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Repression of bacteriophage promoters by DNA and RNA oligonucleotides.

We are interested in creating artificial gene repressors based on duplex DNA recognition by nucleic acids rather than polypeptides. An in vitro model system involving repression of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase initiation has been employed to demonstrate that certain DNA oligonucleotides can repress transcription by site-specific triple-helix formation at two kinds of homopurine operator sequences [Maher, L. J., III, (1992) Biochemistry 31, 7587-7594]. Recognition in the purine motif is based on antiparallel oligonucleotide binding (G.G.C and T.A.T triplets). Recognition in the pyrimidine motif is based on parallel oligonucleotide binding (C+.G.C and T.A.T base triplets). Using this system, we report that the concentration-dependence of repression by DNA oligonucleotides provides triple-helix inhibition constant (Ki) estimates of approximately 2 x 10(-7) M for both purine motif and pyrimidine motif DNA complexes. RNA oligonucleotides are shown to repress promoters overlapping pyrimidine motif operators (Ki = 6 x 10(-7) M), but not purine motif operators. Although competent to hybridize to complementary single strands, RNA oligonucleotides fail to bind the purine motif operator. Partial substitution of deoxyribose residues tends to rescue repressor activity by RNA oligonucleotides in the purine motif. These results suggest prospects for, and constraints on, natural and artificial RNA-based repressors.

Bacteriophage T7↗

Sequence-specific binding of antitumour bisquaternary ammonium heterocycles to DNA and inhibition of polymerase activity in vitro.

Ten bisquaternary ammonium heterocycles (BQA) active against experimental tumours were investigated for possible sequence-selective binding to DNA. Footprinting analyses indicated that several bound preferentially to dAdT runs consisting of at least four base pairs. Shortening of one or two spacer groups between the aromatic rings of the ligands (by replacement of CONH with NH) emerged as a prerequisite for sequence-specific binding. Other relevant factors concerned the overall shape of the ligands and the relative position of their positive charges. Footprinting plots evaluated for the BQA compound SN 6132 on the 167mer EcoRI-RsaI restriction fragment from plasmid pBR322 yielded the highest individual binding constant for the symmetrical base sequence AATTTAA, with approximate K(A) = 2.0 x 10(6)/M. Polymerase-catalysed syntheses of DNA and RNA in vitro were inhibited by all BQA derivatives, but the inhibition was much more pronounced with the sequence-specific binders SN 6999 and SN 6132 than with the non-specific ligand SN 6113.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Comparative study of two ribozymes and DNA-enzyme against the same RNA target.

Two ribozymes, hammerhead ribozyme and hairpin ribozyme, and a DNA-enzyme were designed to cleave a same RNA target, the same site of the rat complement regulatory factor 512 antigen mRNA. The kinetic properties of these RNA-cleaving enzymes were measured and compared under the same conditions, using multiple turnover kinetics and competition kinetics. The catalytic efficiencies of these enzymes, and also the order of these enzymes will be discussed.

Animals↗

Differential proteolytic activities of precursor and mature forms of the 24K proteinase of grapevine fanleaf nepovirus.

The presence of a genome-linked protein (VPg) at the RNA 5'-end of the genome is a characteristic of different groups of animal and plant positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. These viruses express their structural and functional proteins from polyproteins that are sequentially processed by at least one viral proteinase. The grapevine fanleaf nepovirus 24K chymotrypsin-like cysteine proteinase, located between the VPg and the RNA polymerase in the RNA-1 encoded polyprotein P1, is active in its free form and in various precursors forms. The VPg proteinase precursor (VPg-Pro) constitutes a stable protein and its maturation in the reticulocyte lysate system occurs at a very low rate. Differences on cleavage activity were observed between the proteinase and its VPg-Pro precursor forms, depending upon the cleavage site considered. The proteinase alone has a greater cleavage efficiency than VPg-Pro at the Arg605/Gly606 and Cys257/Ala258 sites of polyprotein P2. On the other hand, the presumed Cys415/Ala416 site, present at the amino terminus of polyprotein P1, was preferentially cleaved by the VPg-Pro precursor. During their in vitro maturation, proteins containing the VPg proteinase-polymerase coding region or the proteinase-polymerase region were similar in their ability to cleave in cis between the proteinase and the RNA polymerase.

Base Sequence↗

Upstream interactions at the lambda pRM promoter are sequence nonspecific and activate the promoter to a lesser extent than an introduced UP element of an rRNA promoter.

