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Genomic fingerprinting of Bartonella species by repetitive element PCR for distinguishing species and isolates.

Repetitive-element PCR (rep-PCR) with primers based on repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) repeated DNA sequences was used for genomic finger-printing of Bartonella species. This technique was applied by using either extracted genomic DNA or preparations of whole bacterial cells directly. PCR fingerprints with either the REP-based primers (REP-PCR) or primers based on the ERIC repeat (ERIC-PCR) revealed species-specific band patterns for the various Bartonella isolates. DNA fingerprints obtained from rep-PCR of extracted genomic DNA or from preparations of whole cells yielded comparable patterns. ERIC-PCR banding patterns were less complex than those obtained by REP-PCR but allowed better discrimination between strains within species. By combining results of REP-PCR and ERIC-PCR, five different fingerprint profiles were identified among 17 isolates of Bartonella henselae, but only one profile was identified among the five isolates of Bartonella quintana. Other Bartonella species yielded distinct rep-PCR fingerprints. rep-PCR is a useful technique for identification of Bartonella organisms to the species level and offers the advantage of ease of performance, with only small quantities of cells needed for the whole-cell procedure. This technique also appears to be useful for subtyping B. henselae isolates.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Genotype-dependent transcriptional activation of novel repetitive elements during cold acclimation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa).

In a search for cold-regulated genes that are differentially expressed in alfalfa genotypes of contrasting freezing tolerance, we screened 1036 arrayed cDNA clones. The screening resulted in isolation of cDNA clones, which demonstrated dramatic differences in expression between hardy and un-hardy alfalfa varieties. Detailed analysis revealed that these cDNAs represent parts of novel non-coding repetitive elements carrying long-terminal repeats (LTR) and other retroelement-like features. Despite strong expression under low temperatures, DNA templates remained highly methylated, and a drug-induced decrease in methylation did not activate transcription under normal temperatures. We identified that these repetitive elements represent a large family and could insert into, or be adjacent to, the unrelated polyprotein sequences of putative retrotransposons. These retrotransposons also showed low temperature-induced transcriptional activation; however, this activation was not genotype-dependent. The retroelements described in this study are the first retroelement characterized in the Medicago genus. Furthermore, they represent the only known example of genotype-specific cold-induced transcriptional activation of multiple copies of a repetitive element whose expression is associated with a genotype difference in cold acclimation.

Acclimatization↗

The CARE-2 and rel-2 repetitive elements of Candida albicans contain LTR fragments of a new retrotransposon.

CARE-2 and Rel-2 are dispersed, repetitive elements of Candida albicans. Hybridisation experiments suggest that they are present at 10-20 copies per genome and appear on most, if not all, of the chromosomes. A high degree of interstrain variation has been demonstrated for CARE-2, making it of use for strain typing. Until now, however, the nature of the repetitive elements within CARE-2 and Rel-2 was unknown. We show here that CARE-2 and Rel-2 contain long terminal repeat (LTR) fragments of a new retrotransposon. These LTRs, which we designate kappa, are partially responsible for the repetitive nature of CARE-2 and Rel-2. Complete copies of the kappa elements are present elsewhere in the genome and adjacent to some are sequences characteristic of the internal regions of retrotransposons. An apparently high degree of scrambling of the kappa elements suggests that they may represent a hotspot for mutation and recombination in C. albicans.

Base Sequence↗

Optimization of analytical parameters for inferring relationships among Escherichia coli isolates from repetitive-element PCR by maximizing correspondence with multilocus sequence typing data.

Repetitive-element PCR (rep-PCR) is a method for genotyping bacteria based on the selective amplification of repetitive genetic elements dispersed throughout bacterial chromosomes. The method has great potential for large-scale epidemiological studies because of its speed and simplicity; however, objective guidelines for inferring relationships among bacterial isolates from rep-PCR data are lacking. We used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) as a "gold standard" to optimize the analytical parameters for inferring relationships among Escherichia coli isolates from rep-PCR data. We chose 12 isolates from a large database to represent a wide range of pairwise genetic distances, based on the initial evaluation of their rep-PCR fingerprints. We conducted MLST with these same isolates and systematically varied the analytical parameters to maximize the correspondence between the relationships inferred from rep-PCR and those inferred from MLST. Methods that compared the shapes of densitometric profiles ("curve-based" methods) yielded consistently higher correspondence values between data types than did methods that calculated indices of similarity based on shared and different bands (maximum correspondences of 84.5% and 80.3%, respectively). Curve-based methods were also markedly more robust in accommodating variations in user-specified analytical parameter values than were "band-sharing coefficient" methods, and they enhanced the reproducibility of rep-PCR. Phylogenetic analyses of rep-PCR data yielded trees with high topological correspondence to trees based on MLST and high statistical support for major clades. These results indicate that rep-PCR yields accurate information for inferring relationships among E. coli isolates and that accuracy can be enhanced with the use of analytical methods that consider the shapes of densitometric profiles.

