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Evidence for recombination among the tomato leaf curl virus strains/species from Bangalore, India.

Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) belongs to the Begomovirus genus of the family Geminiviridae. These viruses have circular single stranded DNA molecules as their genome encapsidated in icosahedral geminate particles. Generally the Begomoviruses are bipartite with respect to their genomic composition. ToLCV from South India is unique in that only DNA A component has been isolated and sequenced thus far and there is no evidence for the presence of DNA B component. In this communication we report the genomic sequences of DNA A component of two strains of Tomato leaf curl Bangalore virus (ToLCBV), one from Bangalore, ToLCBV [Ban 5] and the other from Kolar (70 kms from Bangalore), ToLCBV [Kolar]. We have examined the possibility of recombination between strains/species that co-exist within the same geographical location. A novel method has been used to analyze the variation of ToLCV sequences reported from Bangalore and to assess the frequency and importance of recombinational events among the strains/species existing in Bangalore. The results indicate that there are potential sites of recombination in AV1, AV2, AC1 and intergenic regions of the viral genome and this accounts for the observed variability in these strains/species.

DNA, Viral↗

MITOMAP: an update on the status of the human mitochondrial genome database.

We have continued to develop MITOMAP, a comprehensive database for the human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). MITOMAP uses the mtDNA sequence as the unifying element for bringing together information on mitochondrial genome structure and function, pathogenic mutations and their clinical characteristics, population associated variation and gene-gene interactions. As increasingly larger regions of the human genome are sequenced and characterized, the need for integrating such information will grow. Consequently, MITOMAP not only provides a valuable reference for the mitochondrial biologist, it will also provide a model for the development of comprehensive, multi-media information storage and retrieval systems for other components of the human genome. This paper is an update of the changes which have occurred to MITOMAP over the past year.

Base Sequence↗

Dissection of the nuclear genome of barley by chromosome flow sorting.

Isolation of mitotic chromosomes using flow cytometry is an attractive way to dissect nuclear genomes into their individual chromosomal components or portions of them. This approach is especially useful in plants with complex genomes, where it offers a targeted and hence economical approach to genome analysis and gene cloning. In several plant species, DNA of flow-sorted chromosomes has been used for isolation of molecular markers from specific genome regions, for physical mapping using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), for integration of genetic and physical maps and for construction of chromosome-specific DNA libraries, including those cloned in bacterial artificial chromosome vectors. Until now, chromosome analysis and sorting using flow cytometry (flow cytogenetics) has found little application in barley (2n = 14, 1C approximately 5,100 Mbp) because of the impossibility of discriminating and sorting individual chromosomes, except for the smallest chromosome 1H and some translocation chromosomes with DNA content significantly different from the remaining chromosomes. In this work, we demonstrate that wheat-barley ditelosomic addition lines can be used to sort any arm of barley chromosomes 2H-7H. Thus, the barley genome can be dissected into fractions representing only about 6-12% of the total genome. This advance makes the flow cytogenetics an attractive tool, which may greatly facilitate genome analysis and gene cloning in barley.

Cell Nucleus↗

Multiple pheromone system controlling mating in Drosophila melanogaster.

The signals essential to Drosophila melanogaster courtship include pheromones emitted by the female which stimulate the male to court and pheromones emitted by the courting male which stimulate the female to accept. Genetic variation among these phermones is a common (if not universal) requirement for stimulation of either sex. The signal from the courting male to the female involves both a volatile and a nonvolatile component. The volatile component is associated with loci on the second and/or third chromosomes, while the monvolatile component is associated with the X and/or fourth chromosomes. This widespread distribution in the genome of loci controlling various components in the communication network inevitably results in linkage associations with other loci. The genetic array of gametes was limited. When combined with the negative assortitative mating pattern produced by the stimulation by dissimilar pheromones, linkage disequilibrium creates a strong counterforce to inbreeding during population bottlenecks.

Animals↗

Differences in the rates of gene amplification in nontumorigenic and tumorigenic cell lines as measured by Luria-Delbrück fluctuation analysis.

