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The complete sequence of the mucosal pathogen Ureaplasma urealyticum.

The comparison of the genomes of two very closely related human mucosal pathogens, Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, has helped define the essential functions of a self-replicating minimal cell, as well as what constitutes a mycoplasma. Here we report the complete sequence of a more distant phylogenetic relative of those bacteria, Ureaplasma urealyticum (parvum biovar), which is also a mucosal pathogen of humans. It is the third mycoplasma to be sequenced, and has the smallest sequenced prokaryotic genome except for M. genitalium. Although the U. urealyticum genome is similar to the two sequenced mycoplasma genomes, features make this organism unique among mycoplasmas and all bacteria. Almost all ATP synthesis is the result of urea hydrolysis, which generates an energy-producing electrochemical gradient. Some highly conserved eubacterial enzymes appear not to be encoded by U. urealyticum, including the cell-division protein FtsZ, chaperonins GroES and GroEL, and ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase. U. urealyticum has six closely related iron transporters, which apparently arose through gene duplication, suggesting that it has a kind of respiration system not present in other small genome bacteria The genome is only 25.5% G+C in nucleotide content, and the G+C content of individual genes may predict how essential those genes are to ureaplasma survival.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Roles for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit large cytoplasmic loop sequences in receptor expression and function.

To evaluate possible physiological roles of the large cytoplasmic loops (C2) and neighboring transmembrane domains of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits, we generated novel fusion constructs in which human nAChR alpha4, beta2, or beta4 subunit C2 or C2 and neighboring sequences were replaced by corresponding sequences from the mouse serotonin type 3A (5-HT3A) receptor subunit. Following stable expression in human SH-EP1 cells, we found that extensive sequence substitutions involving third and fourth transmembrane domains and neighboring "proximal" C2 sequences (e.g., beta2 H322-V335 and V449-R460) did not allow functional expression of nAChR containing chimeric subunits. However, expression of functional nAChR was achieved containing wild-type alpha4 subunits and chimeric beta2 (beta2chi) subunits whose "nested" C2 domain sequences K336-S448 were replaced with the corresponding 5-HT3A subunit sequences. Whereas these findings suggested indispensable roles for M3/M4 transmembrane and/or proximal C2 sequences in alpha4beta2-nAChR function, nested C2 sequences in the beta2 subunit are not essential for functional receptor expression. Ligand-binding analyses also revealed only subtle differences in pharmacological profiles of alpha4beta2-nAChR compared with alpha4beta2chi-nAChR. Nevertheless, there was heightened emergence of agonist-mediated self-inhibition of alpha4beta2chi function, greater sensitivity to functional blockade by a number of antagonists, and faster and more complete acute desensitization of alpha4beta2chi-nAChR than for alpha4beta2-nAChR. These studies are consistent with unexpected roles of nested C2 sequences in nAChR function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Trypsin-sensitive neutralization site on VP1 of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis viruses.

We generated Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus mutants resistant to several neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) having their epitopes near a trypsin cleavage site of VP1. Neutralization and Western blot (immunoblot) studies suggest that two of the MAbs have identical epitopes that partly overlap the epitope of a third MAb. Sequencing of RNA of the mutants localized the epitopes to a site near the carboxyl end of VP1. The limited diversity of nucleotide changes seen in the mutants and the immunodominance of the site suggest that the carboxyl end of VP1 may have an important function.

Animals↗

Evolution of the V3 envelope domain in proviral sequences and isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 during transition of the viral biological phenotype.

The third variable domain (V3) of the envelope gene of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 contains a major neutralization epitope and determinants of syncytium-inducing (SI) capacity and replication rate (reviewed by J. P. Moore and P. L. Nara, AIDS Suppl. 2:S21-S33, 1991). Sequences were generated from DNA of samples taken 3 months apart over a period of 24 and 30 months from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of two individuals, both before and after cocultivation with uninfected donor PBMC. The isolated virus shifted from the non-syncytium-inducing (NSI) phenotype to the SI phenotype during the study period. This shift was associated with distinct changes in the V3 domain in both patients. The association of the phenotype shift with the V3 sequence changes was confirmed by construction of viruses with chimeric V3 loops. The shift from NSI- to SI-associated V3 variants was also seen in the uncultured PBMC of both patients, but not until 3 and 9 months after the detection of SI virus in culture. In the samples of uncultured PBMC DNA, several subgroups of sequences were found, indicating that the process of evolution may not be gradual and that several distinct populations can coexist. The paucity of intermediate sequences indicated that strong selection pressure was exerted on this part of the envelope. The early emergence of disease-associated SI variants in cultured material indicates that virus culture may have relevance for the in vivo situation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics.

