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Cloning of porcine interleukin (IL)-12 receptor beta2 (IL-12Rbeta2) gene and its application to a rapid biological assay for human/porcine IL-12.

Porcine IL-12Rbeta2 gene was cloned from mRNA preparation of mitogen-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and its complete nucleotide sequence was determined. To confirm the biological function, the entire open reading frame (ORF) was re-cloned into a mammalian expression vector, pcDNA3.1/Zeo(+), at the downstream of CMV promoter, and introduced to a Th1-like human lymphoma cell line, Jurkat E6-1. Antibiotic-resistant cells retaining the expression construct were selected then, isolated by the limiting dilution method. An established clone (10B10) constitutively expressed chimeric IL-12Rs composed of intrinsic (human) beta1 and extrinsic (porcine) beta2 subunits, and produced interferon (IFN)-gamma in response to IL-12 of both species with optimal PHA/PMA stimulation. The production of IFN-gamma was observed as early as 42 h after culture and appeared to be dose-dependent within the range between 20 and 2000 pg/ml. Thus, this clone not only reacts with IL-12 of both species but also provides a useful tool for quick and sensitive detection of IL-12 bioactivity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel chromosomal locus of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), which encodes a bfpT-regulated chaperone-like protein, TrcA, involved in microcolony formation by EPEC.

The bfpTVW operon, also known as the per operon, of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is required for the transcriptional activation of the bfp operon, which encodes the major subunit and assembly machinery of bundle-forming pili (BFP). An immobilized T7-tagged BfpT fusion protein that binds specifically to upstream promoter sequences of bfpA and eae was used to 'fish out' from a promoter library other EPEC chromosomal fragments that are bound by the BfpT protein. After screening for promoters exhibiting bfpTVW-dependent expression, one was identified that was positively regulated by bfpTVW and that is not present in the chromosomes of two non-virulent E. coli laboratory strains, DH5alpha and HB101. Further analysis of this positively regulated promoter in EPEC showed that it resided within a 4.9 kb sequence that is not present in E. coli K12. This locus, located downstream of the potB gene, was found to contain four open reading frames (ORFs): bfpTVW-activated promoter was localized upstream of ORF1. An ORF1 knockout mutant produced less of the BFP structural subunit (BfpA) and formed smaller than normal adherent microcolonies on cultured epithelial cells; however, this mutation did not affect bfp transcription. An ORF1-His6 fusion protein specifically bound the preprocessed and mature forms of the BfpA protein and thus appears to stabilize the former within the cytoplasmic compartment. ORF1 therefore is a newly isolated EPEC chromosomal gene that encodes a chaperone-like protein involved in the production of BFP. Hence, ORF1 was designated trcA (bfpT-regulated chaperone-like protein gene). The TrcA protein also specifically bound 39 kDa and 90 kDa proteins that are expressed by EPEC but not by E. coli K12. The 90 kDa protein was revealed to be intimin, a protein product of the eae gene, which is required for the EPEC attaching/effacing phenotype, suggesting a direct interaction of TrcA with intimin in the cytoplasmic compartment.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Cloning and sequencing a HemK-family gene in Porphyromonas gingivalis.

HemK, a universally conserved protein of unknown function, has high amino acid similarity with DNA-(adenine-N6) methyltransferases (MTases). In the present study, we sequenced a 5026 bp DNA fragment just downstream of the PgPepO gene reported previously. The DNA sequence analysis revealed three ORFs. The ORF2 gene encoded a protein of 294 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 32,160 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence of the ORF2 gene exhibited a significant similarity to sequence of HemK from E. coli (35% identical residues). The ORF2 gene complemented an E. coli hemK mutant. Thus, ORF2 was named PgHemK. From the point of veiw of our recent finding, that E. coli HemK catalyses the methylation of polypeptide chain release factors such as RF1 and RF2, we postulated that PgHemK might function as a protein MTase containing the DNA MTase motif.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Populations of citrus tristeza virus contain smaller-than-full-length particles which encapsidate sub-genomic RNA molecules.