It has been hypothesized that genomic fluidity is an important component of tumorigenesis. Previous studies described the relationship between tumorigenicity and one marker for genomic fluidity, gene amplification. In this report, these studies are extended with the rat liver epithelial cell lines to show that: (i) the amplification in these cells arises in a spontaneous fashion in the population (i.e., the variants detected are not preexisting in the population), and (ii) the rate of spontaneous amplification (mutation), as measured by Luria-Delbrück fluctuation analysis, is significantly lower in the nontumorigenic cells than in the tumorigenic cells. The rate was estimated by using the Po method and the method of means. The rate of spontaneous amplification of the gene encoding the multifunctional protein CAD (containing the enzymatic activities carbamoyl-phosphate synthase, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase) in the highly tumorigenic cells was significantly greater than that for the nontumorigenic cells, reaching almost 1 x 10(-4) events per cell per generation. The rate of this mutagenic event is high compared to the rate of point mutations usually reported in mammalian cells, and its potential contribution to the tumorigenic process will be discussed.

Animals↗

Analysis of telomerase in Candida albicans: potential role in telomere end protection.

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein reverse transcriptase responsible for the maintenance of one strand of telomere terminal repeats. Analysis of the telomerase complex in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has revealed the presence of one catalytic protein subunit (Est2p/TERT) and at least two noncatalytic components (Est1p and Est3p). The genome of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans contains putative orthologues of all three telomerase components. Disruption of each homologue resulted in significant but distinct telomere dysfunction in Candida: Similar to S. cerevisiae, the Candida EST3 disruption strain exhibits progressive telomere loss over many generations, at a rate that is consistent with incomplete replication. In contrast, telomeres in both the Candida TERT and EST1 disruption strains can contract rapidly, followed by partial or nearly complete recovery, suggesting a defect in telomere "capping." We propose that these two telomerase subunits may participate in the protection of chromosomal ends in Candida: Analysis of telomerase-mediated primer extension in vitro indicates that only the TERT protein is absolutely essential for enzyme activity. Our results support the conservation of telomerase protein components beyond the catalytic subunit but reveal species-specific phenotypic alterations in response to loss of individual telomerase component. We also identify potential homologues of Est1p in phylogenetically diverse organisms. The Est1p sequence family possesses a conserved N-terminal domain predicted to be structurally related to tetratricopeptide repeat-containing proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Plant transposable elements: where genetics meets genomics.

Transposable elements are the single largest component of the genetic material of most eukaryotes. The recent availability of large quantities of genomic sequence has led to a shift from the genetic characterization of single elements to genome-wide analysis of enormous transposable-element populations. Nowhere is this shift more evident than in plants, in which transposable elements were first discovered and where they are still actively reshaping genomes.

DNA Methylation↗

A functional genomic and proteomic perspective of sea urchin calcium signaling and egg activation.

The sea urchin egg has a rich history of contributions to our understanding of fundamental questions of egg activation at fertilization. Within seconds of sperm-egg interaction, calcium is released from the egg endoplasmic reticulum, launching the zygote into the mitotic cell cycle and the developmental program. The sequence of the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus genome offers unique opportunities to apply functional genomic and proteomic approaches to investigate the repertoire and regulation of Ca(2+) signaling and homeostasis modules present in the egg and zygote. The sea urchin "calcium toolkit" as predicted by the genome is described. Emphasis is on the Ca(2+) signaling modules operating during egg activation, but the Ca(2+) signaling repertoire has ramifications for later developmental events and adult physiology as well. Presented here are the mechanisms that control the initial release of Ca(2+) at fertilization and additional signaling components predicted by the genome and found to be expressed and operating in eggs at fertilization. The initial release of Ca(2+) serves to coordinate egg activation, which is largely a phenomenon of post-translational modifications, especially dynamic protein phosphorylation. Functional proteomics can now be used to identify the phosphoproteome in general and specific kinase targets in particular. This approach is described along with findings to date. Key outstanding questions regarding the activation of the developmental program are framed in the context of what has been learned from the genome and how this knowledge can be applied to functional studies.

Animals↗

Multiplicity of infection and the evolution of hybrid incompatibility in segmented viruses.