The use of new beta-lactam antibiotics has led to selection of novel forms of resistance. Newer-generation cephalosporins, ureidopenicillins and monobactams, but not carbapenems (e.g. imipenem), are labile to Class I chromosomal beta-lactamases and tend to select mutants of E. cloacae and P. aeruginosa that constitutively synthesize high levels of these enzymes. Selection occurs more rarely with Serratia, Citrobacter and indole positive protease. Third-generation cephalosporins and monobactams, but not carbapenems and cephamycins, are inactivated by a range of new variants of the well-known TEM and SHV-1 plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases. These variants have arisen by spontaneous mutation and differ only marginally in amino-acid sequence from their parent enzymes. Already prevalent in France, their potential for spread is a major concern. Outer membrane impermeability is another source of resistance to beta-lactams in Gram-negative bacteria. Rare in enterobacteria, it is more important in P. aeruginosa, where broad and narrow spectrum forms can arise via mutation. The narrow spectrum form involves loss of the D2 outer membrane protein and gives resistance to carbapenems but not other beta-lactams. The broad spectrum form, of unknown mechanism, simultaneously affects many beta-lactam and unrelated (e.g. quinolone) drugs, but not imipenem. Target (penicillin-binding protein) insensitivity also can mediate resistance, most notably in MRSA. Unlike the mechanisms described above, this affects all beta-lactams, including carbapenems as well as penicillins and cephalosporins.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Juvenile form of mucopolysaccharidosis VI (Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome). A C-terminal extension causes instability but increases catalytic efficiency of arylsulfatase B.

A deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase B results in the lysosomal storage disorder Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome or mucopolysaccharidosis type VI. Severe, intermediate and mild forms of this autosomal recessively inherited disease can be clinically differentiated. To determine the molecular defect in a patient with the intermediate form of the disorder, DNA fragments generated from the patient's mRNA by reverse transcription and subsequent amplification by the polymerase chain reaction were subcloned and sequenced. The mRNA transcribed from one allele contains a 244-base pair deletion causing a frameshift and a truncation of the open reading frame. The C-terminal third of the encoded mutant polypeptide has a nonsense sequence. This mutation is due to a deletion of exon 5 in this allele. A silent A to G transition at nucleotide 1191 was present in the same allele, and the second allele was characterized by a T to C transition at nucleotide 1600 causing a mutation of the translational stop codon to a glutamine codon (*534Q) and extending the encoded polypeptide by 50 amino acids. Stable expression of the *534Q allele in LTK- cells resulted in a mutant precursor 4 kDa larger than the wild-type precursor. The majority of the mutant precursor appears to be degraded before reaching the trans Golgi. This is consistent with an altered polypeptide structure, where a number of missing or masked epitopes were observed in an enzyme immunobinding assay using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Immunoquantification analysis showed that epitopes were most likely masked, as missing epitopes could be reformed by binding the mutant protein to a polyclonal antibody of arylsulfatase B. It is suggested that the additional amino acids at the C terminus of the arylsulfatase B polypeptide induce a protein conformational change. *534Q mutant polypeptide escaping degradation is sorted to dense lysosomes. The mutant polypeptide has an approximately 9-fold higher catalytic efficiency than wild-type arylsulfatase B.

Alleles↗

N-terminal amino acid residues mediate protein-protein interactions between DNA-bound alpha /beta -type small, acid-soluble spore proteins from Bacillus species.

