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Ataxia-telangiectasia: structural diversity of untranslated sequences suggests complex post-transcriptional regulation of ATM gene expression.

Mutations in the ATM gene are responsible for the multisystem disorder ataxia-telangiectasia, characterized by neurodegeneration, immune deficiency and cancer predisposition. While no alternative splicing was identified within the coding region, the first four exons of the ATM gene, which fall within the 5'untranslated region (UTR), undergo extensive alternative splicing. We identified 12 different 5'UTRs that show considerable diversity in length and sequence contents. These mRNA leaders, which range from 150 to 884 nucleotides (nt), are expected to form variable secondary structures and contain different numbers of AUG codons. The longest 5'UTR contains a total of 18 AUGs upstream of the translation start site. The 3'UTR of 3590 nt is contained within a single 3'exon. Alternative polyadenylation results in 3'UTRs of varying lengths. These structural features suggest that ATM expression might be subject to complex post-transcriptional regulation, enabling rapid modulation of ATM protein level in response to environmental stimuli or alterations in cellular physiological states.

Ataxia Telangiectasia↗

Mutational analysis of the rolA gene of Agrobacterium rhizogenes in tobacco: function of the rolA pre-mRNA intron and rolA proteins defective in their biological activity.

The rolA gene of Agrobacterium rhizogenes contains in its untranslated leader region a spliceosomal intron, which is spliced in Arabidopsis and in Nicotiana tabacum. Expression under the control of the 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus of a rolA gene derivative defective in splicing still causes alterations of growth in transgenic tobacco plants. Splicing of rolA mRNA is required for efficient expression of the rolA phenotype in vivo. Moreover, splicing is required for efficient in vitro translation of the rolA mRNA. In contrast, expression of a 35S-rolA gene derivative with the ATG initiation codon replaced by ATA does not cause any phenotypical alteration. Mutations leading to amino acid substitutions at positions 37 and 40 of the rolA coding region were isolated as null mutants in Arabidopsis plants transgenic for the rolA gene. However, when expressed in tobacco under the control of the 35S promoter, they cause a rolA phenotype reduced in the expressivity of its traits. The molecular characterization of rolA mutants might be useful for understanding the biochemical function of the rolA protein.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Regulation of HSV transcription.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) transcripts share many features with both cellular mRNA and the mRNAs expressed by other nuclear-replicating DNA viruses: they are capped, polyadenylated, and generally have an approximately 150 base leader between the cap and translation initiation codon. Further, certain sequence features around individual transcription units are shared: HSV promoters contain TATA and often CATC boxes, and the sequence signal indicating a polyadenylation site (AATAAAA) is standard. In spite of these similarities, there is one very distinct difference between the structure of HSV transcription units and those of other nuclear replicating DNA viruses. Each HSV transcript appears to be controlled by its own promoter and encodes a specific polypeptide. Further, the high degree of splicing seen with most eukaryotic and viral mRNAs is not seen in HSV. Certainly, HSV and other herpesviruses do express some spliced transcripts, but these are in the minority (with HSV at least). Thus a whole hierarchy of potential control points utilized in eukaryotic gene expression is missing or rarely utilized in HSV. Despite this, the high density of gene packaging and relatively complex arrangement of partially overlapping transcripts is seen in HSV transcription as it is in other, smaller DNA viruses.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Operons and SL2 trans-splicing exist in nematodes outside the genus Caenorhabditis.

The genomes of most eukaryotes are composed of genes arranged on the chromosomes without regard to function, with each gene transcribed from a promoter at its 5' end. However, the genome of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains numerous polycistronic clusters similar to bacterial operons in which the genes are transcribed sequentially from a single promoter at the 5' end of the cluster. The resulting polycistronic pre-mRNAs are processed into monocistronic mRNAs by conventional 3' end formation, cleavage, and polyadenylation, accompanied by trans-splicing with a specialized spliced leader (SL), SL2. To determine whether this mode of gene organization and expression, apparently unique among the animals, occurs in other species, we have investigated genes in a distantly related free-living rhabditid nematode in the genus Dolichorhabditis (strain CEW1). We have identified both SL1 and SL2 RNAs in this species. In addition, we have sequenced a Dolichorhabditis genomic region containing a gene cluster with all of the characteristics of the C. elegans operons. We show that the downstream gene is trans-spliced to SL2. We also present evidence that suggests that these two genes are also clustered in the C. elegans and Caenorhabditis briggsae genomes. Thus, it appears that the arrangement of genes in operons pre-dates the divergence of the genus Caenorhabditis from the other genera in the family Rhabditidae, and may be more widespread than is currently appreciated.

