Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “cloning”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Specific interactions between a human CD4+ clone and autologous CD4+ bifunctional immunoregulatory clones.

The cellular communications between a human CD4+ clone and autologous CD4+ clones induced with the first clone are described. The autoreactive clones proliferated after stimulation with the inducer clone, but not after stimulation with autologous clones expressing irrelevant specificities. The inducer clone markedly lost its ability to interact with the autoreactive clones after the modulation of its T-cell receptor. The proliferation of the autoreactive clones stimulated with the inducer clone was blocked by anti-DR monoclonal antibody. Collectively, these findings indicate that the autoreactive clones recognize idiotypic-like determinants on the receptor of the inducer clone in conjunction with DR antigen. The regulatory activity of the autoreactive clones was assayed by co-cultivation with their target inducer clone. The autoreactive clones were not committed to a single program, they could either suppress or enhance the proliferation of the target cells depending on the state of activation of the target cells. Activated target cells were suppressed whereas non-activated cells were enhanced. It is predicted that antagonistic cytokines released from the autoreactive clones exert differential effects on the target clone.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibodies against an H-2Kb-specific cytotoxic T cell clone detect several clone-specific molecules.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were prepared from the spleen of a BALB.K mouse immunized with a H-2Kb-specific alloreactive cytolytic T cell (CTL) clone of B10.BR origin, KB5-C20. Six of these mAb were selected for specific binding to the immunizing clone. Only one of these mAb, Désiré-1, inhibited the CTL activity of clone KB5-C20. Functional and biochemical evidence showed mAb Désiré-1 to be anti-clonotypic (anti-Ti). This mAb immunoprecipitated from lysates of clone KB5-C20 a protein that migrated at 80 KD in nonreducing conditions and at 40 to 45 KD in reducing conditions. Analysis in NEPHGE resolved the latter into an acidic chain of 43 KD and a basic chain of 40 KD. An additional protein was coprecipitated at 25 KD in nonreducing and 27 KD in reducing conditions, which was distinct from the Thy-1 antigen. Expression of the clonotype defined by Désiré-1 was found on clone KB5-C20 and on clone KB5-A7 originating from the same B10.BR T cell population. These two clones exhibited a similar pattern of reactivity on H-2Kbm mutant target cells. Another clone (KB5-C1) from the same B10.BR T population showed a distinct reactivity pattern on the H-2Kbm mutant target cells and did not express the Désiré-1 clonotype, nor did Con A-activated B10.BR blast cells or H-2Kb-specific clone BM3.3 of CBA/J origin. Among the five other selected mAb, one reacted with the three Kb-specific CTL clones of B10.BR, but not with the Kb-specific clone of CBA origin, whereas the last four mAb bound only to clone KB5-C20. None of these mAb could immunoprecipitate the Ti alpha/beta chains. Ti modulation induced by mAb Désiré-1 on clone KB5-C20 did not induce comodulation of the structures bound by the other five mAb on clone KB5-C20, thus indicating that these structures were not part of the Ti-T3 complex. These results characterize a clonotypic mAb reacting with an H-2Kb-specific CTL clone that will be useful in future studies. They also indicate that screening for clone-specific mAb by selective binding assays may select for mAb against as yet undefined structures, some of which exhibit an apparently clone-specific distribution.

Animals↗

Alloreactive cloned T cell lines. I. Interactions between cloned amplifier and cytolytic T cell lines.