The binding of alpha/beta-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins (SASP) to DNA of spores of Bacillus species is the major determinant of DNA resistance to a variety of damaging treatments. The primary sequence of alpha/beta-type SASP is highly conserved; however, the N-terminal third of these proteins is less well conserved than the C-terminal two-thirds. To determine the functional importance of residues in the N-terminal region of alpha/beta-type SASP, variants of SspC (a minor alpha/beta-type SASP from Bacillus subtilis) with modified N termini were generated and their structural and DNA binding properties studied in vitro and in vivo. SspC variants with deletions of up to 14 residues ( approximately 20% of SspC residues) were able to bind DNA in vitro and adopted similar conformations when bound to DNA, as determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy and protein-protein cross-linking. Progressive deletion of up to 11 N-terminal residues resulted in proteins with progressively lower DNA binding affinity. However, SspC(Delta)(14) (in which 14 N-terminal residues have been deleted) showed significantly higher affinity for DNA than the larger proteins, SspC(Delta)(10) and SspC(Delta)(11). The affinity of these proteins for DNA was shown to be largely dependent upon the charge of the first few N-terminal residues. These results are interpreted in the context of a model for DNA-dependent alpha/beta-type SASP protein-protein interaction involving the N-terminal regions of these proteins.

Acids↗

A sequence within the first transmembrane domain of PEN-2 is critical for PEN-2-mediated endoproteolysis of presenilin 1.

Macromolecular complexes containing presenilins (PS), nicastrin (NCT), APH-1, and PEN-2 mediate the gamma-secretase cleavage of the beta-amyloid precursor protein and Notch. APH-1 and NCT stabilize the PS1 holoprotein, whereas PEN-2 is critical for endoproteolysis of PS1. To define the structural domains of PEN-2 that are necessary for mediating PS1 endoproteolysis and gamma-secretase activity, we coexpressed APH-1, NCT, and PS1 together with a series of PEN-2 mutants, which harbored deletions in hydrophilic segments, or chimeric PEN-2 molecules that contained heterologous transmembrane domains (TMDs). We now report that with the exception of the PEN-2 variants with deletions proximal to the TMDs, the vast majority of the deletion variants were functional. Mutants that were nonfunctional were also unstable but were rescued by transposition of a heterologous sequence containing conservative amino acid substitutions into the deleted region. Notably, the carboxyl-terminal hydrophilic domain of PEN-2 was dispensable for promoting PS1 endoproteolysis but was critical for stabilizing the resulting PS1 derivatives. More importantly, we demonstrated that a chimeric PEN-2 with a replacement of the TMD2 with the TMD1 from sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) is fully functional but that a chimeric PEN-2 with a replacement of the TMD1 with the TMD2 from SREBP-1 is not. The function of this latter chimera was rescued by the replacement of the proximal two-thirds of the SREBP-1 TMD2 with the proximal two-thirds of the authentic TMD1 from PEN-2. These results suggest that the proximal two-thirds of the PEN-2 TMD1 is functionally important for endoproteolysis of PS1 holoproteins and the generation of PS1 fragments, essential components of the gamma-secretase complex.

Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases↗

Nucleotide sequence and analysis of the mgl operon of Escherichia coli K12.

The nucleotide sequence of the Escherichia coli K12 beta-methylgalactoside transport operon, mgl, was determined. Primer extension analysis indicated that the synthesis of mRNA initiates at guanine residue 145 of the determined sequence. The operon contains three open reading frames (ORF). The operator proximal ORF, mglB, encodes the galactose binding protein, a periplasmic protein of 332 amino acids including the 23 residue amino-terminal signal peptide. Following a 62 nucleotide spacer, the second ORF, mglA, is capable of encoding a protein of 506 amino acids. The amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal halves of this protein are homologous to each other and each half contains a putative nucleotide binding site. The third ORF, mglC, is capable of encoding a hydrophobic protein of 336 amino acids which is thought to generate the transmembrane pore. The overall organization of the mglBAC operon and its potential to encode three proteins is similar to that of the ara FGH high affinity transport operon, located approximately 1 min away on the E. coli K12 chromosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

High-frequency DNA sequence polymorphisms in the insulin receptor gene detected by denaturing gradient gel blots.

