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Molecular analysis of the fragile X syndrome.

Carriers of the fragile X mutation possess more than the normal number of copies of a trinucleotide repeat (CGG) within the coding region of a gene designated as FMR-1 in Xq27. The clinical phenotype is determined by the number of copies of the CGG repeat. DNA-based methods for the detection of the fragile X mutation are now available which greatly assist in the genetic diagnosis of this disorder. Direct detection of the mutation enables the identification of fragile X negative normal transmitting males and fragile X negative carrier females.

Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1↗

Iron regulates the activity of the iron-responsive element binding protein without changing its rate of synthesis or degradation.

The iron-responsive element binding protein (IRE-BP) interacts with specific sequence/structure motifs (iron-responsive elements) within the mRNAs encoding ferritin and the transferrin receptor and thereby post-transcriptionally regulates the expression of these two proteins involved in cellular iron homeostasis. The activity of the IRE-BP is itself regulated by iron such that when cells are treated with an iron source, the RNA binding activity is decreased. The expression of recombinant human IRE-BP in murine cells has been examined as have the expressions of the endogenous IRE-BP of both human and rabbit cells. In all cases, iron down-modulated the RNA binding activity of the IRE-BP, but in no instance was this decrease in activity accompanied by a decrease in the level of the protein as judged by quantitative Western blots. Moreover, the rate of synthesis of the IRE-BP and its rate of degradation have been found to be unaltered by iron manipulation of cells in culture. Consistent with IRE-BP regulation occurring post-translationally, the iron regulation of its activity was found to be unaffected by cycloheximide. These data are discussed in terms of a model of IRE-BP regulation involving the modification of the protein's iron-sulfur center.

Animals↗

Polypyrimidine tract binding protein interacts with sequences involved in alternative splicing of beta-tropomyosin pre-mRNA.

Previous studies of alternative splicing of the rat beta-tropomyosin gene have shown that nonmuscle cells contain factors that block the use of the skeletal muscle exon 7 (Guo, W., Mulligan, G. J., Wormsley, S., and Helfman, D. M. (1991) Genes & Dev. 5, 2095-2106). Using an RNA mobility-shift assay we have identified factors in HeLa cell nuclear extracts that specifically interact with sequences responsible for exon blockage. Here we present the purification to apparent homogeneity of a protein that exhibits these sequence specific RNA binding properties. This protein is identical to the polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB) which other studies have suggested is involved in the recognition and efficient use of 3'-splice sites. PTB binds to two distinct functional elements within intron 6 of the beta-tropomyosin pre-mRNA: 1) the polypyrimidine tract sequences required for the use of branch points associated with the splicing of exon 7, and 2) the intron regulatory element that is involved in the repression of exon 7. Our results demonstrate that the sequence requirements for PTB binding are different than previously reported and shows that PTB binding cannot be predicted solely on the basis of pyrimidine content. In addition, PTB fails to bind stably to sequences within intron 5 and intron 7 of beta-TM pre-mRNA, yet forms a stable complex with sequences in intron 6, which is not normally spliced in HeLa cells in vitro and in vivo. The nature of the interactions of PTB within this regulated intron reveals several new details about the binding specificity of PTB and suggests that PTB does not function exclusively in a positive manner in the recognition and use of 3'-splice sites.

Alternative Splicing↗

Nephrotropic properties demonstrated by A/chicken/Alabama/75 (H4N8) following intravenous challenge of chickens.

Tissue tropism properties of A/chicken/Alabama/75 (H4N8) were examined after intravenous inoculation of 5-week-old specific-pathogen-free chickens. From 14 clinically normal chickens euthanatized on days 1-20 postinoculation, the frequencies of virus recovery were highest for cloacal swabs (86%), bursal swabs (64%), and kidney tissues (64%) and lowest for tracheal swabs (14%), thymus tissues (14%), bone-marrow swabs (7%), and brain tissues (0%). Evidence that the high frequency of virus recovery from kidney tissues was associated with virus replication in the kidney tissues was provided by high virus titers, ranging up to 10(9.5) mean embryo infectious dose per gram of kidney tissue, and by identification of intranuclear and intracytoplasmic type A influenza nucleoprotein in kidney cells using immunohistochemistry. Virus-recovery and virus titer results from three chickens that died on days 4 and 5 postinoculation paralleled the results from the clinically normal chickens. These findings indicate that A/chicken/Alabama/75 has nephrotropic properties similar to nephrotropic properties previously reported for waterfowl-origin type A influenza viruses and provide evidence that kidney lesions could be manifestations of systemic influenza infections in commercial laying chickens.