Some viral genomes are divided into segments. When multiple viruses infect a single cell, progeny form by reassorted mixtures of genomic segments. Hybrid incompatibilities arise when a progeny virus has incompatible segments from different parental viruses. Hybrid incompatibility has been observed in influenza and in the multiparticle plant virus Dianthovirus. Hybrid incompatibility provides an opportunity to study rates of viral evolution, divergence and speciation, and the extent of epistatic interactions among components of the viral genome. This paper presents mathematical and computer simulation models to study hybrid incompatibility between diverging strains. The models identify multiplicity of infection as a key factor. When many viral particles infect each host cell, the effective ploidy of the genetic system is high. High ploidy dilutes the contribution of each locus to the phenotype, weakening the selective intensity on each locus. Weaker selection on variant alleles allows the population to maintain greater genetic diversity and to be more easily perturbed by stochastic fluctuations. Greater diversity and stochastic fluctuations explore more widely the space of epistatic interactions, causing more frequent shifts among favoured combinations of alleles. Variable ploidy of viral genetics differs from standard Mendelian genetics.

Computer Simulation↗

Boundaries and structure of human cytomegalovirus oriLyt, a complex origin for lytic-phase DNA replication.

We have localized a cis-acting sequence that promotes initiation of lytic-phase DNA replication (oriLyt) within the HindIII D fragment of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) AD169 genome and investigated its sequence requirements by testing the ability of plasmid constructs to mediate DNA replication in a transient transfection-plus-infection assay. Replication of plasmids containing HCMV oriLyt required at least the virus-specified DNA polymerase activity supplied by HCMV infection of transfected cells and was autonomous in that it did not result from recombination with the virus genome. Progeny molecules in the transient assay were high-molecular-weight tandem oligomers, which is consistent with predictions of a rolling-circle model. Experiments testing subclones of HindIII-D defined a core 2.4-kbp region containing elements required for oriLyt function that extended rightward from around 1.0 kbp upstream of UL57 near the middle of the long unique component of the virus genome. Sequences flanking this core also were needed for full activity. The defined region contains at least four clustered sets of repeated sequence elements identical to or candidate counterparts of elements present in the corresponding cytomegalovirus Colburn lytic-phase replication origin. These elements are novel in that they apparently do not correspond to previously characterized motifs. Also present are multiple copies of elements similar to known binding sites for the transcription factors ATF/CREB, MLTF/USF, and Sp1. Preliminary deletion analysis suggests that multiple components within the boundaries of oriLyt cooperate to enable initiation of HCMV lytic-phase DNA synthesis.

Base Sequence↗

Polymers of random short oligonucleotides detect polymorphic loci in the human genome.

Polymers of random 14 mer oligonucleotides are shown to detect discrete loci in the human genome. Eighteen different synthetic tandem repeats of random 14 base-pair units (STRs) have been generated and all of them turn out to detect polymorphic loci on southern blots of human DNA samples, presumably corresponding to a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR). This finding suggests that minisatellites are a major component of the human genome and are strongly associated with the generation of genetic variability. In addition, it should open new strategies to make new polymorphic probes available.

Base Composition↗

The beta heterochromatic sequences flanking the I elements are themselves defective transposable elements.

Phylogenetic studies suggest that mobile element families are unstable components of the Drosophila genome. Two examples of immobilization of a transposable element family are presented here: as judged by their constant genomic organization among unrelated strains, the F and I element families have been respectively immobilized for a long time in D. simulans and in the reactive D. melanogaster strains (these are the laboratory strains which escaped the recent I invasion of D. melanogaster natural populations). All the elements of these defective families are located in the beta heterochromatic portion of the genome. Moreover, most if not all of the beta heterochromatic sequences into which the defective I elements are embedded are themselves non-mobile members of various nomadic families such as mdg 4, 297, 1731, F and Doc. These results are discussed with special emphasis on the possible nomadic origin of beta heterochromatin components and on the mechanisms of evolutionary turnover of the transposable element families.

Animals↗

Bracoviruses contain a large multigene family coding for protein tyrosine phosphatases.

