Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “cDNA”

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 595 records · Page 33Linked to original sources

A highly efficient method for long-chain cDNA synthesis using trehalose and betaine.

Obtaining full-length cDNA is important for many molecular biology methods like cDNA library construction or RACE-PCR (rapid amplification of cDNA ends). We have found that the inclusion of betaine alone and in combination with trehalose in reverse transcription results in longer cDNA synthesis products. As shown on the 14-kb long clarithrin mRNA with real-time PCR, a combination of 2 M betaine and 0.6 M trehalose leads to almost 9 times more cDNA with a length of 12.5 kb. This is due to the ability of betaine to resolve secondary structures of the RNA, thereby decreasing its melting temperature. The application of betaine in combination with trehalose should prove useful in all laboratory methods relying on full-length cDNA. (USA).

Betaine↗

Molecular cloning of human class IV alcohol dehydrogenase cDNA.

A cDNA encoding a new type of alcohol dehydrogenase was cloned from a human stomach cDNA library. PCR amplification of 5'-stretch human stomach lambda gt11 library, using degenerate inosine-containing oligonucleotide probes compatible with peptide sequences of human sigma-ADH, resulted in a single product. Subsequently, internal non-degenerate primers were constructed according to the sequences occurring in the product. By PCR with combinations of these new primers and lambda gt11 forward and reverse primers, fragments of the cDNA containing its 5' and 3' ends were amplified. The full length cDNA sequence has 1125 nucleotides with a 72% similarity to those of human class I ADH. The polypeptide sequence, predicted from the cDNA, corresponds to 373 amino acids with a high degree of similarity (96%) to fragments of sigma-ADH previously reported. Northern hybridization analysis with the specific probe for the mRNA of this protein showed that it is expressed in the human stomach but not in the liver. These data indicate that the cDNA we cloned is that of human class IV ADH.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA for the highly conserved HMG-like protein (Pf16) gene of Plasmodium falciparum.

A cDNA clone (PfHB3-2-4) of 1538 bp corresponding to the highly conserved HMG-like protein (Pf16) was isolated. However, northern analysis suggests that the mRNA is about 2.2 to 2.3 kb. Analysis by RT-PCR indicated that the 0.6 to 0.7 kb sequence missing in the cDNA maps to the 3' end, suggesting that the cDNA is terminated within the 26 adenosine residues that are in the middle of the Pf16 sequence. The most unique feature about this cDNA is the presence of two open reading frames (ORF), one from nucleotides 91 to 927 and the other starting from 1421. The second ORF corresponds to Pf16. Expression of the cDNA clones in Escherichia coli and translation in rabbit reticulocytes of RNA transcribed from the T7 promoter of the cDNA clones revealed that only the 3' end Pf16 is translated from this mRNA. Further experiments with antisense oligonucleotides specific for Pf16 indicated that the Pf16 protein serves an important function in the life cycle of the parasite.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The cloning and characterization of chick tyrosinase from a novel embryonic cDNA library.

Very little is known about the genes involved in the regulation of avian skin and feather pigmentation. In mammals, two gene families have been identified as being important for the regulation of melanin biosynthesis. To isolate the avian equivalents of these families, we have generated an embryonic chick melanocyte cDNA library. Neural crest cells from 500 black chick embryos were cultured under conditions supportive of melanocyte differentiation and proliferation. A cDNA library was constructed and screened with a mouse tyrosinase cDNA probe. Nineteen clones were obtained, seven of which cross-hybridized to a mouse tyrosinase cDNA on Southern blots. The longest of these clones, B8.3 (1.9 kb), was sequenced and found to share 99.7% nucleotide and 99.8% amino acid sequence homology to a reported chick tyrosinase cDNA. Both Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization demonstrated that clone B8.3 was expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium of chick embryos. Our results suggest therefore that the cDNA library described here may allow the cloning of novel melanogenic genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of cDNA-encoding N-terminal region of the quail lutropin receptor.