Animals↗

The iron-responsive element binding protein. Purification, cloning, and regulation in rat liver.

The iron-responsive element binding protein (IRE-BP) is a cytosolic protein that binds a highly conserved sequence in the untranslated regions of mRNAs involved in iron metabolism including ferritin, transferrin receptor, and erythroid 5-aminolevulinate acid synthase. This conserved sequence is termed the iron-responsive element and is necessary for the post-transcriptional regulation of these mRNAs by iron. The rat liver IRE-BP was purified to homogeneity by chromatographic methods and partial amino acid sequence was obtained. A cDNA was isolated from a rat liver cDNA library and sequenced. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA sequence corresponds to a protein of 889 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 97.946. The NH2-terminal sequence obtained by Edman degradation matched the deduced amino acid sequence obtained from the cDNA, confirming the translational start site. Rat liver IRE-BP shares 95% identity with human IRE-BP and 98% identity with mouse IRE-BP indicating that the IRE-BPs have remained highly conserved during evolution. The 5'-untranslated region is at least 236 nucleotides and contains interesting structural features including two direct repeats, an inverted repeat, and three small open reading frames. The rat IRE-BP mRNA is approximately 3600 nucleotides and is expressed in a variety of rat tissues including liver, spleen, and gut. Over the course of 16 h following an intraperitoneal injection of iron in rats. IRE-BP RNA binding activity decreases to 50% of control levels. The decrease in IRE-BP RNA binding activity in extracts from iron-treated rats is reversible by pretreatment of the extracts with reducing agents. The steady-state levels of IRE-BP mRNA remain constant during iron treatment. These data suggest that the decrease in IRE-BP RNA binding activity by iron in rat liver is due to post-translational changes in the RNA binding affinity of the IRE-BP and not due a decrease in the transcription of the IRE-BP gene or to the destabilization of the IRE-BP mRNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning of a functional cDNA for the rabbit ferritin mRNA repressor protein. Demonstration of a tissue-specific pattern of expression.

Ferritin synthesis is controlled at the translational level in response to cellular iron status. A component of this regulatory system is the ferritin repressor protein (FRP) which binds to the iron-responsive element (IRE) located at the 5' end of all known ferritin mRNAs, thus inhibiting its translation. Antibodies against purified FRP were raised in mouse and used to isolate an FRP cDNA from a rabbit liver cDNA library cloned in the expression vector lambda gt11. The FRP cDNA encodes a 98.5-kilodalton protein which shares greater than 90% identity with IRE-binding proteins from other species. The FRP cDNA was placed under the transcriptional direction of the yeast GAL1 promoter. Yeast transformed with this gene express IRE-specific binding activity, illustrating the potential utility of yeast for the study of FRP structure/function. Analysis of FRP distribution in rabbit tissues shows that it is present in a variety of tissues. The levels of FRP differ dramatically from tissue to tissue, however. An examination of FRP mRNA levels and comparison to FRP protein suggest that synthesis of FRP is regulated transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Multiple activities of the human splicing factor ASF.

The effects of human alternative splicing factor, ASF, on in vitro splicing of adenovirus E1A pre-mRNA were examined. E1A pre-mRNA is a complex substrate, and splicing in HeLa cell nuclear extracts produces six different RNAs using three alternative 5' splice sites and two 3' splice sites. Addition of excess ASF to splicing reactions produced a simplified splicing pattern, in which only one spliced product, 13S RNA, was detected. Inhibition of 12S and 9S splicing, which use 5' splice sites upstream of the 13S 5' splice site, extends previous observations that when multiple 5' splice sites compete for the same 3' splice site, ASF causes preferential selection of the proximal 5' splice site. However, inhibition of the other splices, which use a different upstream 3' splice site, represents a novel activity of ASF, as competition between 5' splice sites is not involved. The effect of ASF on 12S splicing was found to depend on its position relative to competing 5' splice sites, indicating that the ability of ASF to activate proximal 5' splice sites is position- but not sequence-dependent. Finally, addition of small amounts of ASF to ASF-lacking S100 extract was able to activate distal as well as proximal 5' splice sites in two of three pre-mRNAs tested, indicating that in these cases changes in the concentration of ASF alone can be sufficient to modulate alternative 5' splice site selection.

