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The role of beta-2 microglobulin in temperature-sensitive and interferon-gamma-induced exocytosis of HLA class I molecules.

The passage of MHC class I heavy chains through the exocytic pathway is promoted by association with beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2m). In order to analyze the structural basis of this phenomenon, processing and cell surface expression of HLA class I molecules have been investigated in the beta 2m null human melanoma cell line FO-1 transfected with either the human or mouse beta 2m genes. These natural structural variants of beta 2m display 30% amino acid sequence divergence. In comparison with a human beta 2m transfectant of the FO-1 cell line (designated FO-1H), FO-1 cells transfected with the mouse beta 2m gene (FO-1C) express HLA class I molecules that are processed with grossly altered kinetics and are present on the cell surface at reduced levels. The suboptimal expression of HLA class I heavy chains encoded by FO-1C cells reflects a defect in heavy chain stability since cell surface expression of HLA class I antigens was increased following incubation at 30 degrees C. The increased cell surface expression paralleled accelerated processing of HLA class I heavy chains by FO-1C cells. In contrast, no induction in either cell surface expression or processing of HLA class I heavy chains was observed for the beta 2m-negative FO-1 parent cell line, which remained HLA class I antigen null when cultured at 30 degrees C, or the FO-1H human beta 2m transfectant, which expressed equivalent levels of HLA class I antigens on the cell surface at 37 degrees C and 30 degrees C. Further up-regulation of the temperature-sensitive induction of HLA class I antigen expression was accomplished by treatment of the FO-1C transfectant with interferon-gamma; this latter effect appears to be active at a posttranscriptional step for FO-1 cells since IFN-gamma was not as potent a transcriptional activator at 30 degrees C as it was at 37 degrees C. These results indicate that HLA class I heavy chains expressed by FO-1C cells are subject to temperature-sensitive and cytokine-inducible stabilization that increases their affinity for the structural variant of beta 2m and promotes exocytosis of the HLA class I heterodimer to the cell surface. Furthermore, beta 2m non-conformed MHC class I heavy chains undergo stabilization that is not associated with enhanced cell surface expression, indicating that the exocytosis of putative "empty" HLA class I antigens is a process dependent upon association with beta 2m.

Animals↗

Total chemical synthesis of human activin beta(A)[12-116] and related large-loop polypeptides.

We report here the synthesis, purification, and characterization of several large polypeptides related to the human activin beta(A) subunit and their cyclic counterparts. In particular, we describe for the first time the total chemical synthesis of a 105-mer polypeptide, des[1-11] activin beta(A), and related large-loop polypeptide, by an optimized solid phase synthetic protocol based on 9-flouroenylmethyoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry. These studies show that automated chemical synthesis utilizing Fmoc-based solid phase synthetic strategies provides a practical alternative to recombinant DNA technology for the production of activin-related subunits, with the opportunity to rapidly provide different analogues and structural variants for subsequent structure-function and associated biophysical investigations.

Activins↗

Comparison of partial amino acid sequences of two protamine 2 variants from stallion sperm. Structural evidence that the variants are products of different genes.

Protamine 1 and two protamine 2 variants were isolated from stallion sperm and separated by acetic acid-urea gel electrophoresis. After electroblotting onto polyvinyldifluoride filters, their amino-terminal amino acid sequences were determined by pulse-liquid peptide sequencing. The sequences of the two protamine 2 variants are homologous but slightly different in length and amino acid composition and indicate for the first time the existence of two different genes for this protamine species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

beta2-microglobulin H31Y variant 3D structure highlights the protein natural propensity towards intermolecular aggregation.

