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Infectivity determinants encoded in a conserved gene block of human herpesvirus-6.

The nucleotide sequence was determined for a 9.3 kb BamHI DNA fragment derived from a cosmid clone (Lorist 6) library of the 160 kb human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) strain U1102 genome. Analysis of the sequence showed two different sources for the DNA; 8.0 kb was derived from HHV-6, while 1.3 kb was derived from the right repeat of transposon Tn10, the insertion sequence (IS) element IS10R. The IS element sequence is shown to be derived from the host bacteria of the plasmid. The HHV-6 sequence represents a highly conserved part of the genome encoding 15% of the genes conserved among the other human herpesviruses in only 5% of the genome. Six genes were identified, five encoding products with amino acid sequence similarity to homologues in herpes simplex virus (HSV), Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). All had closest amino acid similarity to CMV proteins. Three clustered structural genes, included glycoprotein H, a major conserved determinant of infectivity, were jointed to a putative dUTPase homologue in an arrangement distinct to CMV and HHV-6. In the other herpes viruses these genes are separated by over 50 kb. The gene at this point of genetic rearrangement had no sequence similarity to proteins of other herpesviruses. However, there is a protein at this locus in CMV with similar composition and character. Both appear to be highly glycosylated, secreted glycoproteins with repetitive elements similar to those of human mucins. Comparison of sequence available in the HHV-6 GS strain also shows this to be a variable region (5% nucleotide differences) in an overall conserved DNA sequence (0.5%).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Channel catfish BAC-end sequences for marker development and assessment of syntenic conservation with other fish species.

In the present study, 25 195 BAC ends for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were sequenced, generating 20 366 clean BAC-end sequences (BES), with an average read length of 557 bp after trimming. A total of 11 414 601 bp were generated, representing approximately 1.2% of the catfish genome. Based on this survey, the catfish genome was found to be highly AT-rich, with 60.7% A+T and 39.3% G+C. Approximately 12% of the catfish genome consisted of dispersed repetitive elements, with the Tc1/mariner transposons making up the largest percentage by base pair (4.57%). Microsatellites were detected in 17.5% of BES. Catfish BACs were anchored to the zebrafish and Tetraodon genome sequences by BLASTN, generating 16% and 8.2% significant hits (E < e(-5)) respectively. A total of 1074 and 773 significant hits were unique to the zebrafish and Tetraodon genomes, respectively, of which 417 and 406, respectively, were identified as known genes in other species, providing a major genome resource for comparative genomic mapping.

Animals↗

Are two Cryptococcus neoformans strains epidemiologically linked?

The aim of this study was to standardize a method to determine whether two strains of Cryptococcus neoformans could be considered epidemiologically linked. We hypothesized that strains isolated from the same patient were epidemiologically linked and that those isolated from different patients were unrelated. We used 17 environmental isolates and 97 clinical isolates from 31 patients diagnosed with cryptococcosis (1 to 14 isolates per patient). Using the plasmid pCnTel-1-labeled probe CENTEL, we were able to differentiate some unrelated strains that yielded the same hybridization profile with the C. neoformans middle-repetitive-element CNRE-1 probe. The genetic distances separating the strains isolated from the same patient and those separating the strains isolated from different patients were estimated, and the results obtained with the two probes were compared. Analysis of the results enabled the calculation of two Dice coefficient limits defining the zones containing the pairs of linked strains and the pairs of unrelated strains, as well as an intermediate uncertainty zone for which it was not possible to establish whether the pairs of strains were linked.

Cryptococcosis↗

Short interspersed repeats in rabbit DNA can provide functional polyadenylation signals.

Analysis of 37 short repetitive elements (SINEs) in rabbit DNA that are known as C repeats has revealed three that contribute functional polyadenylation signals to genes into which they have been inserted. Similar roles have been attributed to particular individual SINEs in rodents and primates before, suggesting that these roles may be common to SINEs in all mammalian orders. Although most SINEs appear to have little influence on the genome individually, the observation that three of 36 rabbit C repeats provide functional sequences suggests a mechanism for the maintenance of SINEs within mammalian genomes.

Animals↗

Expression of leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase and reticulocyte-type 15-lipoxygenase in rabbits.