Plants infected by citrus tristeza virus (CTV) contain, in addition to the 2000 nm full-length thread-like virions, a heterogeneous population of smaller particles. The CTV particles and RNA extracts from purified CTV preparations were fractionated by sucrose gradient centrifugation and the RNA molecules from different fractions translated in a reticulocyte translation system. Fractions containing predominantly an RNA band of approximately 3.2 kb directed the synthesis of CTV coat protein (CP), which in SDS-PAGE had an estimated molecular mass of 28 kDa. Three additional polypeptides, with estimated sizes of 21 kDa, 23 kDa and 27 kDa, were translated from a range of RNA molecules smaller than 3.2 kb. Hybridization with cDNA to the CP gene (CTV-CPG) and with a 350 base clone complementary to the 3' and 5' termini of the genes for CTV p20 and p23.5, respectively, indicated that preparations of CTV particles contain, in addition to the genomic (20 kb) RNA, two sub-genomic RNA molecules of 3.2 kb and 2.4 kb and probably also two smaller molecules of 1.6 kb and 0.9 kb. Only the 3.2 kb RNA, its corresponding dsRNA molecule and populations of larger RNAs, including the 20 kb genomic RNA, hybridized with a CTV-CPG probe, thus conflicting with our previous assignment of the CTV-CPG to the 0.8 kbp dsRNA. Based on these results we propose that distinct populations of CTV particles encapsidate smaller RNAs which were formed as a nested set of subgenomic RNAs. Sequence analysis of 2540 nucleotides downstream to CTV-CPG of strain VT revealed four open reading frames (ORFs) potentially encoding in the 5' to 3' direction, 18 kDa (p18), 13 kDa (p13), 20 kDa (p20) and 23.5 kDa (p23.5) proteins. The CTV-VT ORFs showed variable but usually close levels of homology with the corresponding ORFs of CTV-T36 from Florida.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of a chromosomal region of Mycoplasma sp. bovine group 7 strain PG50 encoding a glycerol transport locus (gtsABC).

Mycoplasma species bovine group 7, represented by the type strain PG50, is one of six members of the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster and has been implicated in sporadic and outbreak cases of polyarthritis and mastitis in Australian dairy cattle. This study describes cloning and sequencing a 7.9 kb region of the PG50 chromosome and identification of genes involved in glycerol transport (gtsA, gtsB and gtsC) that are followed by a putative lipoprotein gene lppB and a genomic locus containing two ORFs encoding putative membrane proteins. Long range PCR using primers spanning gtsABC and downstream flanking genes, and Southern hybridization analyses using a suite of probes derived from M. mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony type (SC) strain Afadé for gtsA, gtsB and gtsC, lppB and the two downstream genes confirmed that these genes were conserved among Mycoplasma sp. bovine group 7 isolates and mycoplasmas belonging to the M. mycoides subcluster [M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC, M. mycoides subsp. mycoides large colony type (LC) and M. mycoides subsp. capri] but were absent in mycoplasmas belonging to the Mycoplasma capricolum subcluster (M. capricolum subsp. capricolum and M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae). M. capricolum subsp. capricolum type strain California kid did not hybridize with the probe for gtsA and gave only weak or no hybridization signals with probes derived from the loci downstream of gtsABC, suggesting that this region has diverged in mycoplasmas belonging to subspecies of M. capricolum. It is shown that PG50, after the addition of a physiological concentration of glycerol to the growth medium, generates H(2)O(2) at levels comparable with strain Afadé, implying that the glycerol transport system is functional in Mycoplasma sp. bovine group 7. This suggests that in PG50, as in M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC, glycerol uptake is followed by phosphorylation to glycerol 3-phosphate and then conversion to dihydroxyacetone phosphate, catalysed by L-alpha-glycerophosphate oxidase, resulting in the production of H(2)O(2). The ability of Mycoplasma sp. bovine group 7 to generate significant amounts of hydrogen peroxide may be important in pathogenesis.

Animals↗

S-layer glycan-specific loci on the chromosome of Geobacillus stearothermophilus NRS 2004/3a and dTDP-L-rhamnose biosynthesis potential of G. stearothermophilus strains.