Animals↗

Novel transcription map for the B19 (human) pathogenic parvovirus.

The B19 parvovirus, a small single-stranded DNA virus of 5.4 kilobases, is pathogenic in humans. B19 has remarkable specificity for erythroid progenitor cells and has been propagated in vitro only with human erythroid bone marrow. Replication of viral DNA and the viral protein products of B19 appear similar to those of other animal parvoviruses. However, B19 transcription had unusual features in comparison with that in other animal parvoviruses. At least nine overlapping poly(A)+ transcripts were identified in infected cells; all but one contained large introns. B19 differed from other parvoviruses in the initiation of all transcripts at a strong left side promoter (p6) and the absence of a functional internal promoter; the presence of short 5' leader sequences of about 60 bases and very large introns for RNAs encoded by the right side of the genome; two separate transcription termination sites, in contrast to cotermination at the far right side of the genome for other parvoviruses; the probable utilization by three transcripts of a variant polyadenylation signal (ATTAAA or AATAAC) in the middle of the genome; and the abundance of two unique transcripts from the middle of the genome which did not code for capsid proteins. The unusual transcription map of B19 suggests that regulation of the relative abundance of transcripts occurs by splicing and termination-polyadenylation events rather than by promoter strength. In combination with the published nucleotide sequence, the novel transcription map separated the pathogenic B19 virus at a molecular level from other animal parvoviruses and human adeno-associated virus.

Bone Marrow↗

Structure and promoter activity of the 5' flanking region of ace-1, the gene encoding acetylcholinesterase of class A in Caenorhabditis elegans.

We report the structure and the functional activity of the promoter region of ace-1, the gene encoding acetylcholinesterase of class A in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that ace-1 was trans -spliced to the SL1 spliced leader and that transcription was initiated at a cluster of multiple starts. There was neither a TATA nor a CAAT box at consensus distances from these starts. Interspecies sequence comparison of the 5' regions of ace-1 in C. elegans and in the related nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae identified four blocks of conserved sequences located within a sequence of 2.4 kilobases upstream from the initiator ATG. In vitro expression of CAT reporter genes in mammalian cells allowed the determination of a minimal promoter in the first 288 nucleotides. In phenotype rescue experiments in vivo, the ace-1 gene containing 2.4 kilobases of 5' flanking region of either C. elegans or C. briggsae was found to restore a coordinated mobility to the uncoordinated double mutants ace-1(-);ace-2(-)of C. elegans. This showed that the ace-1 promoter was contained in 2.4 kilobases of the 5' region, and indicated that cis -regulatory elements as well as coding sequences of ace-1 were functionally conserved between the two nematode species. The pattern of ace-1 expression was established through microinjection of Green Fluorescent Protein reporter gene constructs and showed a major mesodermal expression. Deletion analysis showed that two of the four blocks of conserved sequences act as tissue-specific activators. The distal block is a mesodermal enhancer responsible for the expression in body wall muscle cells, anal sphincter and vulval muscle cells. Another block of conserved sequence directs expression in pharyngeal muscle cells pm5 and three pairs of cephalic sensory neurons.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Intercistronic region required for polycistronic pre-mRNA processing in Caenorhabditis elegans.

In Caenorhabditis elegans, polycistronic pre-mRNAs are processed by cleavage and polyadenylation at the 3' ends of the upstream genes and trans splicing, generally to the specialized spliced leader SL2, at the 5' ends of the downstream genes. Previous studies have indicated a relationship between these two events in the processing of a heat shock-induced gpd-2-gpd-3 polycistronic pre-mRNA. Here, we report mutational analysis of the intercistronic region of this operon by linker scan analysis. Surprisingly, no sequences downstream of the 3' end were important for 3'-end formation. In contrast, a U-rich (Ur) element located 29 bp downstream of the site of 3'-end formation was shown to be important for downstream mRNA biosynthesis. This approximately 20-bp element is sufficient for SL2 trans splicing and mRNA accumulation when transplanted to a heterologous context. Furthermore, when the downstream gene was replaced by a gene from another organism, no loss of trans-splicing specificity was observed, suggesting that the Ur element may be the primary signal required for downstream mRNA processing.

Animals↗

Structure, chromosomal localization, and expression of the gene for mouse ecto-mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase ART5.

Mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferases regulate the function of target proteins by attaching ADP-ribose to specific amino acid residues in their target proteins. The purpose of this study was to determine the structure, chromosomal localization, and expression profile of the gene for mouse ecto-ADP-ribosyltransferase ART5. Southern blot analyses indicate that Art5 is a single copy gene which maps to mouse chromosome 7 at offset 49.6 cM in close proximity to the Art1, Art2a and Art2b genes. Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses demonstrate prominent expression of Art5 in testis, and lower levels in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Sequence analyses reveal that the Art5 gene encompasses six exons spanning 8 kb of genomic DNA. The 5' end of the Art5 gene overlaps with that of the Art1 gene. A single long exon encodes the predicted ART5 catalytic domain. Separate exons encode the N-terminal leader peptide and a hydrophilic C-terminal extension. Sequencing of RT-PCR products and ESTs identified six splice variants. The deduced amino acid sequence of ART5 shows 87% sequence identity to its orthologue from the human, and 37 and 32% identity to its murine paralogues ART1 and ART2. Unlike ART1 and ART2, ART5 lacks a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor signal sequence and is predicted to be a secretory enzyme. This prediction was confirmed by transfecting an Art5 cDNA expression construct into Sf9 insect cells. The secreted epitope-tagged ART5 protein resembled rat ART2 in exhibiting potent NAD-glycohydrolase activity. This study provides important experimental tools to further elucidate the function of ART5.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗

Complementary DNA sequence and chromosomal mapping of a human proteoglycan-binding cell-adhesion protein (dermatopontin).

We have noticed the presence of a protein with a M(r) of approx 22 kDa in proteoglycan preparations from human fibroblast cultures and speculated that it might be related to a 22-kDa protein from bovine skin (22K) with proteoglycan- and cell-binding properties. Using degenerated oligomers designed from the amino acid sequence of the bovine protein, we amplified and subcloned sequences from human fibroblast and fibrosarcoma cDNA. The three clones that were characterized contain an open reading frame (603 bp) coding for 201 amino acids comprising a secretory leader peptide of 18 amino acids and a secreted part of 183 amino acids with 96% identity to the bovine sequence, indicating that they code for the human homologue ("dermatopontin") of the bovine 22K protein. Expression of dermatopontin is not limited to connective tissue, as Northern blots show specific mRNAs in cultured fibroblasts, muscle, heart, pancreas, and lung. Two species of mRNA (1.0 and 2.2 kb) are present, indicating alternative polyadenylation or alternative splicing. The cDNA clones map to 1q12-q23 in a cell hybrid panel containing specific chromosomal deletions.

Alternative Splicing↗

Exon skipping without splice site mutation accounting for abnormal immunoglobulin chains in nonsecretory human myeloma.

The proliferating plasma cells of patient COM with nonsecretory myeloma synthesized truncated 42 kDa gamma 1 chains made of a complete constant region but devoid of variable domain. In the absence of light chain expression, the shortened gamma chains were retained intracellularly and were subsequently degraded within 12 h. COM neoplastic plasma cells contained short gamma 1 heavy chain transcripts in which the leader peptide exon was directly joined to the CH1 exon using the regular splice sites. However, study of the productive gamma gene showed that the skipped variable exon was bounded by normal splicing signals and that the adjacent intron organization was not altered. Since this unusual splicing pattern was maintained when COM gamma gene was transfected in murine plasmocytoma cells, exon skipping possibly relates to the modified structure of COM variable region. The latter showed a 2-base pair deletion introducing a translation frameshift in the VH region and a DNA insertion at the VH-DJH junction consisting in a perfect duplication of the first 54 nucleotides of the recombined DJH segment. The lack of light chain production by COM cells was explained by alterations of the variable region of the rearranged kappa gene leading to abnormally spliced transcripts.

Alternative Splicing↗

Genomic alterations in a case of alpha heavy chain disease leading to the generation of composite exons from the JH region.

Human alpha heavy chain disease (HCD) is characterized by the presence in patient's serum of a short Ig alpha chain devoid of light chains. We analyzed the serum protein, the alpha HCD mRNA and the productive rearranged H chain gene from the leukemic cells of a new case (YAO) of alpha HCD. The abnormal YAO alpha 1 Ig was devoid of VH and CH1 domains and started at the beginning of the hinge region. The alpha HCD mRNA was shorter than normal alpha mRNA and the cDNA prepared from YAO mRNA encoded a leader sequence, an insert of 70 nucleotides and the CH2 and CH3 exons. The origin of the inserted sequence was assessed by cloning and sequence analysis of the alpha 1 productive gene. It started with a leader exon, a leader-VH intron and the first 11 bp of a VH exon. Then the VH region was deleted and replaced by a 19-nucleotide sequence that turned out to correspond to the 3' part of a modified JH5 exon. It was followed by a 221-bp sequence homologous to the JH5-psi JH3 intron and by an inserted sequence of unknown origin. The 3' part of this insertion and the remnant of a JH6 exon delineated a third exon that was followed by a relatively conserved JH6-C alpha intron. These two composite exons were flanked by splicing sites and accounted for the 70-nucleotide insert of the cDNA. The genomic nucleotide sequence also revealed a large deletion in the switch CH1 region which eliminated normal splicing sites and resulted in splicing of the third exon directly to the CH2 exon.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ly108: a new member of the mouse CD2 family of cell surface proteins.