Several T cell clones have been derived by limiting dilution of secondary mixed leukocyte culture cells stimulated by H-2- and M locus (Mls)-disparate spleen cells. When examined for the expression of cytolytic activity and the ability to proliferate, these cell clones can be classified into two major categories. One type of cell is noncytolytic; when cultured with irradiated spleen cells, such clones proliferate in response to Mls determinants. Some, but not all, of these clones express Lyt-1 alloantigens. The other type of cell is cytolytic; these clones do not proliferate when cultured with irradiated allogeneic spleen cells unless supernatant fluid (SF) is added. These cytolytic clones express Lyt-2 alloantigens. Some cytolytic clones are specific for H-2Kd and others for H-2Dd alloantigens. Still other cytolytic cell clones exhibit cross-reactive lysis of different H-2-bearing tumor and Con A blast target cells. Noncytolytic T cell clones, when stimulated by Mls antigens, were examined for their ability to promote proliferation of cytolytic T cell clones. All of the noncytolytic cell clones tested were able to promote proliferation of cytolytic cell clones with the concomitant expression of cytolytic activity directed toward the original stimulating alloantigen (H-2d). Amplification of cytolytic activity was dependent upon stimulation of the noncytolytic amplifier T cell clones by Mls antigens. Specific alloantigen (signal 1), however, was not required for proliferation of the cytolytic cell clones; the amplifying signal (signal 2), delivered by the amplifier cell clones, was sufficient alone to promote proliferation of the cytolytic cell clones. Whereas proliferation of the amplifier cells was radiosensitive, the generation of the soluble amplifying signal was radioresistant. Amplification of cytolytic activity was observed when either amplifier cells were physically separated from responding cytolytic cells in Marbrook cultures or when cytolytic cells were cultured with SF collected from amplifier cell cultures. The amplifying factors were neither antigen specific nor strain specific and could be produced by Lyt-1- cells. The availability of cloned T cell lines that retain specific biologic function offers unique opportunities to characterize cell surface proteins and cell-cell interactions.

Animals↗

T cell receptor gamma gene status of human alpha/beta+ and gamma/delta+ T cell clones: absence of V9JP rearrangements in alpha/beta+ clones is not a result of a lack of rearrangements involving more 5' J gamma segments.

T cell receptor (TCR) gamma gene rearrangements were examined in panels of human T cell clones expressing TCR alpha/beta or gamma/delta heterodimers. Over half of the alpha/beta+ clones had both chromosomes rearranged to C gamma 2 but this was the case for only 20% of the gamma/delta+ clones. While more than half of the gamma/delta+ clones showed a V9JP rearrangement, this configuration was absent from all 49 alpha/beta+ clones analysed. However, this was not a result of all rearrangements being to the more 3' J gamma genes as 11 alpha/beta+ clones had rearrangement(s) to JP1, the most 5' J gamma gene segment. Both alpha/beta+ and gamma/delta+ clones showed a similar pattern of V gamma gene usage in rearrangements to J gamma 1 or J gamma 2 with a lower proportion of the more 3' genes being rearranged to J gamma 2 than for the more 5' genes. Several alpha/beta+ and several gamma/delta+ clones had noncoordinate patterns of rearrangement involving both C gamma 1 and C gamma 2. Eleven out of fourteen CD8+ clones tested had both chromosomes rearranged to C gamma 2 whereas all clones derived from CD4-8- cells and having unconventional phenotypes (CD4-8- or CD4+8+) had at least one C gamma 1 rearrangement. Twelve out of twenty-seven CD4+ clones also had this pattern, suggesting that CD4-8+ clones had a tendency to utilize more 3' J gamma gene segments than CD4+ clones. There was some evidence for interdonor variation in the proportions of TCR gamma rearrangements to C gamma 1 or C gamma 2 in alpha/beta+ clones as well as gamma/delta+ clones. The results illustrate the unique nature of the V9JP rearrangement in gamma/delta+ clones and the possible use of a sequential mechanism of TCR gamma gene rearrangements during T cell differentiation is discussed.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

T-cell clone anti-clone interactions. Effects on suppressor and helper activities.

An experimental model of two interacting clones of T cells is described, which may be used for defining and exploring the T-cell immunoregulatory network. Mx9/9 is a CD4 clone bearing an antigen receptor recognized by the Mx9 anti-V beta 8 monoclonal antibody (MoAb). Anti-V beta 8 MoAbs activate and induce cell proliferation of this clone. Autologous clones were raised against Mx9/9 cells using the peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells of the Mx9/9 clone donor (PBMjm). Some of these cloned anti-clone cells proliferated after stimulation with irradiated Mx9/9 cells, but not after stimulation with other autologous cloned T cells or heterologous PBM, suggesting that these clones recognize the T cell receptor (TCR) of the Mx9/9 cells. The proliferation of the Mx9/9 stimulated cloned anticlone cells was blocked by anti-class II MoAbs, indicating that the autoreactive clones recognize their target antigen in conjunction with HLA Class II products. The ability of clone Mx9/9 to proliferate after stimulation with anti-V beta 8 MoAb was inhibited when clone 121 cells were added to the cultures. However, clone 121 lost its suppressor function after 4 months in culture and instead gained the ability to enhance the proliferation of Mx9/9 cells in the presence of anti-V beta 8 MoAb. In contrast, clone 18 lacked suppressor activity at the early stage of the study but later acquired this function. We conclude that some autoreactive clones are not fully committed and may express more than a single function. Such cells cannot therefore be designated as 'suppressor cells', although they expressed suppressor potential at certain stages.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

Human cytotoxic T cell clones directed against herpes simplex virus-infected cells. II. Bifunctional clones with cytotoxic and virus-induced proliferative activities exhibit herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 specific or type common reactivities.