beta2-Microglobulin (beta2m) is the non-covalently bound light chain of the human class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I). The natural turnover of MHC-I gives rise to the release of beta2m into plasmatic fluids and to its catabolism in the kidney. beta2m dissociation from the heavy chain of the complex is a severe complication in patients receiving prolonged hemodialysis. As a consequence of renal failure, the increasing beta2m concentrations can lead to deposition of the protein as amyloid fibrils. Here we characterize the His31-->Tyr human beta2m mutant, a non-natural form of beta2m that is more stable than the wild-type protein, displaying a ten-fold acceleration of the slow phase of folding. We report the 2.9A resolution crystal structure and the NMR characterization of the mutant beta2m, focussing on selected structural features and on the molecular packing observed in the crystals. Juxtaposition of the four mutant beta2m molecules contained in the crystal asymmetric unit, and specific hydrogen bonds, stabilize a compact protein assembly. Conformational heterogeneity of the four independent molecules, some of their mutual interactions and partial unpairing of the N-terminal beta-strand in one protomer are in keeping with the amyloidogenic properties displayed by the mutant beta2m.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Mannose-binding lectin promoter and structural gene variants in sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology. Studies have suggested that the causative agent may be an infectious micro-organism. The mannose binding lectin (MBL) is involved in innate immunity to a wide range of micro-organisms. Mutations in the promoter region and exon 1 of the MBL gene occur with high frequency and are associated with reduced serum levels of MBL and increased susceptibility to microbial diseases. This study investigated whether MBL variants predispose to sarcoidosis by increasing their susceptibility to micro-organisms. METHODS: MBL gene promoter and exon 1 variants were detected by sequence specific primer polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) in 167 UK Caucasian sarcoidosis patients and 164 control subjects. Severity of pulmonary disease outcome among patients was assessed by radiography after a minimum of 4 years from disease onset and classified as mild, moderate, and severe disease categories, accordingly. RESULTS: MBL variant frequencies were similar in patients and controls studied. Among sarcoidosis patients, the frequencies of variants were similar regardless of severity of disease outcome. The average patient ages at time of diagnosis were similar for all MBL genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: MBL gene variants do not appear to influence susceptibility to sarcoidosis, age of disease onset, or severity of disease.

Adolescent↗

Long-read sequencing of single cell-derived melanoma subclones reveals divergent and parallel genomic and epigenomic evolutionary trajectories.

Tumor evolution is driven by various mutational processes, ranging from single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) to large structural variants (SVs) to dynamic shifts in DNA methylation. Current short-read sequencing methods struggle to accurately capture the full spectrum of these genomic and epigenomic alterations due to inherent technical limitations. To overcome that, here we introduce an approach for long-read sequencing of single-cell derived subclones, and use it to profile 23 subclones of a mouse melanoma cell line, characterized with distinct growth phenotypes and treatment responses. We develop a computational framework for harmonization and joint analysis of different variant types in the evolutionary context. Uniquely, our framework enables detection of recurrent amplifications of putative driver genes, generated by independent SVs across different lineages, suggesting parallel evolution. In addition, our approach revealed gradual and lineage-specific methylation changes associated with aggressive clonal phenotypes. We also show our set of phylogeny-constrained variant calls along with openly released sequencing data can be a valuable resource for the development of new computational methods.

Journal Article↗

Expression of insulin growth factor-1 splice variants and structural genes in rabbit skeletal muscle induced by stretch and stimulation.

1. Skeletal muscle is a major source of circulating insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), particularly during exercise. It expresses two main isoforms. One of the muscle IGF-1 isoforms (muscle L.IGF-1) is similar to the main liver IGF-1 and presumably has an endocrine action. The other muscle isoform as a result of alternative splicing has a different 3' exon sequence and is apparently designed for an autocrine/paracrine action (mechano-growth factor, MGF). Using RNase protection assays with a probe that distinguishes these differently spliced forms of IGF-1, their expression and also the expression of two structural genes was measured in rabbit extensor digitorum longus muscles subjected to different mechanical signals. 2. Within 4 days, stretch using plaster cast immobilization with the limb in the plantar flexed position resulted in marked upregulation of both forms of IGF-1 mRNA. Electrical stimulation at 10 Hz combined with stretch (overload) resulted in an even greater increase of both types of IGF-1 transcript, whereas electrical stimulation alone, i.e. without stretch, resulted in no significant increase over muscle from sham-operated controls. Previously, it was shown that stretch combined with electrical stimulation of the dorsiflexor muscles in the adult rabbit results in a marked increase in muscle mass involving increases in both length and girth, within a few days. The expression of both systemic and autocrine IGF-1 growth factors provides a link between the mechanical signal and the marked increase in the structural gene expression involved in tissue remodelling and repair. 3. The expression of the beta actin gene was seen to be markedly upregulated in the stretched and stretched/stimulated muscles. It was concluded that the increased expression of this cytoskeletal protein gene is an indication that the production of IGF-1 may initially be a response to local damage. 4. Switches in muscle fibre phenotype were studied using a specific gene probe for the 2X myosin heavy chain gene. Type 2X expression was found to decrease markedly with stimulation alone and when electrical stimulation was combined with stretch. Unlike the induction of IGF-1 and beta actin, the decreased expression of the 2X myosin mRNA was less marked in the 'stretch only' muscles. This indicates that the interconversion of fibre type 2X to 2A may in some situations be commensurate with, but not under the control of IGF-1.

Actins↗

Variant chromatin structure of the oriP region of Epstein-Barr virus and regulation of EBER1 expression by upstream sequences and oriP.