From a rabbit reticulocyte library a full length cDNA was isolated which predicted a novel lipoxygenase (LOX) sharing 99% identical amino acids with the rabbit 15-lipoxygenase. HPLC product analysis of the bacterially expressed protein identified it as a leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase (1.12-LOX). This proves the co-expression of a 15-lipoxygenase and a 1.12-lipoxygenase in one mammalian species. Among the six amino acids that are different to rabbit 15-lipoxygenase, leucine 353 is shown to be the primary determinant for 12-positional specificity. In the 3'-untranslated region of the 12-LOX-mRNA a CU-rich, 20-fold repetitive element has been found, closely related to the differentiation control element (DICE) of the rabbit 15-LOX-mRNA which is organized by ten repeats of 19 bases. By genomic PCR the 3'-terminal part of the gene for the novel 12-lipoxygenase containing the introns 10-13 has been amplified and sequenced. The introns were very similar in length to the corresponding 15-lipoxygenase introns with 89% to 95% identical nucleotide sequences. By screening a rabbit reticulocyte library an alternative 15-lipoxygenase transcript of 3.6 kb has been detected containing a 1019 nucleotides longer 3'-untranslated region (UTR2) than the main 2.6 kb mRNA. The determination of the tissue distribution by Northern blotting showed that the 3.6 kb mRNA2 was only expressed in non-erythroid tissues, whereas the 2.6 kb mRNA1 was exclusively expressed in reticulocytes. The only cell type which has been found to express the 1.12-lipoxygenase abundantly are monocytes. The results indicate that the expression of 1.12-lipoxygenase and 15-lipoxygenase is highly regulated. The UTR2 of the 15-LOX-mRNA2 contained a novel eight-fold repetitive CU-rich motif of 23 bases length which is related but not identical to the DICE of 19 bases in the UTR1. The analysis of a genomic recombinant of the complete 9.0 kb Alox15 gene confirmed that UTR1 and UTR2 are not interrupted by an additional intron.

Alternative Splicing↗

Exon-Alu recombination deletes 5 kilobases from the low density lipoprotein receptor gene, producing a null phenotype in familial hypercholesterolemia.

Among patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, half of the mutant alleles at the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor locus produce no immunologically detectable protein. To determine the molecular basis for one such null allele, we have cloned an abnormally short restriction fragment from the genomic DNA of one patient. The DNA sequence revealed a 5-kilobase deletion that joins a coding sequence in exon 13 to an Alu repetitive element in intron 15. The deletion joint is flanked by two inverted repeats that could potentially form a double stem-loop structure that might have predisposed to this deletion. A similar double stem-loop structure can be drawn for a previously described deletion in the LDL receptor gene and for a deletion in the beta-globin gene cluster. We speculate that such double stem-loop structures might contribute to the formation of large deletions in the human genome.

Base Sequence↗

A trithorax-like gene is interrupted by chromosome 11q23 translocations in acute leukaemias.

Some acute lymphocytic leukaemias, particularly those in young children, are associated with a t(4;11)(q21;q23) reciprocal translocation. We have cloned the translocation breakpoint on chromosome 11q23 and isolated corresponding RNA transcripts from this region. The translocation occurs within a cluster of Alu repetitive elements located within an intron of a gene that gives rise to 11.5 (kb) transcript spanning the translocation breakpoint. The 11.5 kb transcript encodes a protein that is highly homologous to the Drosophila trithorax gene, a developmental regulator. An analysis of a series of leukaemic patients carrying t(4;11) and t(9;11) translocations indicate that the majority of breakpoints in infant leukaemias lie within a 5 kb region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of the cow stomach lysozyme genes: repetitive DNA and concerted evolution.

Cow stomach lysozyme genes have evolved in a mosaic pattern. The majority of the intronic and flanking sequences show an amount of sequence difference consistent with divergent evolution since duplication of the genes 40-50 million years ago. In contrast, exons 1, 2, and 4 and immediately adjacent intronic sequences differ little between genes and show evidence of recent concerted evolution. Exon 3 appears to be evolving divergently. The three characterized genes vary from 5.6 to 7.9 kilobases in length. Different distributions of repetitive DNA are found in each gene, which accounts for the majority of length differences between genes. The different distributions of repetitive DNA in each gene suggest the repetitive elements were inserted into each gene after the duplications that give rise to these three genes and provide additional support for divergent evolution for the majority of each gene. The observation that intronic and flanking sequences are evolving divergently suggests that the concerted evolution events involved in homogenizing the coding regions of lysozyme genes involve only one exon at a time. This model of concerted evolution would allow the shuffling of exon-sized pieces of information between genes, a phenomenon that may have aided in the early adaptive evolution of stomach lysozyme.