The approximately 16.5 kb surface layer (S-layer) glycan biosynthesis (slg) gene cluster of the Gram-positive thermophile Geobacillus stearothermophilus NRS 2004/3a has been sequenced. The cluster is located immediately downstream of the S-layer structural gene sgsE and consists of 13 ORFs that have been identified by database sequence comparisons. The cluster encodes dTDP-L-rhamnose biosynthesis (rml operon), required for building up the polyrhamnan S-layer glycan, as well as for assembly and export of the elongated glycan chain, and its transfer to the S-layer protein. This is the first report of a gene cluster likely to be involved in the glycosylation of an S-layer protein. There is evidence that this cluster is transcribed as a polycistronic unit, whereas sgsE is transcribed monocistronically. To get insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying glycosylation of the S-layer protein, the influence of growth temperature on the S-layer was investigated in seven closely related G. stearothermophilus strains, of which only strain NRS 2004/3a possessed a glycosylated S-layer. Chromosomal DNA preparations of these strains were screened for the presence of the rml operon, because L-rhamnose is a frequent constituent of S-layer glycans. From rml-positive strains, flanking regions of the operon were sequenced. Comparison with the slg gene cluster of G. stearothermophilus NRS 2004/3a revealed sequence homologies between adjacent genes. The temperature inducibility of S-layer protein glycosylation was investigated in those strains by raising the growth temperature from 55 degrees C to 67 degrees C; no change of either the protein banding pattern or the glycan staining behaviour was observed on SDS-PAGE gels, although the sgsE transcript was several-fold more abundant at 67 degrees C. Cell-free extracts of the strains were capable of converting dTDP-D-glucose to dtdp-L-rhamnose. Taken together, the results indicate that the rml locus is highly conserved among G. stearothermophilus strains, and that in the investigated rml-containing strains, dTDP-L-rhamnose is actively synthesized in vitro. However, in contrast to previous reports for G. stearothermophilus wild-type strains, an increase in growth temperature did not switch an S-layer protein phenotype to an S-layer glycoprotein phenotype, via the de novo generation of a new S-layer gene sequence.

Bacillaceae↗

Novel aerobic 2-aminobenzoate metabolism. Nucleotide sequence of the plasmid carrying the gene for the flavoprotein 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase in a denitrifying Pseudomonas sp.

Pseudomonas KB 740 degrades 2-aminobenzoate aerobically via a chimeric pathway which combines characteristics of anaerobic and aerobic aromatic metabolism. Atypically, 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA is an intermediate, and the activated aromatic acid is not only hydroxylated but also reduced to an alicyclic compound in a single step. The bacterial strain possesses a small plasmid, pKB 740, which carries all essential information of this new pathway. Its total nucleotide sequence was determined. It consists of 8280 bp and contains the genes for the two initial enzymes of the pathway; 2-aminobenzoate-CoA ligase catalyzes the activation of the aromatic acid, and the flavoenzyme 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase catalyzes the hydroxylation (monooxygenase activity) and subsequent reduction (reductase activity) of the aromatic ring of 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA. Furthermore, five open reading frames (ORF) possibly coding for polypeptides are on the plasmid. Putative promoter sequences were found for two of the ORF. A nucleotide sequence able to form a possible termination loop was located downstream of the gene for 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase. This gene consists of 2190 bases. The deduced amino acid sequence of the protein (730 residues; calculated molecular mass of the native 729-residue protein, 83,559 Da) contains a consensus sequence for an FAD-binding site at the N-terminus and a possible NAD(P)H-binding site approximately 150 amino acid residues apart from the N-terminus. The monooxygenase/reductase shows low sequence similarity to the flavoprotein salicylate hydroxylase. Functional and evolutionary aspects of this work are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genes downstream from pucB and pucA are essential for formation of the B800-850 complex of Rhodobacter capsulatus.

The formation of the light-harvesting complex B800-850 (LH-II) of Rhodobacter capsulatus requires, in addition to the synthesis of the polypeptides alpha and beta (the gene products of pucA and pucB), the synthesis of bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoids and the expression of at least one gene localized downstream from the pucBA operon. This was concluded from the observation that a Tn5 insertion downstream from pucBA inhibited the formation of the LH-II complex and the formation of the pucBA mRNA. The Tn5 insertion point was mapped and found to be over 500 base pairs (bp) downstream from the end of the pucA gene, suggesting the presence of additional puc genes. A region of about 3,000 bp including the pucB and pucA genes and DNA downstream from pucA was sequenced and found to contain three open reading frames (ORFs C, D, and E). The polypeptide deduced from the first ORF (C) contains 403 amino acids with strongly hydrophobic stretches and one large and three small hydrophilic domains carrying many charged residues. The other two ORFs contain 113 (D) and 118 (E) codons. The amino acid sequences of the N terminus and two tryptic peptides of an alkaline-soluble Mr-14,000 subunit of the isolated LH-II complex were identical with the deduced amino acid sequence of ORF E.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of the genes flanking xabB: a methyltransferase gene is involved in albicidin biosynthesis in Xanthomonas albilineans.