The relationship between parasitic wasps and bracoviruses constitutes one of the few known mutualisms between viruses and eukaryotes. The virions produced in the wasp ovaries are injected into host lepidopteran larvae, where virus genes are expressed, allowing successful development of the parasite by inducing host immune suppression and developmental arrest. Bracovirus-bearing wasps have a common phylogenetic origin, and contemporary bracoviruses are hypothesized to have been inherited by chromosomal transmission from a virus that originally integrated into the genome of the common ancestor wasp living 73.7 +/- 10 million years ago. However, so far no conserved genes have been described among different braconid wasp subfamilies. Here we show that a gene family is present in bracoviruses of different braconid wasp subfamilies (Cotesia congregata, Microgastrinae, and Toxoneuron nigriceps, Cardiochilinae) which likely corresponds to an ancient component of the bracovirus genome that might have been present in the ancestral virus. The genes encode proteins belonging to the protein tyrosine phosphatase family, known to play a key role in the control of signal transduction pathways. Bracovirus protein tyrosine phosphatase genes were shown to be expressed in different tissues of parasitized hosts, and two protein tyrosine phosphatases were produced with recombinant baculoviruses and tested for their biochemical activity. One protein tyrosine phosphatase is a functional phosphatase. These results strengthen the hypothesis that protein tyrosine phosphatases are involved in virally induced alterations of host physiology during parasitism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Microarray analysis of a two-component regulatory system involved in acid resistance and proteolytic activity in Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Two-component regulatory systems are one primary mechanism for environmental sensing and signal transduction. Annotation of the complete genome sequence of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM revealed nine two-component regulatory systems. In this study, the histidine protein kinase of a two-component regulatory system (LBA1524HPK-LBA1525RR), similar to the acid-related system lisRK from Listeria monocytogenes (P. D. Cotter et al., J. Bacteriol. 181:6840-6843, 1999), was insertionally inactivated. A whole-genome microarray containing 97.4% of the annotated genes of L. acidophilus was used to compare genome-wide patterns of transcription at various pHs between the control and the histidine protein kinase mutant. The expression pattern of approximately 80 genes was affected by the LBA1524HPK mutation. Putative LBA1525RR target loci included two oligopeptide-transport systems present in the L. acidophilus genome, other components of the proteolytic system, and a LuxS homolog, suspected of participating in synthesis of the AI-2 signaling compound. The mutant exhibited lower tolerance to acid and ethanol in logarithmic-phase cells and poor acidification rates in milk. Supplementation of milk with Casamino Acids essentially restored the acid-producing ability of the mutant, providing additional evidence for a role of this two component system in regulating proteolytic activity in L. acidophilus.

Bacterial Proteins↗

A Genome-wide view of the Escherichia coli BasS-BasR two-component system implicated in iron-responses.

Histidine-to-aspartate (His-->Asp) phosphorelay (or two-component) systems are very common signal transduction mechanisms that are implicated in a wide variety of cellular responses to environmental stimuli in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Determination of the entire genomic sequence of Escherichia coli revealed that this gram-negative bacterium has 29 His-kinases and 32 response regulators. Of the 29 His-kinases, 23 have already been experimentally characterized at least to some extent in terms of their physiological functions. No physiological stimulus has yet been identified for each of the remaining 6 His-kinases (BasS, CreC, RstB, YfhK, YehU, and YpdA). Here we characterized the BasS-BasR two-component system with reference to its physiological function, taking genetic approaches together with genome-wide transcriptome profiling. First we showed that the hypothetical yfbE operon that appears to be implicated in the modification of lipopolysaccharides is regulated at the level of transcription in response to external iron, and then we showed that the BasS-BasR system is essential for this iron-dependent induction of yfbE. Another PhoQ-PhoP two-component system was also implicated in the full induction of yfbE in response to iron, but it was not essential. To gain more insight into the BasS-BasR system, we conducted genome-wide transcriptome analysis by microarray, finding that many of the uncovered putative iron-induced and BasS-BasR-dependent genes are somehow associated with acidic and/or anaerobic growth conditions. In this respect, it was found that mutant cells defective in the BasS-BasR system were sensitive to mild-acid growth conditions in the presence of a relatively high concentration of iron. These results are discussed with regard to a comprehensive picture of the His-->Asp phosphorelay signaling network in E. coli.