Animals↗

Sequence analysis of the transcription control region upstream of the human FGF-3 gene.

With the purpose of studying the transcriptional regulation of the human FGF-3 gene, we have cloned and determined the nucleotide sequence of the 11-kbp region flanking its 5' end. Analysis of the sequence disclosed the presence of multiple repetitive elements. Remarkably, all of them were found to have inserted in the same orientation as the FGF-3 gene, suggesting that the whole upstream region could play a role in the control of its transcription. Unique regions within the sequence were scanned for the presence of transcriptional regulatory elements. A potential "Initiator" sequence preceded by several motifs homologous to binding sites for transcription factors pinpointed a putative promoter, 6 kbp upstream of the ATG codon for the FGF-3 protein. A 250-nt sequence stretch surrounding the "Initiator" was found to display punctate homology with the first (P1) of the three promoters (P1, P2 and P3) of the mouse Fgf-3/int-2 gene, specifically in the region of the transcriptional start sites. These data should be useful in studying the mechanisms of regulation of the FGF-3 transcription unit.

Animals↗

Complete genomic structure of the mouse cathepsin K gene (Ctsk) and its localization next to the Arnt gene on mouse chromosome 3.

In preparation for gene manipulative experiments in mice we have isolated genomic clones covering the entire murine cathepsin K gene (Ctsk). Sequence analysis revealed that the gene spans 10.1 kb and contains eight exons and seven introns. The sizes of the coding exons 2-7 as well as the pattern of intron sizes are conserved between the human and mouse cathepsin K genes. Genomic organization of the mouse cathepsin K gene also closely resembles those of cathepsins S and L. More than 26% of the Ctsk sequence consists of different repetitive elements. Detailed sequence analysis of 1.7 kb of Ctsk promoter revealed several putative binding sites for transcription factors and two stretches of 280-320 bp which were > 70% homologous with the human cathepsin K promoter. Analysis of genomic clones extending further upstream of the Ctsk gene identified the 3' end of the gene coding for arylhydrocarbon-receptor nuclear translocator (Arnt). This places Ctsk approximately 4.5 kb downstream of Arnt on mouse chromosome 3 at locus 47.9.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Complete DNA sequence of a serogroup A strain of Neisseria meningitidis Z2491.

Neisseria meningitidis causes bacterial meningitis and is therefore responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in both the developed and the developing world. Meningococci are opportunistic pathogens that colonize the nasopharynges and oropharynges of asymptomatic carriers. For reasons that are still mostly unknown, they occasionally gain access to the blood, and subsequently to the cerebrospinal fluid, to cause septicaemia and meningitis. N. meningitidis strains are divided into a number of serogroups on the basis of the immunochemistry of their capsular polysaccharides; serogroup A strains are responsible for major epidemics and pandemics of meningococcal disease, and therefore most of the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. Here we have determined the complete genome sequence of a serogroup A strain of Neisseria meningitidis, Z2491. The sequence is 2,184,406 base pairs in length, with an overall G+C content of 51.8%, and contains 2,121 predicted coding sequences. The most notable feature of the genome is the presence of many hundreds of repetitive elements, ranging from short repeats, positioned either singly or in large multiple arrays, to insertion sequences and gene duplications of one kilobase or more. Many of these repeats appear to be involved in genome fluidity and antigenic variation in this important human pathogen.

Antigenic Variation↗

Insertions and deletions are male biased too: a whole-genome analysis in rodents.

It is presently accepted that, in mammals, due to the greater number of cell divisions in the male germline than in the female germline, nucleotide substitutions occur more frequently in males. The data on mutation bias in insertions and deletions (indels) are contradictory, with some studies indicating no sex bias and others indicating either female or male bias. The sequenced rat and mouse genomes provide a unique opportunity to investigate a potential sex bias for different types of mutations. Indeed, mutation rates can be accurately estimated from a large number of orthologous loci in organisms similar in generation time and in the number of germline cell divisions. Here we compare the mutation rates between chromosome X and autosomes for likely neutral sites in eutherian ancestral interspersed repetitive elements present at orthologous locations in the rat and mouse genomes. We find that small indels are male biased: The male-to-female mutation rate ratio (alpha) for indels in rodents is approximately 2. Similarly, our whole-genome analysis in rodents indicates an approximately twofold excess of nucleotide substitutions originating in males over that in females. This is the same as the male-to-female ratio of the number of germline cell divisions in rat and mouse. Thus, this is consistent with nucleotide substitutions and small indels occurring primarily during DNA replication.