Transposon mutagenesis and complementation studies previously identified a gene (xabB) for a large (526kDa) polyketide-peptide synthase required for biosynthesis of albicidin antibiotics and phytotoxins in the sugarcane leaf scald pathogen Xanthomonas albilineans. A cistron immediately downstream from xabB encodes a polypeptide of 343aa containing three conserved motifs characteristic of a family of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent O-methyltransferases. Insertional mutagenesis and complementation indicate that the product of this cistron (designated xabC) is essential for albicidin production, and that there is no other required downstream cistron. The xabB promoter region is bidirectional, and insertional mutagenesis of the first open reading frame (ORF) in the divergent gene also blocks albicidin biosynthesis. This divergent ORF (designated thp) encodes a protein of 239aa displaying high similarity to several IS21-like transposition helper proteins. The thp cistron is not located in a recognizable transposon, and is probably a remnant from a past transposition event that may have contributed to the development of the albicidin biosynthetic gene cluster. Failure of 'in trans' complementation of thp indicates that a downstream cistron transcribed with thp is required for albicidin biosynthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

3'-orf and sor genes of human immunodeficiency virus: in vitro transcription-translation and immunoreactive domains.

An in vitro transcription and translation procedure was designed to translate multiple open reading frames from cloned DNAs. For human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cloned DNA carrying three open reading frames (sor, tat, and 3'-orf), the approach yielded three authentic polypeptides. Clearly, the internal initiation codons can be used for reinitiation of translation of the downstream open reading frames. However, the downstream open reading frames were translated with relatively lower translational efficiencies. In general, the translational efficiency of RNAs depended significantly on their structures. The in vitro approach was utilized further to map the immunoreactive domains of the 3'-orf and sor gene products of HIV. Deletion clones were constructed with deletions within the open reading frames. Translation products of these clones reacted differentially with anti-3'-orf and anti-sor rabbit immune sera and human sera from individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and related disorders. Apparently, recombinant 3'-orf and sor polypeptides used to immunize rabbits express many more immunogenic epitopes and/or different set of epitopes than is the case for the native proteins in humans infected with HIV. Immunoreactivity and immunogenicity of these gene products were significantly dependent on their structure and/or conformation.

Chromosome Deletion↗

Mechanism of ribosome shunting in Rice tungro bacilliform pararetrovirus.

In plant pararetroviruses, pregenomic RNA serves both as a template for replication through reverse transcription and a polysictronic mRNA. This RNA has a complex leader sequence preceding the first large ORF. The leader contains multiple short ORFs and strong secondary structure, both inhibiting ribosome scanning. Translation on this RNA is initiated by shunting, in which scanning ribosomes bypass a large portion of the leader with the inhibitory secondary structure and short ORFs. In Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), the ribosome shunting mechanism involves translation of the 5'-proximal short ORF terminating in front of the secondary structure that appears to force ribosomes to take off and resume scanning at a landing site downstream of the structure. Using two plant protoplast systems and shunt-competent wheat-germ extracts, we demonstrate that in Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) shunting also depends on the first short ORF followed by strong secondary structure. Swapping of the conserved shunt elements between CaMV and RTBV revealed the importance of nucleotide composition of the landing sequence for efficient shunting. The results suggest that the mechanism of ribosome shunting is evolutionary conserved in plant pararetroviruses.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

The genes encoding the P39 and CG30 proteins of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

We have cloned and analysed the transcriptional properties of two closely linked genes, p39 and cg30, of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV). These genes encode a structural polypeptide and a putative transcriptional regulator of the virus, respectively. The cg30 gene is transcribed prior to and after DNA replication from a site located within the ORF of the adjacent p39 gene. Its transcription product, a 1.3 kb mRNA, is polyadenylated at a site containing consensus eukaryotic polyadenylation signals and mapping 87 bp downstream of the translation termination codon for CG30. During the later stages of infection, two additional RNAs, 2.2 and 6.5 kb, are also transcribed through the cg30 gene. The 2.2 kb RNA, representing the mRNA that encodes P39, is initiated from three relatively closely spaced sites located upstream of the P39 ORF. The 6.5 kb RNA is apparently transcribed from the promoter sequences of another gene located further upstream of the p39 gene. The 2.2 and 6.5 kb transcripts have two polyadenylation sites. The first site is the same as the one used to generate the cg30 gene-specific transcripts. The second is located 4 bp downstream of the CG30 translation termination codon. Transient expression assays show that the p39 gene sequences immediately upstream of the CG30 ORF can direct expression of a reporter gene when the latter is co-transfected with the gene encoding the early baculovirus trans-activator IE1. Thus, these sequences behave as a delayed-early baculovirus gene promoter.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The fliU and fliV genes are expressed as a single ORF in Salmonella choleraesuis.