A limiting factor in the study of genetic determinants of human disorders is the availability of informative DNA markers. In this report, we describe an application of the denaturing gradient gel blot method for detecting high-frequency DNA sequence polymorphisms in the human insulin receptor locus. Using two restriction enzymes and cDNA probes for the insulin receptor, we found five DNA polymorphisms. The probe that contained exons 4-10 of the insulin receptor gene detected two two-allelic polymorphisms in HinfI digests, one at denaturant concentrations of 38%/39% and the other at 46%/48%. The probe that contained exons 14-22 detected three two-allelic polymorphisms in Sau96I digests, the first at denaturant concentrations of 34%/35%, the second at 38%/39%, and the third at 46%/47%. All these DNA polymorphisms segregated in families in a Mendelian fashion, and the allelic distribution for each of them did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The identified polymorphisms were in linkage equilibrium and provided sufficient genetic information to determine parental haplotypes at the insulin receptor locus in small two-generation families. The denaturing gradient gel blot method is a very sensitive technique for identifying sequence polymorphisms in genomic DNA; its application will facilitate the search for genes involved in the development of many inherited disorders.

DNA↗

Stabilization of the 3' one-third of Escherichia coli ribosomal protein S20 mRNA in mutants lacking polynucleotide phosphorylase.

Mutations which largely inactivate polynucleotide phosphorylase and which render RNase II thermolabile exert two effects on the metabolism of the two nested mRNAs which encode ribosomal protein S20. (i) The lifetime of both mRNA species is extended 2.5-fold at 38 degrees C in a strain harboring both mutations. (ii) A relatively stable truncated fragment of these mRNAs accumulates to significant levels in strains lacking polynucleotide phosphorylase. The truncated RNA (Po RNA) is 147 to 148 residues long and is coterminal with the 3' ends of intact S20 mRNAs. Its 5' end appears to be generated by endonucleolytic cleavage to the 5' side of a G residue in the sequence AACCGAUC. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that S20 mRNAs can be degraded by alternative pathways. The normal pathway depends on functional polynucleotide phosphorylase and is concerted, since S20 mRNAs disappear without accumulation of detectable intermediates in the decay process. The slower alternative pathway is followed when polynucleotide phosphorylase is inactivated by mutation. This pathway is distinguished by segmental rather than concerted degradation of S20 mRNAs and involves at least one endonucleolytic cleavage. The 5' two-thirds of S20 mRNAs decays significantly more quickly than the 3' third in this latter mode of mRNA turnover.

Alleles↗

Identification of pif-2, a third conserved baculovirus gene required for per os infection of insects.

Infection of cultured insect cells with Spodoptera exigua multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) resulted in the generation of mutants with major genomic deletions. Some of the mutants lacked the ability to infect S. exigua larvae per os. The gene(s) responsible for this phenotype in SeMNPV was mapped within a contiguous sequence encoding ORFs 29-35. In this paper we have shown that SeMNPV ORFs 15-35 (including genes encoding cathepsin, chitinase, GP37, PTPT-2, EGT, PKIP-1 and ARIF-1) are not essential for virus replication in cell culture or by in vivo intrahaemocoelic injection. By site-specific deletion mutagenesis of a full-length infectious clone of SeMNPV (bacmid) using ET recombination in E. coli, a series of SeMNPV bacmid mutants with increasing deletions in ORFs 15-35 was generated. Analyses of these mutants indicated that a deletion of SeMNPV ORF35 (Se35) resulted in loss of oral infectivity of polyhedral occlusion bodies. Reinsertion of ORF35 in SeMNPV bacmids lacking Se35 rescued oral infectivity. We propose the name pif-2 for Se35 and its baculovirus homologues (e.g. Autographa californica MNPV ORF22), by analogy to a different gene recently characterized in Spodoptera littoralis NPV, which was designated per os infectivity factor (pif). Similar to the p74 gene, which encodes an essential structural protein of the occlusion-derived virus envelope, pif and pif-2 belong to a group of 30 genes that are conserved among the Baculoviradae.

Administration, Oral↗

A 34-amino acid peptide of the third component of complement mediates properdin binding.

In this study, a peptide of 34 amino acids from the Mr 40,000 C terminus alpha-chain fragment of C3 was found to mediate properdin (P) binding. Treatment of the Mr 40,000 fragment with CNBr generated one major Mr 17,000 fragment that was capable of binding P. Amino acid sequence data placed the Mr 17,000 fragment within residues 1385 to 1540 of the C3 sequence. After analyzing this sequence for highly conserved segments within the C3 from other species (which bind P) and segments of low similarity within human C4, mouse C5, and alpha 2-macroglobulin (which do not bind P), a 34-amino acid (1402 to 1435) peptide was synthesized. This synthetic peptide bound to P and inhibited its binding to C3b. In addition, it exhibited negative regulatory activity on the alternative pathway as it inhibited the lysis of rabbit erythrocytes by normal human serum. These results show that the P-binding site is located within the residues 1402 to 1435 of the C3 sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Relativity betweeen expression level of potato virus X coat protein and the codon usage of wobble codon].