Animals↗

A fine-structure deletion map of human chromosome 11p: analysis of J1 series hybrids.

Deletion analysis offers a powerful alternative to linkage and karyotypic approaches for human chromosome mapping. A panel of deletion hybrids has been derived by mutagenizing J1, a hamster cell line that stably retains chromosome 11 as its only human DNA, and selecting for loss of MIC1, a surface antigen encoded by a gene in band 11p13. A unique, self-consistent map was constructed by analyzing the pattern of marker segregation in 22 derivative cells lines; these carry overlapping deletions of 11p13, but selectively retain a segment near the 11p telomere. The map orders 35 breakpoints and 36 genetic markers, including 3 antigens, 2 isozymes, 12 cloned genes, and 19 anonymous DNA probes. The deletions span the entire short arm, dividing it into more than 20 segments and define a set of reagents that can be used to rapidly locate any newly identified marker on 11p, with greatest resolution in the region surrounding MIC1. The approach we demonstrate can be applied to map any mammalian chromosome. To test the gene order, we examined somatic cell hybrids from five patients, whose reciprocal translocations bisect band 11p13; these include two translocations associated with familial aniridia and two with acute T-cell leukemia. In each patient, the markers segregate in telomeric and centromeric groups as predicted by the deletion map. These data locate the aniridia gene (AN2) and a recurrent T-cell leukemia breakpoint (TCL2) in the marker sequence, on opposite sides of MIC1. To provide additional support, we have characterized the dosage of DNA markers in a patient with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and an 11p15-11pter duplication. Our findings suggest the following gene order: TEL - (HRAS1, MER2, CTSD, TH/INS/IGF2, H19, D11S32) - (RRM1, D11S1, D11S25, D11S26) - D11S12 - (HBBC, D11S30) - D11S20 - (PTH, CALC) - (LDHA, SAA, TRPH, D11S18, D11S21) - D11S31 - D11S17 - HBVS1 - (FSHB, D11S16) - AN2 - MIC1 - TCL2 - delta J - CAT - MIC4 - D11S9 - D11S14 - ACP2 - (D11S33, 14L) - CEN. We have used the deletion map to show the distribution on 11p of two centromeric repetitive elements and the low-order interspersed repeat A36Fc. Finally, we provide evidence for an allelic segregation event in the hamster genome that underlies the stability of chromosome 11 in J1. The deletion map provides a basis to position hereditary disease loci on 11p, to distinguish the pattern of recessive mutations in different forms of cancer and, since many of these genes have been mapped in other mammalian species, to study the evolution of a conserved syntenic group.

Animals↗

Repetitive sequences scattered throughout the genome of Trypanosoma cruzi.

A clone bank from Trypanosoma cruzi DNA was constructed in the plasmid vector pBR325 and screened with total labelled DNA from the same parasite. The experimental conditions used enable recombinant clones containing repetitive sequences to be detected. 2% of the clones gave a strong positive signal. Half of them carried mini-circle sequences but the other half contained repetitive sequences from the nuclear genome. 50% of all colonies showed up more weakly suggesting that half of the trypanosome DNA fragments carried few repetitive elements. One family of repeats, present in two clones from different genomic regions, hybridized with a broad range of nuclear DNA fragment sizes. Moreover, one of these clones had at least two kinds of elements with no common sequences. A third clone, detected under the same conditions, hybridized with distinct nuclear DNA bands. The number of copies estimated for the latter was much lower than the number of homologous sequences detected in nuclear DNA with the former two. This third recombinant plasmid proved useful to differentiate among closely related trypanosome stocks. Neither poly(A)+ or poly(A)- RNA, nor the 50 kilobase pair band corresponding to the satellite DNA already described in trypanosomes, contribute to the repeats present within these recombinant DNAs. Sequences with some degree of homology were found in the nuclear genome of T. brucei and Crithidia fasciculata.

Animals↗

Reduced representation sequencing: a success in maize and a promise for other plant genomes.