A DNA fragment carrying flagellar genes was cloned from Salmonella choleraesuis. Compared to the corresponding DNA fragment of Salmonella muenchen, this fragment contained three ORFs instead of four shown in S. muenchen. The DNA sequence data showed that there was an insertion of nucleotide C in the ORF of the S. choleraesuis fliU gene, which resulted in the disappearance of a termination codon downstream. The recombinant plasmid pFU11 containing the coding region of the fliU gene made by PCR on S. choleraesuis genomic DNA was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli in the presence of IPTG. As expected, a 45 kDa protein band was observed on a SDS-PAGE gel, in contrast to two with each having about a half of the molecular weight. These results demonstrated that the DNA sequence encoding one protein (FliU) in S. choleraesuis corresponded to the DNA sequence encoding two proteins (FliU and FliV) in S. muenchen. The protein encoded by this single ORF might carry out the functions of two separated proteins by folding in such a way that its conformation could function like two interdependent protein subunits.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of the gene encoding BmpB, a 30 kDa outer envelope lipoprotein of Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae, and immunogenicity of recombinant BmpB in mice and pigs.

A gene encoding a 30kDa outer envelope protein of the intestinal spirochaete Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli strain XLOLR. Five phagemids containing DNA inserts encoding the protein were established and one clone (pSHA) was sequenced. An 816bp hypothetical open reading frame (ORF) was identified, with a potential ribosome binding site (AGGAG), and putative -10 (TATAAT) and -35 (TTGAAA) promoter regions upstream from the ATG start of the ORF. A 12bp inverted repeat sequence, possibly serving as a transcription terminator, was identified downstream from the TAA stop codon. Analysis of the amino acid sequence identified a 19 residue hydrophobic signal peptide, incorporating a potential signal peptidase cleavage site and membrane lipoprotein lipid attachment site. Further analysis of the amino acid usage of this lipoprotein, designated BmpB, showed its possible outer membrane localisation. Comparison of the gene encoding the lipoprotein, bmpB, with GenBank nucleotide sequences showed that it has homology with the gene (plp3) encoding Plp3, an outer membrane lipoprotein of Pasteurella haemolytica (54% identity in 735bp). Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with the SWISS-PROT amino acid database revealed greatest homology with the outer membrane lipoproteins (Plp1, 2, 3) of P. haemolytica (34% identity in 242 aa, 37% identity in 250 aa, and 39% identity in 272 aa, respectively), and lipoproteins (rcsF and lipoprotein-28) of E. coli (40% identity in 267 aa and 36% identity in 263 aa, respectively). Three of the recombinant E. coli clones (pSHA, pSHD, and pSHE) were formalinised and used to immunise mice. A bacterin preparation of one recombinant E. coli clone (pSHA) was used to immunise pigs. Sera from these mice and pigs recognised the 30kDa lipoprotein in outer membrane preparations of B. hyodysenteriae, indicating the immunogenicity of recombinant BmpB. Sera from pigs naturally infected with B. hyodysenteriae also reacted with recombinant BmpB expressed in E. coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Promoter identification and expression analysis of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli nrdEF operons encoding one of two class I ribonucleotide reductases present in both bacteria.

Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli cells have two different class I ribonucleotide reductases encoded by the nrdEF and nrdAB operons. Despite the presence of one additional ribonucleotide reductase, the nrdAB-encoded enzyme is essential to the aerobic growth of the cell because nrdAB-defective mutants of both species are not viable in the presence of oxygen. Several factors controlling nrdAB gene transcription have been analysed intensively. Nothing is known about the expression of the nrdEF genes. To study this subject, and after cloning of E. coli nrdEF genes and sequencing of their 5' ends, the promoter of this operon has been identified by primer extension in both bacterial species. The +1 position was 691 bp and 692 bp upstream of the translational start points of the nrdE genes of S. typhimurium and E. coli, respectively. Downstream of the +1 position, and before the nrdE gene, two open reading frames (ORFs) of 81 and 136 amino acid residues are present in both bacteria. The synthesis of a polypeptide with a molecular mass of 9 kDa, corresponding to the first of these two ORFs, was observed by using the T7 RNA polymerase expression system. Comparison of the amino acid predicted sequence of this ORF reveals a significant similarity with glutaredoxin proteins. Competitive, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction experiments indicate that transcription from the nrdEF promoter normally takes place in wild-type cells. nrdEF transcription is increased by hydroxyurea, which inhibits class I ribonucleotide reductase activity, in both RecA+ and RecA- cells. nrdA(ts) mutants show a higher level of nrdEF transcription than wild-type cells at either the permissive or the restrictive temperature. nrdEF expression was unaffected by changes in DNA supercoiling whether caused by the introduction of either topA::Tn10 and hns::Tn10 mutations or by the inhibition of DNA gyrase with the antibiotic novobiocin. In contrast to the nrdAB genes, the nrdEF operon is not essential to the cells because nrdEF-defective mutants are viable under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Bradyrhizobium japonicum nolA gene and its involvement in the genotype-specific nodulation of soybeans.