Human cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones directed against herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected cells were generated after stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with HSV type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV type 2 (HSV-2). These CTL clones were studied with regard to HSV type specificity and with regard to whether they also express helper cell activity. Some clones, generated after stimulation with HSV-1, were cytotoxic for autologous cells infected with either HSV-1 or HSV-2 ("HSV type common clones"), whereas other clones lysed HSV-1-infected cells only ("type-specific clones"). Similarly, after HSV-2 stimulation, both HSV-2 specific and HSV type common clones were obtained, indicating the heterogeneity of human cytotoxic T cells to HSV. All CTL clones tested were found to be bifunctional in that they also proliferated in response to stimulation with HSV. The HSV type specificity of the proliferative response was identical to that of the cytotoxic activity of the clones. An HSV type common clone, when stimulated with either HSV-1 or HSV-2, and an HSV-1 specific clone, when stimulated with HSV-1 but not with HSV-2, produced a factor, presumably interleukin 2 (IL 2), which induced proliferation of CTLL, an IL 2-dependent T cell line, providing evidence that our HSV-directed CTL clones also express helper cell activity. CTL clones that we previously reported were restricted in cytotoxic activity by HLA class II DR-1 or MB-1 antigens were found, in this study, to be restricted in proliferative response to HSV by these same HLA antigens. These results suggest that our bifunctional T cell clones directed against HSV may recognize the same viral antigenic determinants and the same HLA antigens for both cytotoxic and virus-induced proliferative activities. This is the first demonstration of human HSV type specific and HSV type common T cell clones and HSV specific T cell clones with both cytotoxic and helper cell activities.

Antigens, Viral↗

Pre-weaning performance and health of pigs born to cloned (fetal cell derived) swine versus non-cloned swine.

The objective of this study was to compare the pre-weaning performance of pigs derived from cloned versus non-cloned parents. Five cloned gilts and one cloned boar were used to produce five litters of pigs. One of five cloned females and the cloned boar were derived from two genetically unmanipulated fetal fibroblast cell lines. The remaining female clones were derived from a fetal fibroblast cell line in which random insertion of a alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene targeting construct had occurred. Fetal cell lines had similar genetic backgrounds and were derived from three different fetuses in three different litters. Five litters of pigs were also generated from matings between two non-cloned boars and five non-cloned gilts. The mean gestation length, mean litter size, mean birth and weaning weights for male and female pigs were similar for litters derived from cloned parents versus non-cloned parents. The proportions of pigs born live and pigs that survived to weaning were also similar for pigs born to cloned as compared to non-cloned parents. In summary, matings between cloned swine derived from fetal fibroblast cell lines yielded litters of pigs that were similar in the number born, piglet birth weight and perinatal and pre-weaning mortality to litters produced by non-cloned swine.

Animals↗

Dengue virus-specific, human CD4+ CD8- cytotoxic T-cell clones: multiple patterns of virus cross-reactivity recognized by NS3-specific T-cell clones.

Thirteen dengue virus-specific, cytotoxic CD4+ CD8- T-cell clones were established from a donor who was infected with dengue virus type 3. These clones were examined for virus specificity and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) restriction in cytotoxic assays. Six patterns of virus specificities were determined. Two serotype-specific clones recognized only dengue virus type 3. Two dengue virus subcomplex-specific clones recognized dengue virus types 2, 3, and 4, and one subcomplex-specific clone recognized dengue virus types 1, 2, and 3. Four dengue virus serotype-cross-reactive clones recognized dengue virus types 1, 2, 3, and 4. One flavivirus-cross-reactive clone recognized dengue virus types 1, 2, 3, and 4 and West Nile virus (WNV), but did not recognize yellow fever virus (YFV), whereas three flavivirus-cross-reactive clones recognized dengue virus types 1, 2, 3, and 4, WNV, and YFV. HLA restriction in the lysis by these T-cell clones was also heterogeneous. HLA-DP, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DR were used as restriction elements by various T-cell clones. We also examined the recognition of viral nonstructural protein NS3, purified from cells infected with dengue virus type 3 or WNV, by these T-cell clones. One serotype-specific clone, two dengue virus subcomplex-specific clones, and three dengue virus serotype-cross-reactive clones recognized NS3 of dengue virus type 3. One flavivirus-cross-reactive clone recognized NS3 of dengue virus type 3 and WNV. These results indicate that heterogeneous dengue virus-specific CD4+ cytotoxic T cells are stimulated in response to infection with a dengue virus and that a nonstructural protein, NS3, contains multiple dominant T-cell epitopes.