Proteins of the CD2 family belong to the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily of receptors that are expressed predominantly on hematopoeitic cells and function to modulate immune responses. The present study characterized a new member of the CD2 family, designated Ly108. The Ly108 gene encodes a protein of 331 amino acids, including a putative leader peptide, an extracellular region consisting of two Ig-like domains, a hydrophobic transmembrane segment, and a cytoplasmic tail of 69 amino acids. An alternatively spliced transcript, whose encoded protein differs only in the cytoplasmic domain, was also identified. Like other CD2 family members, the extracellular region of Ly108 also contains an N-terminal Ig variable regionlike domain lacking any disulfide bonds and a membrane-proximal truncated C2-like domain with two conserved disulfide bonds. Overall, Ly108 is most similar to CD84 and Ly9, and the gene maps to the distal arm of mouse Chromosome 1, in the vicinity of CD48 and Ly9. Ly108 transcripts appeared to be expressed only in lymphoid tissues, and were readily detected in all but the most highly differentiated mouse B- and T-cell lines analyzed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Accurate polyadenylation of procyclin mRNAs in Trypanosoma brucei is determined by pyrimidine-rich elements in the intergenic regions.

Polycistronic precursor RNAs from trypanosomes are processed into monocistronic mRNAs by the excision of intergenic sequences and the addition of a 39-nucleotide spliced leader by trans splicing. These mRNAs are also polyadenylated, yet they do not contain the hexamer AAUAAA within their 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). To identify the signals required for the accurate polyadenylation of mRNAs, we tested the effects of deletions in either the procyclin 3' UTR or the downstream intergenic region on the polyadenylation of transcripts from a reporter gene. Deletion of the entire 3' UTR does not affect polyadenylation, but a crucial element is located in the intergenic region and includes a pyrimidine-rich sequence from positions 79 to 112 followed by an AG dinucleotide. Related motifs are also found a similar distance downstream of other genes in both the procyclin and the variant surface glycoprotein expression sites. These sequences bear a strong resemblance to splice acceptor sites, but they are generally several hundred base pairs upstream of the major splice acceptor site of the next gene in the transcription unit. There is evidence, however, that some of them can give rise to alternatively spliced transcripts with unusually long 5' UTRs.

Animals↗

A major surface antigen of procyclic stage Trypanosoma congolense.

Five monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were raised that bound to the surface of procyclic stage Trypanosoma congolense with high intensity in immunofluorescence. Immunoblot analysis of trypanosome lysates using 3 of these mAb revealed a diffuse SDS-PAGE band of 36-40 kDa. The purified antigen did not react with Coomassie Blue or silver stains, but did stain blue with Stains-all, indicating acidity. For the one mAb tested, the epitope was periodate-sensitive and therefore probably glycan. Although this antigen shares properties with procyclin/PARP, which forms a surface coat on procyclic Trypanosoma brucei, a search in T. congolense for homologues of a procyclin/PARP gene revealed only non-coding sequence of partial similarity. Using a differential screen, a procyclic stage T. congolense cDNA clone was isolated that encoded a putative 256-amino acid protein containing 2 peptides chemically sequenced independently by Beecroft et al. [36]. The protein, termed glutamate and alanine-rich protein (GARP), has potential hydrophobic leader and tail sequences (the latter with potential for replacement by a glycosyl phosphoinositol anchor) and no potential N-linked glycosylation sites. It has no significant sequence homology with known proteins. Antibodies against a translational fusion of GARP bound specifically in Western blots to a band very similar to that detected by the mAb and also to the purified antigen. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed a dense packing of the antigen on the cell surface. It appears that procyclic T. brucei and T. congolense have major surface proteins with structural analogy, but with no sequence homology.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans axonal guidance and outgrowth gene unc-33.