The rightward regulatory region of bacteriophage lambda contains two promoters, pRM and pR, which direct the synthesis of nonoverlapping divergent transcripts from start sites 82 bp apart. Each of the two promoters has an upstream (A+T)-rich region (ATR) within the sequence from -40 to -60 where in the rrnB P1 promoter a stretch of 20 (A+T) bp greatly stimulates promoter function. Here we present an investigation of the possible functional significance of pRM's ATR. We determined the effects on RNA polymerase-pRM promoter interaction both of (G+C) substitutions in the ATR and of amino acid substitutions in the alpha subunit, known to affect the upstream interaction. We find small (two- to threefold) effects of selected mutations in the alpha subunit on open complex formation at pRM. However, the (presumably upstream) interactions underlying these effects are sequence nonspecific, as they are not affected by (G+C) substitutions in the ATR. Substitution of the 20-bp UP element of the rrnB P1 promoter between positions -40 and -60 at pRM stimulates open complex formation to a considerably greater extent (5- to 10-fold). Results from kinetic studies indicate that on this construct the UP element mainly accelerates a step subsequent to the binding of RNA polymerase, although it may also facilitate the binding event itself. Less extensive studies likewise provide evidence for a two- to threefold activation of pR by upstream interactions. The possible involvement of the alpha subunit in the previously characterized (e.g., B. C. Mita, Y. Tang, and P. L. deHaseth, J. Biol. Chem. 270:30428-30433, 1995) interference of pR-bound RNA polymerase with open complex formation at pRM is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of intermolecular RNA cross-links at the subunit interface of the Escherichia coli ribosome.

32P-Labeled 70S ribosomes and polysomes were isolated from cultures of Escherichia coli and treated with the cross-linking reagent bis(2-chloroethyl)methylamine. Intermolecular 16S-23S RNA cross-linked complexes were separated from other products of the cross-linking reactions by a two-step sucrose density gradient centrifugation procedure and subjected to oligodeoxynucleotide-directed partial nuclease digestions with RNase H. Cross-linked RNA fragments released by such directed digests were resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and analyzed using classical oligonucleotide fingerprinting techniques. Two distinct intermolecular cross-links between the 16S and 23S RNA could be localized in this manner, involving positions 1408-1411 and 1518-1520 in the 16S RNA sequence and positions 1912-1920 in the 23S RNA sequence. These data provide the first direct topographical links between the RNA of the 30S and 50S subunits in the functional ribosome and, together with previous topographical data concerning the three-dimensional folding of the rRNA, demonstrate that there is a tight cluster at the ribosomal interface both of sites implicated in ribosomal function and of posttranscriptionally modified nucleotides in the rRNA.

Base Sequence↗

Localization of Escherichia coli rpoC mutations that affect RNA polymerase assembly and activity at high temperature.

We localized five rpoC (beta') mutations affecting Escherichia coli RNA polymerase assembly. The Ts4, XH56, and R120 mutations changed beta' residues conserved throughout eubacteria; the JE10092 mutation occurred in the hypervariable region; rpoC1 (TsX) changed a universally conserved residue and corresponds to yeast rpb1-1. Thus, distinct, predominantly conserved beta' residues participate in interactions holding RNA polymerase together.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Study of the polymerization step of the rolling circle replication of peach latent mosaic viroid.

We have developed an in vitro transcriptional assay using Escherichia coli RNA polymerase to initiate the replication of peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd). Regardless of the polarity of the PLMVd strand used as template, initiation in vitro occurred at the same hairpin structure. These initiation sites correspond to the 5'-ends of two small (280 nt) PLMVd-related RNAs found in infected peach leaves. Using a series of truncated PLMVd-derived transcripts, we have demonstrated that the viroid domain composed solely of the self-complementary hammerhead sequences is sufficient to trigger polymerase-driven replication in vitro. These data suggest that the bacterial-like RNA polymerase from peach chloroplasts catalyzes PLMVd replication.

Base Sequence↗

Combination of chemical and enzymatic RNA synthesis.

The potential of standard in vitro transcription reactions can be dramatically expanded, if chemically synthesized low-mol-wt compounds are used as building blocks in combination with standard nucleotide 5' triphosphates (NTPs). Short oligonucleotides that terminate in guanosine effectively compete with guanosine 5' triphosphate (GTP) as starter building blocks, and they are incorporated at the 5'-end of transcripts. Applications include production of RNAs with "unfriendly 5'-ends" (they do not begin with G), variations of the 5'-sequence are possible with the same DNA template, site-specific insertion of nucleotide modifications, and addition of 5'-labels, such as fluorescein for detection or biotin for capture. Clearly, chemically synthesized, modified NTPs are inserted at internal sites. The combination with phosphorothioate linkages for detection has been developed into a powerful high-throughput method to study site-specific interference of modifications with RNA function.