Aspartic Acid↗

Structure and expression of class II defective herpes simplex virus genomes encoding infected cell polypeptide number 8.

Defective genomes present in serially passaged virus stocks derived from the tsLB2 mutant of herpes simplex virus type 1 were found to consist of repeat units in which sequences from the U(L) region, within map coordinates 0.356 and 0.429 of standard herpes simplex virus DNA, were covalently linked to sequences from the end of the S component. The major defective genome species consisted of repeat units which were 4.9 x 10(6) in molecular weight and contained a specific deletion within the U(L) segment. These tsLB2 defective genomes were stable through more than 35 sequential virus passages. The ratios of defective virus genomes to helper virus genomes present in different passages fluctuated in synchrony with the capacity of the passages to interfere with standard virus replication. Cells infected with passages enriched for defective genomes overproduced the infected cell polypeptide number 8, which had previously been mapped within the U(L) sequences present in the tsLB2 defective genomes. In contrast, the synthesis of most other infected cell polypeptides was delayed and reduced. The abundant synthesis of infected cell polypeptide number 8 followed the beta regulatory pattern, as evident from kinetic studies and from experiments in which cycloheximide, canavanine, and phosphonoacetate were used. However, in contrast to many beta (early) and gamma (late) viral polypeptides, the synthesis of infected cell polypeptide number 8 was only minimally reduced when cells infected with serially passaged tsLB2 were incubated at 39 degrees C. The tsLB2 mutation had previously been mapped within the domains of the gene encoding infected cell polypeptide number 4, the function of which was shown to be required for beta and gamma viral gene expression. It is thus possible that the tsLB2 mutation affects the synthesis of only a subset of the beta and gamma viral polypeptides. An additional polypeptide, 74.5 x 10(3) in molecular weight, was abundantly produced in cells infected with a number of tsLB2 passages. This polypeptide was most likely expressed from truncated gene templates within the most abundant, deleted repeats of tsLB2 defective virus DNA.

Cell Line↗

A genomic predictor of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to identify a genomic profile that predicts the likelihood of oral squamous cell carcinoma compared with normal oral mucosa in unknown tissue samples. STUDY DESIGN: Using a training set of tissue samples that were histologically classified as oral squamous cell carcinoma or normal mucosa, the authors used principal component analysis to develop a genomic predictor for oral squamous cell carcinoma. On a separate test set of unclassified samples, the authors used the predictor to classify the samples, then evaluated the performance of the predictor using histological diagnosis. METHODS: The authors used a data set consisting of messenger RNA extracted from 29 oral squamous cell carcinoma and 19 normal oral mucosa tissue samples and hybridized to Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarrays containing probe sets for 7070 genes and expressed sequence tags. The samples were divided into a training set of 15 oral squamous cell carcinoma and 10 normal samples and a test set consisting of the remaining samples. Using principal component analysis on the training set, the authors found a composite gene expression vector (principal component vector), which they used to compute likelihood ratios for oral squamous cell carcinoma on the test set. By calculating the contribution of each gene to the principal component vector, the authors identified genes with the greatest predictive value. RESULTS: Using the likelihood ratio, the authors correctly classified all 23 samples in the test set as either oral squamous cell carcinoma or normal. The authors found that many of the most predictive genes are known to be markers of squamous cell carcinoma or normal mucosa. CONCLUSION: Principal component analysis can be used with genomic microarray data to correctly predict the presence of oral squamous cell carcinoma in unknown tissue samples.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Mitochondrial distribution and inheritance.

Mechanisms mediating the inheritance of mitochondria are poorly understood, but recent studies with the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe have begun to identify components that facilitate this essential process. These components have been identified through the analysis of conditional yeast mutants that display aberrant mitochondrial distribution at restrictive conditions. The analysis of these mutants has uncovered several novel proteins that are localized either to cytoskeletal structures or to the mitochondria themselves. Many mitochondrial inheritance mutants also show altered mitochondrial morphology and defects in maintenance of the mitochondrial genome. Although some inheritance components and mechanisms appear to function specifically in certain types of cells, other conserved proteins are likely to mediate mitochondrial behavior in all eukaryotic cells.

Cell Membrane↗