The relationship between the quantities of rare codons and the expression levels of foreign genes is very important in gene engineering. But up to now, there is few experiment on it in multi-cellular eukaryotes, especially in plants. To study the effect of rare codons on the expression level of potato virus X (PVX) coat protein (CP) in transgenic tobacco, some preferred codons in PVX coat protein gene were substituted with synonymous rare codons without changing the encoded amino acid sequence using site-specific mutation. The modified coat protein gene (cpm) and non-modified coat protein gene (cpw) were inserted into binary vector under the control of CaMV35S promoter, and these two plant expression constructs were transferred into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) genomes via Agrobacterium mediated method and transgenic plants were generated. Western blot and ELISA of these transgenic tobaccos showed that the expression level of modified CP is about one third to one sixth of that of non-modified CP. Northern blot analysis of RNAs from some transformants indicated that the transcriptional levels of cpm are the same as that of cpw, which implicated that the quantity of rare codons in foreign gene was a possible limited factor in foreign gene expression process. Changing the quantity of rare codons maybe an effective method for organism to control gene expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The (betaalpha)(8) glycosidases: sequence and structure analyses suggest distant evolutionary relationships.

There are currently at least nine distinct glycosidase sequence families which are all known to adopt a TIM barrel fold [Henrissat,B. and Davies,G. (1997) CURR: Opin. Struct. Biol., 7, 637-644]. To explore the relationships between these enzymes and their evolution, comprehensive sequence and structure comparisons were performed, generating four distinct clusters. The first cluster, S1, comprises the alpha-amylase related enzymes, all with the retention mechanism (axial-->axial). The second cluster, S2, included two functional subgroups, one composed of various kinds of glucosidases all with the retention mechanism (equatorial-->equatorial) (the so-called 4/7 superfamily), and the other subgroup including the beta-amylases with the inversion mechanism (axial--> equatorial). The third cluster, S3, with the retention mechanism (equatorial-->equatorial), could be subdivided, based on the catalytic residues and mechanisms, into two functional subgroups: the chitinase group, catalysed by two acidic residues on the C-termini of beta-4 and beta-6, and the hevamine group, using two acidic residues on the C-termini of beta-4 for catalysis. The fourth cluster, S4, is composed of chitobiase with the retention mechanism (equatorial--> equatorial). These clusters are compared with the sequence families derived by Henrissat and coworkers. PSI-BLAST profiles and multiple-alignments of tertiary structures suggest that S1 and S2 are distantly related, as are S3 and S4, which have N-acetylated substrates. This work highlights the difficulties of untangling distant evolutionary relationships in ubiquitous folds such as the TIM barrel.

Algorithms↗

An amino-terminal truncated progesterone receptor isoform, PRc, enhances progestin-induced transcriptional activity.

Previously we reported the identification of two unique progesterone receptor (PR) messenger RNA transcripts that encode a smaller PR isoform, termed the C-receptor (PRc). These two PR transcripts encode a protein that is N-terminally truncated, so that it lacks the first zinc finger of the DNA binding domain, but still contains a complete hormone binding region with sequences for dimerization and nuclear localization. We also have demonstrated the existence of a 60-kDa progestin-specific binding protein in progestin target cells using a monoclonal antibody directed to the C-terminus of PRs, suggesting that these two novel transcripts generate a truncated form of PR. In this paper, we address the hypothesis that the C-receptor arises from the initiation of translation of a methionine C-terminal to the methionine start sites that generate the larger 94-kDa A and 116-kDa B human PR isoforms. The studies shown here support the postulate that another downstream in-frame methionine within the PR-coding region can serve as a translation initiation site for the generation of a third PR protein. A partial PR complementary DNA, lacking the translation start sites for B- and A-receptors was translated in vitro. The synthetic protein product bound [3H]progestins and unlabeled progestins. The antiprogestin RU486 also competed for this binding. Transfection of this partial PR complementary DNA into PR-negative HeLa cells resulted in progestin-specific binding activity. Because the third PR isoform lacks the first zinc finger of the DNA binding domain, but contains sequences for dimerization, we reasoned that the C-receptor isoform would be transcriptionally in-active and not bind DNA directly. Surprisingly, however, in the presence of A- and/or B-receptors, we found that C-receptors can modulate the transcriptional activity of A- and/or B-receptors using a reporter gene. These studies emphasize that multiple receptor isoforms may have distinct biological properties, and that the truncated C-receptor may play a role in explaining some of the pleiotropic effects of progestins.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Local structural changes caused by peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerization in the native state of proteins.

Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerization, observed in the native state of an increasing number of proteins, is of considerable biological significance. The first evidence for an asymmetric transmission along the polypeptide chain of the structural effects of prolyl isomerization is now derived from the statistics of the C(alpha)/C(alpha)-atom distance distributions in the crystal structures of 848 non-homologous proteins. More detailed information on how isomerization affects segments adjacent to proline is obtained from crystal structures of proteins, that are more than 95% homologous, and that exhibit two different states of isomerization at a particular prolyl bond. The resulting 64 cases, which represent 3.8% of the database used, form pairs of coordinates which were analyzed for the existence of isomer-specific intramolecular nonbonded C(alpha)/C(alpha)-atom distances around the critical proline, and for the positional preferences for particular amino acids in the isomeric sequence segment. The probability that a native protein exhibits both prolyl isomers in the crystalline state increases in particular with a Pro at the third position N-terminal to the isomeric bond (-3 position), and with Ser, Gly and Asp at the position preceding the isomeric bond (-1 position). Structural alignment of matched pairs of isomeric proteins generates three classes with respect to position-specific distribution of C(alpha)-atom displacements around an isomeric proline imide bond. In the majority of cases the distribution of these intermolecular isomer-specific C(alpha)-atom distances shows a symmetric behavior for the N-terminal and C-terminal segment flanking the proline residue, and the magnitude did not exceed 1.3+/-0.6 A including the C(alpha) atoms in proximity to the prolyl bond. However, in the remaining 12 protein pairs the structural changes are unidirectional relative to the isomerizing bond whereby the magnitude of the isomer-specific effect exceeds 3.0+/-2.0 A even at positions remote to proline. Interestingly, the magnitude of the intramolecular isomer-specific C(alpha) atom displacements reveals a lever-arm amplification of the isomerization-mediated structural changes in a protein backbone. The observed backbone effects provide a structural basis for isomer-specific reactions of proline-containing polypeptides, and thus may play a role in biological recognition and regulation.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

Analysis and synthesis of textured motion: particles and waves.

Natural scenes contain a wide range of textured motion phenomena which are characterized by the movement of a large amount of particle and wave elements, such as falling snow, wavy water, and dancing grass. In this paper, we present a generative model for representing these motion patterns and study a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for inferring the generative representation from observed video sequences. Our generative model consists of three components. The first is a photometric model which represents an image as a linear superposition of image bases selected from a generic and overcomplete dictionary. The dictionary contains Gabor and LoG bases for point/particle elements and Fourier bases for wave elements. These bases compete to explain the input images and transfer them to a token (base) representation with an O(10(2))-fold dimension reduction. The second component is a geometric model which groups spatially adjacent tokens (bases) and their motion trajectories into a number of moving elements--called "motons." A moton is a deformable template in time-space representing a moving element, such as a falling snowflake or a flying bird. The third component is a dynamic model which characterizes the motion of particles, waves, and their interactions. For example, the motion of particle objects floating in a river, such as leaves and balls, should be coupled with the motion of waves. The trajectories of these moving elements are represented by coupled Markov chains. The dynamic model also includes probabilistic representations for the birth/death (source/sink) of the motons. We adopt a stochastic gradient algorithm for learning and inference. Given an input video sequence, the algorithm iterates two steps: 1) computing the motons and their trajectories by a number of reversible Markov chain jumps, and 2) learning the parameters that govern the geometric deformations and motion dynamics. Novel video sequences are synthesized from the learned models and, by editing the model parameters, we demonstrate the controllability of the generative model.

Algorithms↗