Adenovirus Early Proteins↗

Two isoforms of eIF-5A in chick embryo. Isolation, activity, and comparison of sequences of the hypusine-containing proteins.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) (older terminology, eIF-4D) is unique in that it contains the unusual amino acid hypusine (N epsilon-(4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl)lysine). Hypusine is formed by a post-translational event in which a specific lysine residue is modified by a structural contribution from spermidine. Metabolic labeling of chick embryo fibroblasts with [3H]spermidine or [3H]lysine gives rise to two distinct proteins, designated I (approximately 20 kDa and pI 5.6) and II (approximately 18 kDa and pI 5.35), that contain [3H]hypusine. Upon incubation with [3H]lysine the labeling of the two proteins followed a similar time course and showed approximately the same ratio over the 6-h incubation period. [3H]Hypusine-containing proteins from cells which had been cultured with [3H]spermidine were employed as tracers for isolation of hypusine-containing proteins from whole chick embryos. Four such proteins were obtained. Two of these proteins, I and II, correspond to the two native proteins synthesized in chick embryo fibroblasts; the other two forms, Ia and IIa, displayed properties suggesting that they were derived from the native proteins, I and II, respectively, during purification. The amino acid compositions and the tryptic peptide maps of the 20-kDa protein (I) and the 18 kDa protein (II) suggest that they are closely related but distinct proteins. In fact, amino acid sequence analysis of the two major proteins revealed differences in the polypeptide backbone of the two proteins. In spite of structural differences, the two native forms (I and II), as well as the two altered forms (Ia and IIa), were effective in stimulating methionyl-puromycin synthesis, providing evidence that they are indeed functional isoforms of eIF-5A.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

mRNP4, a major mRNA-binding protein from Xenopus oocytes is identical to transcription factor FRG Y2.

Previous work has revealed a striking similarity between the sequence of mRNP4, a major mRNA-binding protein of Xenopus laevis oocytes and FRG Y2, a transcription factor specific for Y-box-containing promoters. However, the apparent molecular mass of mRNP4 exceeds by 50-60% the cDNA-deduced molecular mass of FRG Y2. To resolve this discrepancy we have measured the real molecular mass of mRNP4 by sedimentation equilibrium. The molecular mass of mRNP4 closely agrees with that of FRG Y2. We conclude that mRNP4 is identical to FRG Y2 and has a dual function in oocytes. As a DNA-binding protein, mRNP4 stimulates transcription from a specific set of promoters. As a mRNA-binding protein, mRNP4 favors accumulation of the transcripts it contributes to produce.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

cDNA cloning and molecular characterization of MSE55, a novel human serum constituent protein that displays bone marrow stromal/endothelial cell-specific expression.

Hemonectin is a lineage-specific cytoadhesive protein that may be involved in the developmentally regulated adhesion of granulocytic cells to bone marrow stroma. Immunoblot analysis using an anti-hemonectin antibody recognizes two distinct immunoreactive species in endothelial cell lysates (approximately M(r) 65,000) and human serum (approximately M(r) 55,000). Initial characterization of the 55-kDa protein has now been completed by isolating the cDNA from a human endothelial cell expression library. Sequence analysis of overlapping clones identifies a composite sequence spanning 2030 nucleotides with an open reading frame of 1173 base pairs. No significant sequence similarity was observed on analysis of current GenBank databases. The open reading frame was expressed as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli and used as an immunogen for the production of a specific polyclonal antibody. Immunoblotting with this antibody identifies a single immunoreactive species of apparent M(r) 55,000 in HUVEC lysates and human serum, confirming that a secreted form normally circulates as a serum constituent protein. This antibody fails to recognize purified hemonectin, suggesting that the M(r) 55,000 protein is not hemonectin. Cross-species Southern blot analysis reveals persistent hybridizing fragments in all species tested, suggestive of a developmentally conserved function. Northern blot analysis demonstrates expression limited to endothelial and bone marrow stromal cells, but not poly(A) RNA from monkey liver, spleen, brain, lung, and kidney. On this basis, we have designated this novel protein MSE55, for marrow stromal/endothelial cell protein with a molecular mass of 55,000 daltons. Its tissue-specific expression may suggest a functional role in hematopoiesis.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Characterization of the multisubunit cleavage-polyadenylation specificity factor from calf thymus.

Cleavage-polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) is one of five separable factors known to be required for 3' cleavage and polyadenylation of mRNA precursors in vitro. Previous studies have shown that the cleavage and poly(A) addition reactions can be uncoupled in vitro and have suggested that CPSF may be the only factor essential for both of these subreactions. Here we report the purification of CPSF to near homogeneity from calf thymus and show that the purified factor contains three polypeptides of 165, 105, and 70 kDa. These polypeptides cosediment precisely with CPSF activity, which has a sedimentation coefficient of 11.5 S. Consistent with previous reports from our laboratory, purified CPSF does not contain a detectable RNA component, indicating that it is a multisubunit protein and not a small nuclear ribonucleoprotein. Extensively purified bovine CPSF can function with human poly(A) polymerase to bring about AAUAAA-dependent poly(A) addition or with human cleavage factors to catalyze accurate 3' cleavage of a pre-mRNA substrate. UV cross-linking and gel retention analyses demonstrate that highly purified CPSF interacts with one of these cleavage factors, the multisubunit cleavage-stimulation factor, to facilitate stable binding of both to an AAUAAA-containing pre-mRNA. Likewise, evidence is presented indicating that poly(A) polymerase and CPSF can interact directly.