Most of the Epstein-Barr virus genome in latently infected cells is in a standard nucleosomal structure, but the region encompassing oriP and the Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER) genes shows a distinctive pattern when digested with micrococcal nuclease. This pattern corresponds to a previously mapped nuclear matrix attachment region. Although the EBER genes are adjacent to oriP, there is only a two- to fourfold effect of oriP on EBER expression. However, sequences containing a consensus ATF site upstream of EBER1 are important for EBER1 expression.

Chromatin↗

TBL2, a novel transducin family member in the WBS deletion: characterization of the complete sequence, genomic structure, transcriptional variants and the mouse ortholog.

Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a developmental disorder with multi-system manifestations caused by haploinsufficiency for contiguous genes deleted in chromosome region 7q11.23. The size of the deletion is similar in most patients due to a genomic duplication that predisposes to unequal meiotic crossover events. While hemizygosity at the elastin locus is responsible for the cardiovascular features, the contribution of other genes to the WBS phenotype remains to be demonstrated. We have identified a novel gene, TBL2, in the common WBS deletion. TBL2 is expressed as a 2. 4-kb transcript predominantly in testis, skeletal muscle, heart and some endocrine tissues, with a larger approximately 5-kb transcript detected ubiquitously at lower levels. TBL2 encodes a protein with four putative WD40-repeats. An alternatively spliced transcript in TBL2 introduces a novel second exon with an in frame stop codon. This mRNA encodes a 75 amino acid protein with 43 amino acids identical to TBL2 at the N-terminus and no known functional domain. The mouse homolog, Tbl2, shows 84% sequence identity at the nucleotide level and 92% similarity at the amino acid level. Comparison of the mouse and human sequences identifies a conserved region that extends upstream of the previously published sequence with an initiation codon common to both species that adds 21 amino acids at the N-terminus. The Tbl2 gene has been mapped to mouse chromosome 5 in a region of conserved synteny with human 7q11.23. Since haploinsufficiency has been shown for other WD-repeat containing proteins, hemizygosity of TBL2 may contribute to some of the aspects of the complex WBS phenotype.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A variant primary structure of apolipoprotein C-II in individuals of African descent.

We have isolated an isoform of the protein activator of lipoprotein lipase, apolipoprotein C-II, from the very low density lipoproteins of four patients of African ancestry with hypertriglyceridemia and eruptive or pedunculated xanthomata. This protein, which we designate apolipoprotein C-II2, differs from the previously recognized species, which we denote apolipoprotein C-II1, by substitution of glutamine for lysine at residue 55, a mutation which would require only a single-base substitution in the structural gene for apolipoprotein C-II1. Each of the patients in whom apolipoprotein C-II2 was found had approximately equal amounts of apolipoprotein C-II1 and apolipoprotein C-II2 among the apoproteins of the very low density lipoproteins, suggesting that the structural genes for these proteins are allelic. Two additional apparent heterozygotes were found among the first-degree relatives of each of two of the patients in patterns compatible with monogenic autosomal transmission. Approximately equal amounts of apolipoproteins C-II2 and C-II1 were also found by isoelectric focusing in 6 of a casual series of 50 normolipidemic blacks, but none or only trace amounts of apolipoprotein C-II2 were found in 500 samples from Caucasian subjects with hyperlipidemia. These findings suggest that this polymorphism is distributed primarily among blacks, possibly reflecting some positive Darwinian selection pressure. Whether this polymorphism has a modifying effect upon the development of hyperlipemia remains to be determined.

Adult↗

Structure of simian virus 40 recombinants that contain both host and viral DNA sequences. II. The structure of variant 1103 and its comparison to variant CVPS/1P2 (EcoRI res).

In an effort to characterize sites of recombination between SV40 and monkey DNA, we have determined the primary sequence of a large portion of the SV40 variant, designated 1103. This virus contains DNA sequences derived both from the wild type SV40 genome and from the permissive monkey cell in which the virus was propagated. Further, the monkey sequences included in the defective genome are homologous to both highly repeated monkey DNA (alpha component) and sequences that are infrequently repeated in the monkey genome. The regions of the 1103 genome where DNA sequences were determined include 1) the segments of the variant that surround joints connecting SV40 and monkey sequences, 2) the segment that contains the joint between monkey sequences of high and low reiteration frequency, and 3) the DNA segment of the variant that is homologous to monkey alpha component DNA. Comparison of the data obtained from the sequences analysis of the SV40 variants 1103 and CVP8/1/P2 (EcoRI res) (described in Wakamiya, T., McCutchan, T., Rosenberg, M., and Singer, M. (1979) J. Biol. Chem 254, 3584-3591) reveals certain similarities between the two that may be involved in eukaryotic recombination and defective variant formation.

Animals↗