transcription and translation of mitochondrial DNA in interspecific somatic cell hybrids.

We examined the mitochondrial transcription and translation products of somatic cell hybrids constructed by the fusion of Chinese hamster and mouse cells. The hybrid cell lines OAC-k, OAC-l, and OAC-m contain approximately equal amounts of hamster and mouse mitochondrial DNA and produced mitochondrial rRNA from both parental species in the same ratio. Cell lines OAC-k, OAC-l, and OAC-m also produced poly(A)+ mouse mitochondrial RNA transcripts comparable in complexity and quantity to poly(A)+ RNA from the mouse parent. However, the overall level of poly(A)+ hamster mitochondrial RNA from these hybrids was significantly reduced compared with that from the hamster parent. The hybrid cells also lacked several poly(A)+ RNA species found in the hamster parent, but contained additional minor transcripts. The mitochondrially coded proteins of the OAC-k, OAC-l, and OAC-m cells were predominantly encoded by the mouse mitochondrial DNA.

Animals↗

Preliminary comparison of quantity, quality, and microarray performance of RNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, and unfixed frozen tissue samples.

Microarrays have been used to simultaneously monitor the expression of thousands of genes from biological samples, an approach that can potentially uncover previously unrecognized functions of genes. Microarray analyses can rarely be conducted retrospectively because of the requirement for RNA to be obtained from fresh or unfixed frozen tissues. Archived pathology specimens would need to be used for retrospective analyses, and these are typically preserved as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue. Formalin-fixed tissues have been shown to yield compromised RNA compared with that obtained from frozen tissue. To begin to assess the performance of RNA extracted from FFPE samples on a microarray format, we compared RNA from a model system of pelleted lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human bone marrow stromal cells that were snap frozen with RNA from FFPE cells. RNA integrity and Affymetrix quality control parameters were assessed, and differentially regulated genes were analyzed with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. Results demonstrate that both snap-frozen and FFPE samples yielded intact RNA suitable for amplification prior to Affymetrix GeneChip analysis. Although some transcriptional information was lost with RNA extracted from the FFPE samples, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed that the major pathways identified as affected by drug treatment were similar. Results show that FFPE samples are amenable to Affymetrix GeneChip analysis, expanding the possibility for expression profiling on archived tissue blocks in pathology laboratories.

Bone Marrow Cells↗

Optimized protocol for linear RNA amplification and application to gene expression profiling of human renal biopsies.

Gene expression analysis using high-density cDNA or oligonucleotide arrays is a rapidly emerging tool for transcriptomics, the analysis of the transcriptional state of a cell or organ. One of the limitations of current methodologies is the requirement of a relatively large amount of total or polyadenylated RNA as starting material. Standard array hybridization protocols require 5-15 micrograms labeled RNA. To obtain these quantities from small amounts of starting RNA material, RNA can be amplified in a linear fashion. Here we introduce an optimized protocol for rapid and easy-to-use amplification of as little as 1 ng total RNA. Our analysis shows that this method is linear and highly reproducible and that it preserves similarities as well as dissimilarities between normal and disease-related samples. We applied this technique to the RNA expression profiling of human renal allograft biopsies with normal histology and compared them to the profiles of renal biopsies with histological evidence of chronic transplant nephropathy or chronic rejection. Among others, complement component C1r was found to be significantly up-regulated in chronic rejection and chronic transplant nephropathy biopsies compared to normal samples, while fructose-1,6-biphosphatase showed lower-than-normal expression.

Gene Expression Profiling↗