Plant, and particularly cereal genomes, are challenging to sequence due to their large size and high repetitive DNA content. Gene-enrichment strategies are alternative or complementary approaches to complete genome sequencing that yield, rapidly and inexpensively, useful sequence data from large and complex genomes. The maize genome is large (2.7 Gbp) and contains large amounts of conserved repetitive elements. Furthermore, the high allelic diversity found between maize inbred lines may necessitate sequencing several inbred lines in order to recover the maize "gene pool". Two gene-enrichment approaches, methylation filtration (MF) and high C(o)t (HC) sequencing have been tested in maize and their ability to sample the gene space has been examined. Combined with other genomic sequencing strategies, gene-enriched genomic sequencing is a practical way to examine the maize gene pool, to order and orient the genic sequences on the genome, and to enable investigation of gene content of other complex plant genomes.

Alleles↗

Molecular genotyping of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus via fluorophore-enhanced repetitive-sequence PCR.

Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Accurate, rapid epidemiologic typing is crucial to the identification of the source and spread of infectious disease and could provide detailed information on the generation of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains. The high degree of genetic relatedness of MRSA strains has precluded the use of more conventional methods of genetic fingerprinting. A rapid DNA fingerprinting method that exploits PCR amplification from a DNA repeat sequence in MRSA is described. The random chromosomal distribution of this repeat sequence provides an ideal target for detecting DNA fragment patterns specific to individual MRSA strains. Two PCR fingerprinting methods which use an oligonucleotide primer based on a repetitive sequence found in Mycoplasma pneumoniae are presented. The repetitive element sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) and fluorophore-enhanced rep-PCR (FERP) can identify epidemic strains among background MRSA. The combination of oligonucleotide primers labeled with different fluorescent dyes allowed simultaneous FERP fingerprinting and mecA gene detection. Eight different fingerprint patterns were observed in MRSA strains collected from different sources. These techniques provide a rapid discriminatory means of molecular epidemiologic typing of MRSA involved in nosocomial infections.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

Genetic variability of the murine creatine kinase B gene locus and related pseudogenes in different inbred strains of mice.

The role of genetic variation in isoenzyme gene families is often poorly appreciated. We report here on the determination of DNA sequences and typing of genetic variability in four creatine kinase B (CKB) gene loci in different inbred strains of mice. The unique functional murine CKB gene was found to be nearly identical to the previously characterised rat and human sequences in both size and exon-intron structure. In this gene, approximately 0.5% allelic nucleotide positions as well as the lengths of simple A-rich and [TG]n repetitive elements located at the 5' and 3' sides of the transcribed segment, differed between inbred strains of mice. Preliminary experiments suggest that this sequence divergence is of importance for design of gene targeting strategies involving homologous DNA recombination. The three additional CKB-like gene loci in mice all had the characteristics of processed pseudogenes. By Southern blot analysis we could demonstrate that both the type and number of pseudogenes differed between inbred strains. Analysis of the CKB gene sequences enabled us to speculate about the evolutionary history of this highly polymorphic subfamily of genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Dynamics of the sub-nuclear distribution of Modulo and the regulation of position-effect variegation by nucleolus in Drosophila.

modulo belongs to the class of Drosophila genes named 'suppressor of position-effect variegation', suggesting the involvement of the encoded protein in chromatin compaction/relaxation processes. Using complementary procedures of cell fractionation, immunolocalisation on mitotic and polytene chromosomes and cross-linking/immunoprecipitation of genomic DNA targets, we have analysed the sub-nuclear distribution of Modulo. While actually associated to condensed chromatin and heterochromatin sites, the protein is also abundantly found at nucleolus. From a comparison of Modulo pattern on chromosomes of different cell types and mutant lines, we propose a model in which the nucleolus balances the Modulo protein available for chromatin compaction and PEV modification. At a molecular level, repetitive elements instead of rDNA constitute Modulo DNA targets, indicating that the protein directly contacts DNA in heterochromatin but not at the nucleolus. Consistent with a role for Modulo in nucleolus activity and protein synthesis capacity, somatic clones homozygous for a null mutation express a cell-autonomous phenotype consisting of growth alteration and short slender bristles, characteristic traits of Minute mutations, which are known to affect ribosome biogenesis. The results provide evidence suggesting that Modulo participates in distinct molecular networks in the nucleolus and heterochromatin and has distinct functions in the two compartments.

Animals↗