For understanding the evolutionary relationships between gonadotropins [GTHs: lutropin (LH) and follitropin (FSH)] and their receptors, we attempted to characterize the extracellular domain of the receptors, which is thought to be a key region of hormone binding, in nonmammalian species, and to compare the information to that of the known mammalian data. For this purpose, we designed two sets of sense and antisense oligonucleotides as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers, referring to the known mammalian GTH receptors, such as LH receptors of human, pig, and rat, and FSH receptors of human and rat. All possible combinations of the primers showed the successful amplification of cDNA of LH receptor without contamination of FSH receptor cDNA from rat testicular RNA samples. With these primers, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was applied to the gonads of nonmammalian species (quail, snake, tortoise, newt, and bullfrog). Only the quail, however, showed the specific amplification when only one set of primers was used. Thus, the PCR product of the quail was used as a probe for Northern blot and in situ hybridization. By Northern blot analysis, a single size of mRNA (3 kb) was identified from quail testicular poly A+ RNA. The distribution of mRNA visualized by in situ hybridization was limited only on Leydig cells of quail testis. These results suggest that a part of the quail LH receptor cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR. The nucleotide and predicted peptide sequences of this amplified cDNA were compared with those of mammalian receptors. The size of characterized cDNA sequence was 519 bp, which is completely identical with those of mammalian LH receptors. The homology of both cDNA and predicted peptide was about 70% of those of mammalian LH receptors (intramammalian, about 80%). In spite of the relatively low homology, the positions of cystein residues and potential N-linked glycosylation sites in the peptide were completely conserved in all species compared (human, pig, rat, and quail). The conserved portions indicate their importance for the molecular conformation and specific ligand binding activity of LH receptors.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the cDNA for thyroid-stimulating hormone beta subunit of Muscovy duck.

The cDNA-encoding thyroid-stimulating hormone beta subunit (TSHbeta) of the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) was cloned and sequenced to investigate the phylogenic diversity and evolution of TSH molecules. Oligonucleotide primers were designed and used for reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction amplification of a TSHbeta cDNA fragment from the total cellular RNA of pituitary glands. The remaining sequence was completed by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The nucleotide sequence of Muscovy duck TSHbeta cDNA includes 66 bp of 5'-untranslated region (UTR), 402 bp of coding region, and 82 bp of 3'-UTR, followed by an 18-bp poly(A)(+) tract. The total number of amino acids deduced from the cDNA of duck TSHbeta is 134, with a signal peptide of 19 amino acids and a mature protein of 115 amino acids. The homologies of the amino acid sequence of Muscovy duck TSHbeta compared with those of chicken, quail, mammals, amphibian (frog), and teleosts are 97, 98, 68-69, 56, and 42-47%, respectively. To test for tissue specificity of the duck TSHbeta cDNA, total cellular RNA samples from brain, liver, pituitary gland, testis, and thyroid gland were analyzed by Northern blotting. A band, approximately 700 bases, was found in the pituitary gland alone. The pituitary tissue fragments were treated for 24 h in serum-free medium containing thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), triiodothyronine (T(3)), or thyroxine (T(4)). TRH increased and T(3) and T(4) decreased TSHbeta mRNA levels. This study demonstrated that the amino acid sequence of TSHbeta subunits is highly conserved among birds, exhibiting a high degree of inter-order homology, and that hypothalamic TRH upregulates the TSHbeta mRNA expression in duck.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human indolethylamine N-methyltransferase: cDNA cloning and expression, gene cloning, and chromosomal localization.

Indolethylamine N-methyltransferase (INMT) catalyzes the N-methylation of tryptamine and structurally related compounds. We recently cloned and characterized the rabbit INMT cDNA and gene as a step toward cloning the cDNA and gene for this enzyme in humans. We have now used a PCR-based approach to clone a human INMT cDNA that had a 792-bp open reading frame that encoded a 263-amino-acid protein 88% identical in sequence to rabbit INMT. Northern blot analysis of 35 tissues showed that a 2.7-kb INMT mRNA species was expressed in most tissues. When the cDNA was expressed in COS-1 cells, the recombinant enzyme catalyzed the methylation of tryptamine with an apparent K(m) value of 2.9 mM. The human cDNA was then used to clone the human INMT gene from a human genomic BAC library. The gene was 5471 bp in length, consisted of three exons, and was structurally similar to the rabbit INMT gene as well as genes for nicotinamide N-methyltransferase and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase in several species. All INMT exon-intron splice junctions conformed to the "GT-AG" rule, and no canonical TATA or CAAT sequences were present within the 5'-flanking region of the gene. Human INMT mapped to chromosome 7p15.2-p15.3 on the basis of both PCR analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Finally, two possible single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified within exon 3, both of which altered the encoded amino acid. The cloning and expression of a human INMT cDNA, as well as the cloning, structural characterization, and mapping of its gene represent steps toward future studies of the function and regulation of this methyltransferase enzyme in humans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Efficient cloning of full-length cDNAs based on cDNA size fractionation.