Base Sequence↗

Evidence that chicken CR1 elements represent a novel family of retroposons.

We report the first precise delineation of a chicken CR1 element and show that it is flanked by a 6-base-pair target site duplication that occurred when this repetitive element transposed. The 3' end of this CR1 element is defined by an 8-base-pair imperfect direct repeat, and we infer that this sequence represents the 3' end of all intact CR1 elements. In contrast, the 5' ends are not unique, and we argue that this variation existed at the time each element transposed. We also provide evidence that CR1 elements transposed into preferred target sites. CR1 elements therefore appear to represent a novel class of passive retroposons.

Animals↗

Polyadenylation of mRNA: minimal substrates and a requirement for the 2' hydroxyl of the U in AAUAAA.

mRNA-specific polyadenylation can be assayed in vitro by using synthetic RNAs that end at or near the natural cleavage site. This reaction requires the highly conserved sequence AAUAAA. At least two distinct nuclear components, an AAUAAA specificity factor and poly(A) polymerase, are required to catalyze the reaction. In this study, we identified structural features of the RNA substrate that are critical for mRNA-specific polyadenylation. We found that a substrate that contained only 11 nucleotides, of which the first six were AAUAAA, underwent AAUAAA-specific polyadenylation. This is the shortest substrate we have used that supports polyadenylation: removal of a single nucleotide from either end of this RNA abolished the reaction. Although AAUAAA appeared to be the only strict sequence requirement for polyadenylation, the number of nucleotides between AAUAAA and the 3' end was critical. Substrates with seven or fewer nucleotides beyond AAUAAA received poly(A) with decreased efficiency yet still bound efficiently to specificity factor. We infer that on these shortened substrates, poly(A) polymerase cannot simultaneously contact the specificity factor bound to AAUAAA and the 3' end of the RNA. By incorporating 2'-deoxyuridine into the U of AAUAAA, we demonstrated that the 2' hydroxyl of the U in AAUAAA was required for the binding of specificity factor to the substrate and hence for poly(A) addition. This finding may indicate that at least one of the factors involved in the interaction with AAUAAA is a protein.

Base Sequence↗

Effects of a single base-pair deletion in the bacteriophage lambda PRM promoter. Repression of PRM by repressor bound at OR2 and by RNA polymerase bound at PR.

We have deleted a single base-pair in the -35 region of the bacteriophage lambda PRM promoter. The deletion (PRM delta 34) creates a better match of PRM to consensus, thereby substantially increasing the activity of the promoter in vitro and in vivo. Since the mutation also increases the overlap between OR2 and the -35 region of PRM, binding of repressor to OR2 no longer activates, but in fact represses PRM. Finally, the mutation decreases the distance between the PRM and PR transcription start sites from 82 to 81 base-pairs. As a consequence, the interaction of RNA polymerase with either promoter in vitro strongly inhibits open complex formation at the other. Kinetic analyses and DNase I protection assays lead to the surprising result that mutual inhibition is not due to steric occlusion. Both promoters can be occupied by RNA polymerase at the same time. Determination of KB and kf revealed that inhibition of PRM delta 34 by PR was manifest in a 100-fold decrease in the value of kf, but at the same time KB was increased tenfold. These data raise the possibility that RNA polymerase molecules bound at the two promoters contact and mutually stabilize each other and that this interaction subsequently inhibits a substep in the isomerization of closed to open complexes. In footprinting assays, each promoter is characterized by sites of enhanced cleavage when that promoter is occupied alone. These enhancements are substantially diminished when both promoters are occupied, suggesting that complexes of each promoter with RNA polymerase alter the structure of complexes formed at the other promoter. Assays of the effects of the delta 34 mutation in vivo indicate that interference between PRM and PR does not limit the rate of open complex formation at PRM in the cell. Apparently, transcription initiation clears the promoter rapidly enough that neither promoter is occupied a significant fraction of the time.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

A kinetic and thermodynamic framework for the hammerhead ribozyme reaction.