Animals↗

A microdeletion of less than 250 kb, including the proximal part of the FMR-I gene and the fragile-X site, in a male with the clinical phenotype of fragile-X syndrome.

A gene designated "FMR-1" has been isolated at the fragile-X locus. One exon of this gene is carried on a 5.1-kb EcoRI fragment that exhibits length variation in fragile-X patients because of amplification of or insertion into a CGG-repeat sequence. This repeat probably represents the fragile site. The EcoRI fragment also includes an HTF island that is hypermethylated in fragile-X patients showing absence of FMR-1 mRNA. In this paper, we present further evidence that the FMR-1 gene is involved in the clinical manifestation of the fragile-X syndrome and also in the expression of the cellular phenotype. A deletion including the HTF island and exons of the FMR-1 gene was detected in a fragile X-negative mentally retarded male who presented the clinical phenotype of the fragile-X syndrome. The deletion involves less than 250 kb of genomic DNA, including DXS548 and at least five exons of the FMR-1 gene. These data support the hypothesis that loss of function of the FMR-1 gene leads to the clinical phenotype of the fragile-X syndrome. In the fragile-X syndrome, there are pathogenetic mechanisms other than amplification of the CGG repeat that do have the same phenotypic consequences.

Base Sequence↗

Cold shock induction of yeast NSR1 protein and its role in pre-rRNA processing.

Yeast NSR1 protein is structurally related to mammalian nucleolin and is involved in ribosome synthesis as described in the preceding paper (Kondo, K., and Inouye, M. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 16252-16258). We report here the regulation of NSR1 gene expression and the effect of nsr1 deletion on growth and pre-rRNA processing after cold shock. A basal level of the transcript was detected at 30 degrees C only in exponentially growing cells and increased approximately 3-fold after cold shock to 10 degrees C. NSR1 protein level also increased about 3-fold after the shock. The nsr1 deletion caused a severe growth defect at low temperatures as well as a long growth lag after temperature shift from 30 to 10 degrees C. Northern hybridization analysis demonstrated that cold shock led to a rapid decrease in the amounts of 27 S, 20 S, and 7 S rRNA precursors in the nsr1 strain, although at 30 degrees C a major defect was observed only in 20 S pre-rRNA synthesis. Pulse-chase labeling of rRNA showed that pre-rRNA processing in the nsr1 strain was greatly impaired after cold shock. These results demonstrate that the NSR1 protein is required for normal pre-rRNA processing and cell growth in yeast when cells are exposed to abrupt temperature drop.

Base Sequence↗

Protein kinase C as a mediator of high density lipoprotein receptor-dependent efflux of intracellular cholesterol.

The interaction of high density lipoproteins (HDL) with the HDL receptor stimulates the translocation of cholesterol from intracellular pools to the plasma membrane where the cholesterol becomes available for removal by appropriate acceptors. The role of signal transduction through protein kinase C in HDL receptor-dependent cholesterol translocation and efflux was examined using cholesterol-loaded cultured human skin fibroblasts. Treatment of cells with HDL3 activated protein kinase C, demonstrated by a transient increase in membrane associated kinase activity. Kinase activation appeared to be dependent on binding of HDL3 to the HDL receptor, since tetranitromethane-modified HDL3, which does not bind to the receptor, was without effect. Translocation of intracellular sterol to the plasma membrane was stimulated by treatment of cells with the protein kinase C activators, dioctanoylglycerol and phorbol myristic acetate, and the calcium ionophore A23187. Conversely, treatment of cells with sphingosine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, reduced HDL3-mediated translocation and efflux of intracellular sterols. However, sphingosine had no effect on efflux of labeled cholesterol derived from the plasma membrane. Down-regulation of cellular protein kinase C activity by long term incubation with phorbol esters also inhibited HDL3-mediated efflux of intracellular sterols and abolished the ability of sphingosine to further inhibit HDL3-mediated efflux. These studies support the conclusion that HDL receptor-mediated translocation and efflux of intracellular cholesterol occurs through activation of protein kinase C.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