The ability to generate and obtain full-length (FL) cDNAs is of critical importance to the field of genomics. Most cDNAs in a traditional cDNA library lack the initiating 5' ATG, making it difficult to obtain a FL clone. We report here on an improved protocol for the preparation of FL enriched cDNA libraries. We demonstrate that if good quality RNA is used in the cDNA synthesis, high-quality, FL cDNA can be generated for messages upward of 7 kb. In addition, we demonstrate the utility of size fractionation as a means to produce libraries containing a high percentage of initiating 5' ATG containing clones with insert sizes greater than 4 kb. The method is simple, cost efficient, and can be performed in most laboratories equipped to perform molecular biology. Lastly, the novel methodologies used in the analysis of the cDNA and library should prove useful to others working to create high-quality cDNA libraries.

Animals↗

A general bacterial expression system for functional analysis of cDNA-encoded proteins.

A general system for functional analysis of cDNA-encoded proteins is described. The basic concept involves the expression in Escherichia coli of selected portions of cDNAs in an approach toward the understanding of the function of the corresponding proteins. A selected cDNA is expressed as part of a fusion protein used for immunization to elicit antibodies, and a corresponding fusion protein, having the cDNA-encoded portion in common, for purification of target protein-specific antibodies. This antiserum could be used for functional analysis of the cDNA-encoded protein, e.g., by immunohistology. Two general expression vector systems for E. coli have been constructed, both (i) designed with multiple cloning sites in three different reading frames, (ii) having their protein production controlled by the tightly regulated T7 promoter, and (iii) enabling affinity purification of the expressed target proteins by fusions to IgG-binding domains derived from staphylococcal protein A or a serum albumin-binding protein derived from streptococcal protein G, respectively. This novel system has been evaluated by expressing five cDNAs, isolated from prepubertal mouse testis by a differential cDNA library screening strategy. All five clones could be expressed intracellularly in E. coli as fusion proteins with high production levels, ranging from 4 to 500 mg/liter, and affinity purification yielded essentially full-length products. Characterization of affinity-purified antibodies revealed that there exists no cross-reactivity between the two fusion systems and that such antibodies indeed could be used for immunohistology. The implications for the described system for large-scale functional analysis of cDNA libraries are discussed.

Animals↗

Hepatitis delta virus cDNA monomer can be used in transfection experiments to initiate viral RNA replication.

The complementary DNA (cDNA) of hepatitis delta virus (HDV), constructed as tandem repeats under appropriate exogenous promoters, has been used to initiate viral replication in transfection experiments. Whether the structure of tandem repeats is essential has not yet been systematically examined. In this study, expression vectors containing only an HDV cDNA monomer, permutated at unique position of the genome, were shown still able to initiate viral replication. Furthermore, HDV cDNA monomer, separated from plasmid sequences by restriction enzyme digestion, also could be used to initiate viral RNA replication. The competence of HDV cDNA alone to direct viral RNA production suggested the presence of cryptic internal promoter-like elements. Such elements actually demonstrated by the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay. Therefore, HDV cDNA, in contrast to that of viroids, could be used to initiate viral RNA replication in monomeric form. This observation simplified the use of HDV cDNA for studying viral biology in transfection systems.

Cell Line↗

Infectious cDNA clones of Langat tick-borne flavivirus that differ from their parent in peripheral neurovirulence.

Tick-borne flavivirus strain Langat TP21 (LGT TP21) recovered from ticks, is naturally attenuated for humans but retains demonstrable neurovirulence and peripheral virulence ("neuroinvasiveness") for mice. Previously a mutant, strain E5, less virulent for mice was derived from LGT TP21. Multiple attempts to prepare a full-length infectious TP21 cDNA from cDNA fragments cloned in E. coli were uniformly unsuccessful. A more informative sequence than that obtained from these cloned cDNA fragments and similar E5 cDNA fragments was derived from RT-PCR fragments that had not been cloned in E. coli. Comparison of the RT-PCR consensus sequence of TP21 and E5 identified only seven amino acid differences that might be responsible for the observed difference in virulence of these strains for mice. Eleven independent infectious cDNA clones of TP21 were recovered using two overlapping long RT-PCR fragments. Importantly, low-titered virus used to prepare cDNA as template for PCR was harvested early in the growth cycle to minimize the frequency of deletion mutants that accumulated late in infection. The four analyzed rescued clones exhibited clone-specific minimal divergence from the consensus sequence but this limited variation was associated with diminished peripheral virulence for immunocompetent mice. Manipulation of these clones should facilitate elucidation of LGT virulence.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Differential screening of mitochondrial cDNA libraries from male-fertile and cytoplasmic male-sterile sugar-beet reveals genome rearrangements at atp6 and atpA loci.