Animals↗

Dynamics of generation of antigen loss variants from L1210 murine leukemia clones detected by a tumor-specific T-cell clone.

Originally T-cell clone K7L-sensitive L1210 murine leukemia clones were tested for their capacity to generate K7L-insensitive variants at various times after cloning. All of the L1210 clones (L1210/1, -2, -4, and -7) maintained in vitro for 1 month were severely inhibited in their growth in the culture in which K7L was added and in mice given injections of K7L at the initial stage. This indicated that any L1210 clone tested was not a mixture of K7L-sensitive and K7L-insensitive clones at the time of cloning. By both in vivo and in vitro K7L-mediated tumor suppression assays, K7L-insensitive antigen loss variants were then found to be generated from some (L1210/4, L1210/7) but not other (L1210/1, L1210/2) originally K7L-sensitive L1210 clones during 1 month of maintenance. Ratios of variant cells to total clone cells 1 month after cloning were estimated around 0.1% for L1210/7, 0.01% for L1210/4, and less than 0.001% (undetectable) for L1210/1 and L1210/2. Neither L1210/1 nor L1210/2 generated detectable K7L-insensitive variant cells during long-term (14-month) maintenance. All of the ten subclones of L1210/7 which were obtained 7 or 11 months after the initial cloning of L1210/7 were K7L sensitive, and not all the subclones generated K7L-insensitive variants in 1-2 months of maintenance after recloning. However, all of the subclones of L1210/7 which were maintained for 7 months generated antigen loss variants. All eight clone cells obtained from original L1210 and K7L-insensitive L1210 expressed H-2Kd and H-2Dd antigens detected by H-2Kd or Dd-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte clones or monoclonal antibodies. These results suggest that the antigen loss variants arise in originally K7L-sensitive L1210 clones at different times after cloning, and the probability of generation of the variants is clonally determined. The antigen loss variants seem to be generated by rare (once per 1 to 2 months or less frequent) chance with unproportionally rapid growth rather than by more frequent development for simple accumulation. The ratio of K7L-insensitive variant cells to total L1210/7 cells did not increase progressively during long-term (13 months or more) maintenance in vivo or in vitro and was always below 0.1%. It was suggested that the population size of antigen loss variants was controlled biphasically.

Animals↗

Analysis of T-T lymphocytes and T-accessory cell interactions using cloned T cells: MHC I restricted cloned T cells activate MHC II restricted T helper cells.

We evaluated the role of molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) involved in the cellular interactions of two T-cell clones by testing the effect of monoclonal antibodies on the responses of the clones in vitro. The two T-cell clones used in the study are specific for minor histocompatibility antigens and restricted to the H-2Kk. In the absence of exogenous IL-2 the clones require the presence of Ia+, Thy-1- accessory cells and of Thy-1+, Lyt-1+2- cells in the irradiated spleen cell suspension used as stimulator. It is also necessary that both the accessory cells and the T cells in the stimulator cell populations are recognized specifically by the clones. Monoclonal antibodies specific for the H-2K product inhibited the lytic effector function of the cytolytic clone. These antibodies when added to cultures of stimulator cells and clones inhibited also the proliferation of this clone and of a nonlytic clone. When antigen recognition was measured by the increase in sensitivity of the clones to IL-2 while confronted with uv-irradiated stimulator cells, both clones were blocked efficiently by anti-H-2K antibodies. Thus, these results suggest that the interaction of monoclonal antibodies with the restricting H-2K molecule is sufficient to block the recognition signal, a prerequisite for proliferation. In contrast, monoclonal antibodies specific for A alpha A beta and/or E alpha E beta had no effect on cytolysis or on restricted recognition. However, they inhibited the proliferative responses as efficiently as the H-2K specific antibodies. Inhibition by class II-specific antibodies was not abolished when stimulator cell populations were depleted of Lyt-2+ cells. The blocking effect, however, was reversed by the addition of IL-2. No inhibition was obtained with antibody specific for E alpha E beta when B10.A(4R) spleen cells, which do not express E alpha E beta, or when B10.A(4R) accessory cells, which were reconstituted with (BALB/c X B10.A(4R] F1 T cells, were used as stimulators. Stimulator cells heterozygous for H-2 could be inhibited by antibodies to the parental haplotype not encoded in the clones (H-2Kd). These and previous results suggest that H-2K-restricted minor histocompatibility antigen-specific recognition transmits an activating signal to the clones and to the stimulator cells. The clones probably are induced to express more IL-2 receptors. The stimulator T cells seem to interact through A alpha A beta and E alpha E beta molecules with syngeneic accessory cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