Mutations in the unc-33 gene of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans lead to severely uncoordinated movement, abnormalities in the guidance and outgrowth of the axons of many neurons, and a superabundance of microtubules in neuronal processes. We have cloned unc-33 by tagging the gene with the transposable element Tc4. Three unc-33 messages, which are transcribed from a genomic region of at least 10 kb, were identified and characterized. The three messages have common 3' ends and identical reading frames. The largest (3.8-kb) message consists of the 22-nucleotide trans-spliced leader SL1 and 10 exons (I-X); the intermediate-size (3.3-kb) message begins with SL1 spliced to the 5' end of exon V and includes exons V-X; and the smallest (2.8-kb) message begins within exon VII and also includes exons VIII-X. A gamma-ray-induced deletion mutation situated within exon VIII reduces the sizes of all three messages by 0.5 kb. The three putative polypeptides encoded by the three messages overlap in C-terminal sequence but differ by the positions at which their N termini begin; none has significant similarity to any other known protein. A Tc4 insertion in exon VII leads to alterations in splicing that result in three approximately wild-type-size messages: the Tc4 sequence and 28 additional nucleotides are spliced out of the two larger messages; the Tc4 sequence is trans-spliced off the smallest message such that SL1 is added 13 nucleotides upstream of the normal 5' end of the smallest message.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characteristics of nucleotide sequences flanking the trans-spliced leader SL1 exon in Dirofilaria immitis, Brugia malayi, and Brugia pahangi.

Nucleotide sequences surrounding the trans-spliced leader SL1 exon in the 5S rRNA gene spacer regions of Dirofilaria immitis, Brugia malayi, and B. pahangi were determined after PCR amplification, aligned with the genus Onchocerca for comparison, and used for the prediction of secondary structures. The nucleotide sequence of this region in B. pahangi was first shown in the present study. Hypothetical secondary structures of the spacer region suggested that the SL1 transcript is capable to form a stable stem-loop structure which may render transposition of the SL1 sequence to mRNA molecules. A homologous sequence to Sm-binding site was assigned on a bulge loop. No significant difference was observed in adult worms of D. immitis irrespective of sex or location. No difference was apparent between the two species in genus Brugia.

Animals↗

Serologic and T cell recognition of truncated transplantation antigens encoded by in vitro deleted class I major histocompatibility genes.

Gene constructions encoding a leader sequence and the C2, transmembrane, and intracytoplasmic exons of both H-2Ld (pLd-C2) and H-2Dd (pDd-C2) were expressed as cell surface proteins when stably introduced into mouse L cells. Distinct proteins of 17.5 and 16 kd precipitated from pDd-C2 transformants reacted with a C2 domain-specific monoclonal antibody, whereas the pLd-C2 transformants expressed a single 19 kd glycoprotein. A xenoantiserum specific for the exon VI/VIII fusion peptide of H-2Dd precipitated only the 16 kd product, suggesting that this protein was derived from an alternately spliced transcript lacking exon VII of the native gene. CTL specifically recognized the pLd-C2 and pDd-C2 gene products, indicating the existence of CTL reactive against polymorphic determinants in the C2 domain of class I antigens.

Animals↗

The adenovirus type 5 i-leader open reading frame functions in cis to reduce the half-life of L1 mRNAs.

The 440-nucleotide adenovirus type 5 i-leader sequence, encoding a 13.6-kilodalton protein, is located between the second and third components of the tripartite leader sequence. It appears primarily on the L1 family of mRNAs. To study its function, we constructed two point mutations within the i leader. pm382 lacks the wild-type i-leader splice acceptor and failed to splice the leader onto L1 mRNAs. pm383 lacks the ATG used for translation of the i-leader protein; it synthesized i-leader-containing mRNAs, but failed to produce detectable levels of the polypeptide. Both mutants exhibited modestly reduced yields in some but not all cell lines tested and accumulated slightly elevated levels of L1 mRNA and L1 52- and 55-kilodalton proteins in infected cells. Mutant phenotypes were consistently more pronounced in pm382- than in pm383-infected cells. In wild-type virus-infected cells, L1 mRNAs lacking the i leader displayed a half-life of about 26 h, whereas L1 mRNAs containing the leader were much less stable, with a half-life of less than 4 h. In pm383-infected cells (ATG mutant), L1 mRNAs containing the i leader exhibited a half-life of 26 h. The abnormally long half-life of pm383-encoded L1 mRNAs containing a mutant i leader was not reduced by coinfection with wild-type virus, suggesting that synthesis of the i-leader protein leads to destabilization of the i-leader-containing L1 mRNA undergoing translation.

Adenoviruses, Human↗