As part of a strategy to define differences in genome organization and expression between cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) and male-fertile (MF) sugar-beet mitochondria, cDNA libraries from both mitochondrial genotypes were constructed. Preliminary screening with ribosomal RNA gene probes identified candidate cDNA clones corresponding to structural genes. In addition, reciprocal hybridization experiments were performed using labelled first-strand cDNA to identify uniquely transcribed sequences. One cDNA clone (pYC700) is unique to CMS mitochondria and is located upstream of the F0F1-ATPase subunit 6 gene (atp6). Another cDNA clone (pYC130), when used as a probe in northern hybridization analysis, revealed novel transcript profiles in CMS sugar-beet mitochondria. Sequence analysis of this cDNA showed strong homology with the F0F1-ATPase subunit alpha (atpA) coding sequences from several higher plants. The atp6 and atpA loci from each genotype were cloned and the genomic organization, DNA sequence and transcription of each locus was studied. Differences in the transcript profiles of each gene are a consequence of genomic rearrangements 5' to the coding sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of pollen polygalacturonase encoded by several cDNA clones in maize.

A full-length cDNA clone, named PG1, abundantly expressed in late stages of pollen development, has been isolated from a cDNA library using a differential screening method with cDNA probes representative of microspores at early or late developmental stages. The encoded 410 amino acid polypeptide has significant homology with various polygalacturonases (PG) described elsewhere. Two polypeptides, of 49 and 53 kDa respectively, have been identified in the active PG fraction, isolated from mature pollen by immuno-cross-reaction with tomato PG antibodies. According to their N-terminal sequence, they can be identified as being mature peptides encoded by the PG1 cDNA clone. We propose that these two proteins derive from a unique precursor through several post-translational events, including the excision of a 22 amino-terminal signal peptide and glycosylation. PG-encoding genes from a small genomic family. Sequence analysis of three PG cDNA clones shows that they are closely related. The divergence of nucleotides between these three cDNA clones is 1%. They encode the same product.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Full-length cDNA sequence of X-linked G6PD of an Australian marsupial, the wallaroo.

In order to study the mechanism of X Chromosome (Chr) inactivation in marsupials, the cDNA for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) from an Australian marsupial, the wallaroo (Macropus robustus), was cloned. A partial clone containing the 3' half of the cDNA was obtained by screening a liver cDNA library. The majority of the coding region was obtained by polymerase chain reaction of cDNA with primers designed from regions of conservation between human and opossum G6PD. The 5' end was obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. High homology was observed between mammalian species in the coding region. The 5' untranslated region is highly G+C rich, and appears to be part of a CpG island, as is the case in the human and mouse genes. This is the first report of the full sequence of the cDNA for any marsupial X-linked gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Study of salivary gland specific transcripts in Chironomus tentans by cDNA analysis.

Preparative amounts of polyA-containing RNA were purified from isolated salivary glands from Chironomus tentans and used as a template for the synthesis of cDNA by AMV reverse transcriptase. The yield of cDNA corresponded to 8-14% of the input polyA RNA. Using the Alwine hybridization method (Alwine et al., 1977) it was shown that only a minor part of the cDNA hybridized to the 75S RNA band and that the major hybridization occurred to a hitherto unknown gland-specific polyA RNA transcript of 1.3 kb length. In addition, the cDNA hybridized to a gland-specific polyA-RNA transcript of 2 kb length. - The majority of the cDNA had a size of 0.4 or 0.7 kb in equal amounts. A Southern hybridization of the cDNA to an EcoRI digest of genomic DNA showed in addition to a very weak hybridization to the 40 kb band of the Balbiani ring genes, hybridization to several restriction fragments with sizes from 1.3 to 16 kb.

Animals↗

Structure of rabbit butyrylcholinesterase gene deduced from genomic clones and from cDNA with introns.