The use of specific helper T cell clones to study the regulation of isotype expression by antigen-stimulated B cell clones.

In order to determine the mechanism by which helper T cells regulate the production of the various immunoglobulin (Ig) classes, a number of helper T cell clones specific for keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) were generated. These helper T cell clones then were used in a modified splenic fragment system whereby cloned helper T cells and a source of B cells were limit-diluted into naive, lethally irradiated recipients. The B cell clones that were subsequently stimulated in such an assay system by the addition of the antigen 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP)-KLH then were tested for the various isotypes produced. The results of these studies indicate that the use of a single helper T cell clone could result in the production of all known Ig isotypes including IgE. Moreover, the use of a single helper T cell clone could result in multiple isotype production by a single B cell clone. However, a comparison of the isotypes secreted by a number of different B cell clones that were stimulated with the same helper T cell clone indicated that a variety of isotypic patterns could be obtained. In addition, it was found that the majority of B cell clones produced in the presence of T cell clones secrete fewer numbers of different isotypes compared with B cell clones generated with a heterogeneous population of T cells. Finally, no evidence could be found for isotype-specific helper T cell clones, although a few of the T cell clones appeared to induce a somewhat restricted isotype pattern in which only two or three different isotypes were observed.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning of the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus genome: biological characterization of genome length clones and molecular comparisons to other retroviruses.

The molecular cloning of the DNA provirus of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) is described. Fourteen independent clones of integrated M-PMV proviruses were isolated from a human embryo kidney cell line that had been previously derived from a single cell clone infected with M-PMV. Characterization of these clones for size of insert, restriction pattern of flanking DNA, and presence of repetitive DNA in the flanking sequences revealed that 10 of the isolates were identical while the four remaining clones were unique. Three independent clones of unintegrated M-PMV proviruses containing a single copy of the long terminal repeat (LTR) were cloned from acutely infected human embryo kidney cells, Transfection assays revealed that 13 of 14 integrated proviruses and 2 of 3 unintegrated proviruses were capable of producing infectious virus. One of the integrated provirus clones (clone 6A) produced consistently higher titers of virus than all of the other clones in all assays used and in two different cell lines, indicating that it contained a mutation that enhances virus replication. The virus recovered after transfection was shown to be capable of inducing cell fusion in nontransformed cell lines, confirming that this property is associated with M-PMV. One of the clones was hybridized under conditions of varying stringency, to molecular clones of type B, C, and D retroviruses. These studies revealed M-PMV to be most closely related to squirrel monkey retrovirus (D-type virus) and more distantly related to mouse mammary tumor virus (B-type virus). Hybridization was also detected with clones from the pol gene region of a family of human endogenous sequences. No homology was detected with Rous sarcoma virus or most mammalian C-type viruses tested. The exceptions were baboon endogenous virus and RD114 in which previously identified homology in the env gene was confirmed. These results suggest that the type D and type B viruses can be linked together in a group of viruses of similar ancestral origin analogous to that recently proposed for the human T-cell leukemia viruses and bovine leukemia virus.

Animals↗

Expression cloning screening of a unique and full-length set of cDNA clones is an efficient method for identifying genes involved in Xenopus neurogenesis.