A hammerhead ribozyme (HH16) with eight potential base pairs in each of the substrate recognition helices stabilized product binding sufficiently to enable investigation of the ligation of oligonucleotides bound to the ribozyme. All individual rate constants for product association and dissociation were determined. The following conclusions were obtained for HH16 from the analysis performed at 50 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 10 mM MgCl2, and 25 degrees C. (1) HH16 cleaves bound substrate with a rate constant of k2 = 1 min-1, similar to rate constants obtained with other hammerhead ribozymes. (2) k-2, the rate of ligation of the 5' product and 3' product to form substrate, equaled 0.008 min-1, indicating an approximately 100-fold preference for the formation of products on the ribozyme. This internal equilibrium, compared with that for the overall solution reaction, gives an effective concentration (EC) of 10(-2) M for the two products bound to the ribozyme. This low EC suggests that upon cleavage of S the hammerhead complex acquires a "floppiness" which provides an entropic advantage for the formation of products on the ribozyme. (3) Product and substrate association rate constants were in the range of 10(7)-10(8) M-1 min-1, comparable to values determined for short helices. (4) The stabilities of ribozyme/product complexes were similar to affinities predicted from helix-coil transitions of simple RNA duplexes, providing no indication of additional tertiary interactions. The products, P1 and P2, stabilize one another 4-fold on the ribozyme. (5) The dissociation constant for the binding of the substrate to the ribozyme was estimated to be about 10(-17) M. These results allowed the construction of a free energy profile for the reaction of HH16, and provide a basis for future mechanistic studies.

Base Composition↗

Synthetic polyamines stimulate in vitro transcription by T7 RNA polymerase.

The influence of nine synthetic polyamines on in vitro transcription with T7 RNA polymerase has been studied. The compounds used were linear or macrocyclic tetra- and hexaamine, varying in their size, shape and number of protonated groups. Their effect was tested on different types of templates, all presenting the T7 RNA promoter in a double-stranded form followed by sequences encoding short transcripts (25 to 35-mers) either on single- or double-stranded synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides. All polyamines used stimulate transcription of both types of templates at levels dependent on their size, shape, protonation degree, and concentration. For each compound, an optimal concentration could be defined; above this concentration, transcription inhibition occurred. Highest stimulation (up to 12-fold) was obtained by the largest cyclic compound called [38]N6C10.

Bacteriophage T7↗

Human calicivirus genogroup II capsid sequence diversity revealed by analyses of the prototype Snow Mountain agent.

The Snow Mountain agent (SMA) is the prototype genogroup II and serotype 3 human calicivirus responsible for epidemic outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis. We have cloned the region of the SMA genome that encodes the single capsid protein. The predicted amino acid sequence of the capsid protein is distinct from other calicivirus strains that have been termed SMA-like based on sequence similarity between the RNA polymerase regions and IEM reactivity. In a previous report, a high sequence similarity in a small region of the RNA polymerase between SMA and another strain, OTH-25, suggested that the capsid proteins of OTH-25 and SMA would be very similar. In this report, we show that the capsid proteins of OTH-25 and SMA are more distinct than was predicted by similarity in the RNA polymerase. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of a region of the RNA polymerase and of the N-terminal conserved domain of the capsid protein of 12 human caliciviruses resulted in trees with different topologies, suggesting that recombination has occurred within this group of viruses. Molecular characterization of the prototype calicivirus strains is important in determining the relationships between capsid similarity at the amino acid level, genetic grouping by sequence comparison, and antigenic reactivity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Probing the importance of selected phylum-specific amino acids in sigma A of Bacteroides fragilis, a primary sigma factor naturally devoid of an N-terminal acidic region 1.1.

The sigmaA factor of Bacteroides fragilis is the prototype of a novel subgroup of primary sigma factors that are essential for growth and ensure the initiation of transcription of the housekeeping genes. This subgroup is confined to the phyla Bacteroidetes and Chlorobi. Its members carry a specific amino acid signature and are notably characterized by a short, basic N-terminal segment instead of the typical acidic region 1.1. Using in vitro mutagenesis, we investigated the importance of this basic segment and of several residues of the signature for the function of sigmaA. We have shown that the conserved residues Phe-61 and Lys-265, located in the core binding and DNA binding subregions 2.1 and 4.2, respectively, are critical for full function of the B. fragilis holoenzyme. With respect to the unusual subregion composition of sigmaA, we have shown that truncation of the basic N-terminal segment, or reversion of its charge, strongly affects the overall transcriptional activity of B. fragilis RNA polymerase in vitro. Our results indicate that the presence of the intact basic segment is required for the formation of RNA polymerase (RNAP)-promoter open complexes, the correct architecture of the transcription bubble, and efficient promoter clearance.

Amino Acid Sequence↗