1. Three clones were isolated from a rabbit genomic library. They covered the entire coding sequence of the rabbit BChE gene. The positions of splice sites between exons 2, 3, and 4 are identical to those found in the human gene (Arpagaus et al., 1990). Exon 2 covers 83% of the coding sequence. This contrasts with the small size of exon 3 (167 bp) and large size of introns 2 and 3 (greater than 20 kb each). The active-site serine at position 198 is found in a highly conserved region. Aspartic acids in positions 91 and 170 are conserved in human and rabbit, and one of them could be involved in the calytic triad. Aspartic acid 70, present in the anionic site of human BChE, is also conserved in rabbit BChE. The coding sequences of human and rabbit BChE are 89% identical over 744 bp around the active-site serine. 2. In addition to the genomic clones, one cDNA clone (BNY1) was isolated. This cDNA was unusual in that it contained intronic sequences. The insert of 1 kb contained 167 coding bases homologous to the nucleotide sequence 1434 to 1600 of human cDNA and corresponded to exon 3 of the BChE gene. On each side of this coding region, consensus sequences of intron-exon boundaries were found. 3. The presence of large-size transcripts in Northern blots and the existence of a cDNA copy of unprocessed mRNA found in the BNY1 clone suggest a slow processing of transcripts. A genomic sequence unspliced in a cDNA of Torpedo AChE could give a transmembrane domain (Sikorav et al., 1988); the corresponding sequence in rabbit BChE gene, also found in a cDNA, had no homology with Torpedo AChE but could be translated in a hydrophobic C-terminal domain if maintained in mature mRNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A hybridization and enzyme blocking method to enrich minor cDNA sequences.

A method is presented which allows for the enrichment of low frequency cDNA sequences. The crucial step in the procedure is the hybridization of a pool of cDNA to homologous or heterologous RNA to a Rot value which will leave minor sequences in a single strand cDNA form while the major sequences form cDNA:RNA hybrids. This allows subsequent enzymatic differentiation between major and minor sequences resulting ultimately in the degradation of the major sequences. The procedure is general and simple as it requires no column chromatography step. The method is designed to integrate into a widely used cDNA cloning protocol and results either in double-stranded cDNA which can be used for molecular cloning or as a source of probes for hybridization.

Animals↗

Retroviral transduction of interferon-gamma cDNA into a nonimmunogenic murine fibrosarcoma: generation of T cells in draining lymph nodes capable of treating established parental metastatic tumor.

Gene modification of tumor cells with the cDNA for interferon gamma (IFN gamma) has been shown to increase the immunogenicity of some tumor cells. In order to explore further the possible therapeutic relevance of these previous findings, two clones of the nonimmunogenic MCA-102 fibrosarcoma of C57BL/6 origin were retrovirally transduced with the cDNA encoding murine IFN gamma: 102.4JK (4JK), a clone with relatively high major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expression, and 102.24JK (24JK), a clone with low expression of surface MHC class I molecules. Retroviral transduction of tumor cells with the cDNA encoding for IFN gamma resulted in a substantial up-regulation of MHC class I surface expression in the 24JK clone but little change of class I in the 4JK clone. In an attempt to generate antitumor lymphocytes, these gene-modified cells were inoculated into mouse footpads and draining lymph nodes (DLN) were removed, dispersed, and cultured in vitro for 10 days with irradiated tumor cells and interleukin-2. DLN from mice bearing either unmodified tumor or tumor transduced with cDNA encoding neomycin resistance (NeoR) or IFN gamma, were used to treat recipients harboring 3-day pulmonary metastases induced by the parental, unmodified tumor. Treatment with DLN cells obtained following the injection of 24JK tumor cells modified with the gene for IFN gamma significantly reduced the number of pulmonary metastases in four separate experiments, compared to groups treated by DLN cells generated from inoculation of either the unmodified, parental 24JK clone or the same clone transduced with the NeoR gene only. In contrast, DLN cells induced either by IFN gamma-transduced 4JK (high expression of MHC class I) or an unmodified 4JK tumor (moderate expression of MHC class I) had significant but equal therapeutic efficacy. Although the in vitro growth rate of tumor cell lines was unaffected by the insertion of the mouse IFN gamma cDNA, their in vivo (s.c.) growth rates were significantly slower than those of the nontransduced tumors. Thus, after retroviral transduction of the murine IFN gamma cDNA into a nonimmunogenic tumor with a very low level of surface expression of MHC class I, modified tumor cells could elicit therapeutic T cells from DLN capable of successfully treating established pulmonary metastases upon adoptive transfer. This strategy significantly confirms previous observations on the potential therapeutic effects of gene modification of tumor cells with IFN gamma and extends the realm of therapeutic possibilities to include the use of DLN cells for the development of T-cell based immunotherapies against nonimmunogenic human tumors.

Animals↗