Alleles↗

Structure and transcriptional impact of divergent repetitive elements inserted within Phanerochaete chrysosporium strain RP-78 genes.

We describe the structure, organization, and transcriptional impact of repetitive elements within the lignin-degrading basidiomycete, Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Searches of the P. chrysosporium genome revealed five copies of pce1, a ~1,750-nt non-autonomous, class II element. Alleles encoding a putative glucosyltransferase and a cytochrome P450 harbor pce insertions and produce incomplete transcripts. Class I elements included pcret1, an intact 8.14-kb gypsy-like retrotransposon inserted within a member of the multicopper oxidase gene family. Additionally, we describe a complex insertion of nested transposons within another putative cytochrome P450 gene. The disrupted allele lies within a cluster of >14 genes, all of which encode family 64 cytochrome P450s. Components of the insertion include a disjoint copia-like element, pcret3, the pol domain of a second retroelement, pcret2, and a duplication of an extended ORF of unknown function. As in the case of the pce elements, pcret1 and pcret2/3 insertions are confined to single alleles, transcripts of which are truncated. The corresponding wild-type alleles are apparently unaffected. In aggregate, P. chrysosporium harbors a complex array of repetitive elements, at least five of which directly influence expression of genes within families of structurally related sequences.

Alleles↗

An adult male specific gene in Drosophila containing the repetitive element opa.

A cDNA has been isolated for an adult male specific gene in Drosophila that contains the repetitive element opa. We have named this gene Dromsopa for Drosophila male specific opa containing gene. The 0.6 kb mRNA for this gene is only found in the abdominal region of adult male Drosophila and in no other tissue or at other developmental stages. The Dromsopa opa repeat codes for the usual stretch of poly(glutamine) interrupted by histidine residues. The opa repetitive element was originally found in the Drosophila Notch gene (Kidd, S. et al. (1983) Cell 34, 431-433 and Wharton, K.A. (1985) Cell 40, 55-62) and has, more recently, been found in genes under developmental or tissue specific control from yeast to humans. The gene was cloned using a genomic fragment during a chromosomal walk upstream of the AP3 gene located at chromosomal location 79CD on the left arm of the third chromosome (Kelley, M.R. et al. (1989) Mol. Cell. Biol. 9, 965-973). The Dromsopa gene has no other identity with genes currently in the databases, once the opa repeat is excluded. The possibility that the Dromsopa gene is a male specific regulatory factor is under investigation as is its precise location within the abdomen, such as in germ line tissue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PCR detection of DNAs of animal origin in feed by primers based on sequences of short and long interspersed repetitive elements.

PCR primers for the detection of materials derived from ruminants, pigs, and chickens were newly designed on the basis of sequences of the Art2 short interspersed repetitive element (SINE), PRE-1 SINE, and CR1 long interspersed repetitive element (LINE), respectively. These primers amplified the SINE or LINE from total DNA extracted from the target animals and from test feed containing commercial meat and bone meal (MBM). With the primers, detection of Art2, PRE-1, or CR1 in test feed at concentrations of 0.01% MBM or less was possible. This method was suitable for the detection of microcontamination of feed by animal materials.

Animal Feed↗

Discrimination of epidemic and sporadic isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii by repetitive element PCR-mediated DNA fingerprinting.

In 1990, there was a significant increase in the number of lower respiratory tract infections and surgical wound infections in the adult intensive care units of our tertiary care teaching hospital caused by Acinetobacter baumannii compared with the number in 1989. During the 5-month period from April through August 1990, 84 isolates of A. baumannii were recovered from 50 hospitalized patients. Biotyping, comparison of antibiograms, plasmid analysis, and DNA polymorphisms of 20 isolates from 20 different patients, determined by the use of repetitive element PCR with primers aimed at repetitive extragenic palindromic sequences and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequences, were used to investigate this apparent outbreak. Biotyping, antibiograms, plasmid analysis, and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR were not useful epidemiologically. Repetitive element PCR-mediated DNA fingerprinting using repetitive extragenic palindromic primers discriminated between epidemic and sporadic strains of A. baumannii and demonstrated four discrete clusters which were unique epidemiologically.