Functional screens, where a large numbers of cDNA clones are assayed for certain biological activity, are a useful tool in elucidating gene function. In Xenopus, gain of function screens are performed by pool screening, whereby RNA transcribed in vitro from groups of cDNA clones, ranging from thousands to a hundred, are injected into early embryos. Once an activity is detected in a pool, the active clone is identified by sib-selection. Such screens are intrinsically biased towards potent genes, whose RNA is active at low quantities. To improve the sensitivity and efficiency of a gain of function screen we have bioinformatically processed an arrayed and EST sequenced set of 100,000 gastrula and neurula cDNA clones, to create a unique and full-length set of approximately 2500 clones. Reducing the redundancy and excluding truncated clones from the starting clone set reduced the total number of clones to be screened, in turn allowing us to reduce the pool size to just eight clones per pool. We report that the efficiency of screening this clone set is five-fold higher compared to a redundant set derived from the same libraries. We have screened 960 cDNA clones from this set, for genes that are involved in neurogenesis. We describe the overexpression phenotypes of 18 single clones, the majority of which show a previously uncharacterised phenotype and some of which are completely novel. In situ hybridisation analysis shows that a large number of these genes are specifically expressed in neural tissue. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of a unique full-length set of cDNA clones for uncovering players in a developmental pathway.

Animals↗

Many paths to many clones: a comparative look at high-throughput cloning methods.

The creation of genome-scale clone resources is a difficult and costly process, making it essential to maximize the efficiency of each step of clone creation. In this review, we compare the available commercial and open-source recombinational cloning methods with regard to their use in creating comprehensive open reading frame (ORF) clone collections with an emphasis on the properties requisite to use in a high-throughput setting. The most efficient strategy to the creation of ORF clone resources is to build a master clone collection that serves as a quality validated source for producing collections of expression clones. We examine the methods for recombinational cloning available for both the creation of master clones and their conversion into expression clones. Alternative approaches to creating clones involving mixing of cloning methods, including gap-repair cloning, are also explored.

Animals↗

Immunochemical analysis of surface membrane antigens on erythrocytes infected with non-cloned SICA[+] or cloned SICA[-] Plasmodium knowlesi.

The SICA[-] or non-agglutinable phenotype of Plasmodium knowlesi schizont-infected erythrocytes has been defined serologically but not biochemically. Similarly, non-cloned SICA[+] or agglutinable parasites have been shown serologically to express SICA or variant antigen(s) but the number and nature of such antigens have not been defined. Here we describe the immunochemical analysis of surface antigen expression on [125I]lactoperoxidase-labelled erythrocytes infected either with a SICA[-] clone or with non-cloned SICA[+] parasites using the methods developed for identification of variant antigens with cloned SICA[+] parasites. No 125I-labelled antigens in the size range Mr 190 000-225 000 were specifically immunoprecipitated from erythrocytes infected with the SICA[-] clone, even using homologous antisera produced by multiple infections or immunizations. Further, no 125I-labelled proteins of this size were seen in detergent extracts of the SICA[-] parasites that were not also seen with uninfected cells. We conclude that the SICA[-]phenotype reflects the absence of a variant antigen at the erythrocyte surface, as predicted by the serological assays. In contrast, with the non-cloned SICA[+] parasites, a complex group of proteins, Mr 195 000-225 000, was identified by [125I]lactoperoxidase labelling of intact infected erythrocytes. These proteins are SICA antigens since they not only share the characteristic detergent solubility properties and size range of SICA antigens identified previously with SICA[+] clones, but they were only immunoprecipitated by antisera which reacted specifically with the surface of infected erythrocytes. Agglutinating sera immunoprecipitated several of these 125I-labelled antigens. Sera specific for clones derived from this non-cloned SICA[+] population failed to agglutinate, but did react by indirect immunofluorescence with 10-16% of infected cells. These sera specifically immunoprecipitated single, quantitatively minor 125I-labelled antigens in this size range. The results suggest that a population of non-cloned SICA[+] parasites contains at least 10 different variant-antigen phenotypes. Indirect immunofluorescence was also performed against a non-cloned SICA[+] population derived by antigenic variation of a SICA[+] clone in vivo. The variant population contained at least 3 antigenically distinct SICA phenotypes, indicating that antigenic variation of clones may produce populations as antigenically heterogenous as antigenic variation of uncloned lines. It is therefore likely that natural malaria isolates contain a large number of different variant antigens.

Agglutination↗

Cytotoxic activity and lymphokine production of T cell receptor (TCR)-alpha beta+ and TCR-gamma delta+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones recognizing HLA-A2 and HLA-A2 mutants. Recognition of TCR-gamma delta+ CTL clones is affected by mutations at positions 152 and 156.