Several soybean genotypes have been identified which specifically exclude nodulation by members of Bradyrhizobium japonicum serocluster 123. We have identified and sequenced a DNA region from B. japonicum strain USDA 110 which is involved in genotype-specific nodulation of soybeans. This 2.3-kilobase region, cloned in pMJS12, allows B. japonicum serocluster 123 isolates to form nodules on plants of serogroup 123-restricting genotypes. The nodules, however, were ineffective for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The nodulation-complementing region is located approximately 590 base pairs transcriptionally downstream from nodD2. The 5' end of pMJS12 contains a putative open reading frame (ORF) of 710 base pairs, termed nolA. Transposon Tn3-HoHo mutations only within the ORF abolished nodulation complementation. The N terminus of the predicted nolA gene product has strong similarity with the N terminus of MerR, the regulator of mercury resistance genes. Translational lacZ fusion experiments indicated that nolA was moderately induced by soybean seed extract and the isoflavone genistein. Restriction fragments that hybridize to pMJS12 were detected in genomic DNAs from both nodulation-restricted and -unrestricted strains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The myxoma virus thymidine kinase gene: sequence and transcriptional mapping.

The myxoma virus thymidine kinase (TK) gene is encoded on a 1.6 kb SacI-SalI restriction fragment located between 57.7 and 59.3 kb on the 163 kb genomic map. The nucleotide sequence of this fragment as well as 228 bp from the adjacent SalI-AA2 fragment was determined and found to encode four major open reading frames (ORFs). Three of these ORFs are similar in nucleotide sequence to ORFs L5R and J1R, and the TK gene of vaccinia virus (VV). The fourth ORF, MF8a, shows similarity to the ORFs found in the same position relative to the TK genes of Shope fibroma virus, Kenya sheep-1 virus and swine-pox virus. A search of the complete VV nucleotide sequence for regions of similarity to MF8a identified the host specificity gene C7L. Northern blot analysis of early viral RNA identified transcripts of approximately 700 nucleotides for both the TK gene and ORF MF8a. The 5' ends of the TK gene and ORF MF8a early mRNAs were mapped by primer extension to initiation sites 13 nucleotides downstream of sequences with similarity to the VV early promoter consensus. The sizes of the TK and MF8a mRNAs are consistent with transcription termination and polyadenylation occurring downstream of the sequence TTTTTNT, which is identical to the consensus sequence for the VV transcription termination signal.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Complex expression pattern of RPGR reveals a role for purine-rich exonic splicing enhancers.

PURPOSE: To examine the mechanism underlying transcript heterogeneity in the gene for the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR). METHODS: Transcript heterogeneity was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR), rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), and transient expression of minigene constructs. Protein variants were identified by immunoblot analysis and by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: RPGR transcripts terminated either uniformly at the end of exon 19, producing the constitutive transcript with few variants, or at variable sites downstream from exon 15. The latter transcripts resembled the previously described open reading frame (ORF)14/15 variant, but the ORF14/15 exon was not found in full length. Instead, various portions of a purine-rich region were removed as introns. Numerous splice site combinations were used, giving rise to innumerable variants. Analysis of the purine-rich region found multiple exonic splicing enhancers (ESEs) known to promote splicing through interaction with serine-arginine repeat (SR) proteins. Antibodies targeting different regions of RPGR detected a multitude of RPGR proteins in photoreceptors, concentrated in the connecting cilium. Predominant ORF14/15-encoded RPGR polypeptides migrated at approximately 200 kDa and were photoreceptor specific. CONCLUSIONS: The exceptional heterogeneity in RPGR transcript processing results primarily from a novel form of alternative RNA splicing mediated by multiple exonic splicing enhancers. RPGR is composed of a population of proteins with a constant N-terminal core encompassing the RCC1 homology domain followed by a C-terminal portion of variable lengths and sequences.

Animals↗