Acinetobacter↗

Cloning and expression of the human gene for transaldolase. A novel highly repetitive element constitutes an integral part of the coding sequence.

A novel highly repetitive retrotransposable element was cloned based on a limited sequence homology to the human T-cell leukemia virus and a related endogenous retroviral sequence, HRES-1. This repetitive element was found to constitute an integral part of the coding sequence of the human gene for transaldolase. In comparison with the intronless yeast gene, structural analysis of the human transaldolase genomic locus revealed that the human gene is comprised of five exons, second and third of which uniquely developed by insertion of a retrotransposable element. The 1329-base pair full-length cDNA, clone 4/2-4/1, contains an open reading frame coding for a protein of 336 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 38 kDa. This protein shows a 58% overall sequence homology with the 37-kDa yeast transaldolase. Antibodies raised against a 22-kDa recombinant polypeptide expressed from a 474-base pair 5' fragment of clone 4/2-4/1, containing repetitive exons 2 and 3, cross-reacted with yeast transaldolase and recognized the 38-kDa native human protein. Detection of a retrotransposon in the coding sequence of the human transaldolase gene demonstrates the importance of these repetitive elements in evolution of the eukaryotic genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Repetitive element sequence-based PCR for species and strain discrimination in the genus Listeria.

Repetitive element sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) was used to generate DNA fingerprints for Listeria spp. Two primer sets (REP 1R-I REP 2-I and ERIC 1R ERIC 2) used in respectively REP- and ERIC-PCR revealed that bacteria of the genus Listeria possess short repetitive extragenic palindromic elements and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequences. Specific band profiles obtained by ERIC-PCR enabled the identification of Listeria species. With both REP- and ERIC-PCR the L. monocytogenes serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, 3b and 4b could be clearly distinguished from each other. Within the serotype 1/2a, REP-PCR showed a higher discriminative potential than ERIC-PCR and a comparable discriminative potential as RAPD combining 3-4 primers.

Base Sequence↗

A short, highly repetitive element in intron -1 of the human c-Ha-ras gene acts as a block to transcriptional readthrough by a viral promoter.

We have identified a short, highly repetitive element within intron -1 of the human c-Ha-ras gene. This element was found to be transcribed in both orientations and to be homologous to heterogeneous nonpolyadenylated transcripts. The repetitive element blocked transcriptional readthrough from a strong upstream viral promoter but allowed unimpaired readthrough from the c-Has-ras promoter. We suggest that it may serve to prevent excessive transcription into the coding region of the gene under such circumstances as viral insertion.

Cell Line↗

Repetitive elements in the third intron of murine apolipoprotein A-I gene.

Genomic DNAs containing the gene encoding apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) from four strains of mice and three strains of rats have been sequenced. Some peculiar repetitive sequences were found in the third intron of apoA-I of the murine species. The striking features include regular tandem repeats of C(A)4 and C(A)6 in mice and long A-tracts in rats. Not completely identical but very similar motifs were found in mice or rats belonging to the same species while repetitive elements from different species show some variation from their species-specific consensus sequences. These repetitive motifs are very similar to the sequences flanking human Alu and rodent B1 repetitive elements, although no evidence for the existence of Alu or B1 was found near the peculiar repetitive DNA sequences in apoA-I gene.

Animals↗

Repetitive element PCR fingerprinting (rep-PCR) using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) primers is not necessarily directed at ERIC elements.

We examined the use of enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) sequences in PCR on the DNAs of various bacteria, bacteriophage, invertebrates, fungi, plants and vertebrates and have shown that complex ERIC-PCR patterns can be readily produced from all of these target organisms. A range of annealing temperatures was tested, from 52 degrees C (the commonly used annealing temperature) to 66 degrees C (the approximate Tm of ERIC primers). At the higher temperatures, most bands failed to amplify, the exception being a subset of bands from enterobacterial targets. It was concluded that ERIC-PCR does not necessarily direct amplification from genuine ERIC sequences.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

Role of a 461-bp G-rich repetitive element in H19 transgene imprinting.