TCR-gamma delta+ CTL clones were generated from CD4-CD8- T cells that were stimulated twice with the cell line JY. Either IL-2 or IL-4 was used as growth factor. A number of TCR-gamma delta+ clones were found to lyse the stimulator cell line JY. Two of these clones secreted N alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine thiobenzyl ester serine esterase activity after stimulation with JY cells. The cytotoxic activity of these two clones was blocked by a mAb specific for HLA-A2. Moreover, these two TCR-gamma delta+ clones selectively lysed human fibroblast line M1 and murine P815 cells transfected with DNA fragments encoding HLA-A2 but not those transfected with HLA-B7 encoding DNA, indicating that these clones recognize HLA-A2. Analysis of the recognition of HLA-A2 by using target cells transfected with mutated HLA-A2 encoding genes revealed that the nature of the amino acid at position 152 of the molecule is critical for recognition of the TCR-alpha beta+ as well as the TCR-gamma delta+ CTL clones since replacement of Val for Ala at that position resulted in abrogation of recognition of one TCR-gamma delta+ and one TCR-alpha beta+ clone and substitution of Val for Glu affected recognition of all clones. Substitution of Leu for Trp at position 156 abrogated recognition by one TCR-gamma delta+ and one TCR-alpha beta+ T cell clone, but recognition by the other clones was not changed. All clones were able to secrete IL-2, IFN-gamma, and GM-CSF but not IL-4 after activation.

Clone Cells↗

Direct cloning of a long restriction fragment aided with a jumping clone.

Long-range physical mapping with rare-cutting restriction enzymes (rare cutters) is an important step for structural analysis of complex genomes. Combination of two types of DNA clones bearing the rare-cutter sites, linking clones and jumping clones (Fig. 1a), facilitates the physical mapping [Poustka et al., Nature 325 (1987) 353-355]. A step followed by the physical mapping is the cloning of the large (rare-cutter-generated) restriction fragment of interest. For facilitating this step, we devised a method to directly clone a long restriction fragment without constructing the whole genomic DNA library using the jumping clone as starting material. The short DNA segments of a jumping clone, which are derived from the 5' and 3' terminal regions of the large restriction fragment, are inserted into the yeast artificial chromosome plasmid (pYAC) vector, and then converted into single strands with T7 gene 6-encoded 5'----3' exonuclease. The total genomic DNA digested with the restriction enzyme is also treated with the exonuclease to convert the terminal regions of the restriction fragments into single strands. In the resulting products, only the fragment corresponding to the jumping clone can form hybrids with the just-mentioned, single-stranded DNAs, which are connected to the pYAC, and only this fragment is cloned in yeast. We describe the protocol of this method with Escherichia coli DNA as a model experiment. Judging from the cloning efficiency, this method could be applied to cloning single-copy regions of the human genome, provided a jumping clone is available. The instability of inserts in the pYAC vector is also discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Uracil DNA glycosylase-mediated cloning of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA: application to genomic and cDNA cloning.

A simple and rapid method for cloning of amplification products directly from the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been developed. The method is based on the addition of a 12-base dUMP-containing sequence (CUACUACUACUA) to the 5' end of PCR primers. Incorporation of these primers during PCR results in the selective placement of dUMP residues into the 5' end of amplification products. Selective degradation of the dUMP residues in the PCR products with uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) disrupts base pairing at the termini and generates 3' overhangs. Annealing of 3' protruding termini to vector DNA containing complementary 3' ends results in chimeric molecules which can be transformed, with high efficiency, without in vitro ligation. Directional cloning of PCR products has also been accomplished by incorporating different dU-containing sequences at the end of each PCR primer. Substitution of all dT residues in PCR primers with dU eliminates cloning of aberrant "primer dimer" products and enriches cloning of genuine PCR products. The method has been applied to cloning of inter-Alu DNA sequences from human placental DNA. Using a single primer, DNA sequences between appropriately oriented Alu sequences were amplified and cloned. Cloning of cDNA for the glyceraldehyde-3'-phosphate dehydrogenase gene from rat brain RNA was also demonstrated. The 3' end region of this gene was amplified by the 3' RACE method and the amplified DNA was cloned after UDG digestion. Characterization of cloned DNAs by sequence analysis showed accurate repair of the cloning junctions. The ligase-free cloning method with UDG should prove to be a widely applicable procedure for rapid cloning of PCR-amplified DNA.

Animals↗