The molecular mechanism leading to the imprinted expression of genes is poorly understood. While no conserved cis-acting elements have been identified within the known loci, many imprinted genes are located near directly repetitive sequence elements, suggesting that such repeats might play a role in imprinted gene expression. The maternally expressed mouse H19 gene is located approximately 1.5 kb downstream from a 461-bp G-rich repetitive element. We have used a transgenic model to investigate whether this element is essential for H19 imprinting. Previous results demonstrated that a transgene, which contains 14 kb of H19 sequence, exhibits parent-of-origin specific expression and methylation analogous to the endogenous H19 imprinting pattern. Here, we have generated transgenes lacking the G-rich repeat. One transgene, containing a deletion of the G-rich repetitive element but which includes an additional 1.7 kb of 5' H19 sequence, is imprinted similarly to the endogenous H19 gene. To determine whether the G-rich repeat is conserved in other imprinted mammalian H19 homologues, additional 5' flanking sequences were cloned from the rat and human. This element is conserved in the rat but not in human DNA. These results suggest that the 461-bp G-rich repetitive element is not essential for H19 imprinting.

Animals↗

GH3 cell-specific expression of Kv1.5 gene. Regulation by a silencer containing a dinucleotide repetitive element.

A silencer element (Kv1.5 repressor element; KRE) was characterized by deletion analyses in the promoter of Kv1.5, a voltage-gated potassium channel. The silencer element selectively decreases expression of Kv1.5- and thymidine kinase-chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase reporter gene constructs in cell lines that do not express Kv1.5 polypeptide. It contains a dinucleotide repetitive element (poly(GT)19(GA)1(CA)15(GA)16), and self-associates spontaneously in vitro to form complexes with slow electrophoretic mobility. Deletion of the repetitive element abolished self-association in vitro and the silencing activity in transient transfection experiments in vivo. Electromobility gel shift assays of KRE with GH3 cells nuclear extracts detected the formation of a unique DNA-protein complex, which was not detectable in Chinese hamster ovary and COS-7 cells. This complex does not react with an antibody against nonhistone high mobility group 1 protein, which binds KRE in gel retardation assays. These observations establish that a dinucleotide tandem repeat sequence, capable of self-association, forms part of a cell-specific silencer element in a mammalian gene.

Animals↗

Typing of Listeria monocytogenes strains by repetitive element sequence-based PCR.

Listeria monocytogenes strains possess short repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) elements and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) sequences. We used repetitive element sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) to evaluate the potential of REP and ERIC elements for typing L. monocytogenes strains isolated from humans, animals, and foods. On the basis of rep-PCR fingerprints, L. monocytogenes strains were divided into four major clusters matching origin of isolation. rep-PCR fingerprints of human and animal isolates were different from those of food isolates. Computer evaluation of rep-PCR fingerprints allowed discrimination among the tested serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, 3b, and 4b within each major cluster. The index of discrimination calculated for 52 epidemiologically unrelated isolates of L. monocytogenes was 0.98 for REP- and ERIC-PCR. Our results suggest that rep-PCR can provide an alternative method for L. monocytogenes typing.

Animals↗

Use of competitive PCR to assay copy number of repetitive elements in banana.

Banana is one of the most important subtropical fruit crops. Genetic improvement by traditional breeding strategies is difficult and better knowledge of genomic structure is needed. Repeated sequences are powerful markers for genetic fingerprinting. The method proposed here to determine the copy number of nuclear repetitive elements is based on competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and can also be used for quantifying cytosolic sequences. The reliability of this method was investigated on crude preparations of total DNA. Variations due to the heterogeneity of crude DNA extracts showed that a single locus reference is needed for accurate quantification. A mapped microsatellite locus was used to normalize copy number measurements. Copy number assay of repetitive elements using this method clearly distinguishes between the two banana subspecies investigated: Musa acuminata spp. banskii and M. acuminata spp. malaccensis. Two repetitive sequence families, pMaCIR1115 and pA9-26, were assayed that cover up to 1% of the M. acuminata genome. Their copy number varied up to six fold between the two subspecies. Furthermore, sequence quantification showed that mitochondrial genomes are present in crude leaf-extracted banana DNA at up to 40 copies per cell.

Blotting, Southern↗