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Deoxynucleotide-containing oligoribonucleotide duplexes: stability and susceptibility to RNase V1 and RNase H.

Oligoribonucleotide duplexes containing one to four 2'-deoxynucleotide residues were used as substrates for ribonuclease V1 and RNase H. Either deoxyadenosine and/or deoxythymidine were incorporated into the duplex, 5'GGCCGGAUCCGCGC3'-5'GCGCGGAUCCGGCC3' by substitution of the appropriate deoxynucleoside triphosphate into a transcription reaction with T7 RNA polymerase. The melting temperature, Tm, of the duplex (1.8 microM in strands in 50 mM NaCl) containing only ribonucleotides was 79.9 degrees C. Substitution of deoxyadenosine in both strands of the duplex lowered the Tm by 2.4 degrees C. Substitution of deoxythymidine had no measurable effect on the Tm. Comparison of RNase V1 digestion patterns of fully ribonucleotide and deoxy-substituted duplexes suggest that any distortion is localized to the site of the substitution. An oligoribonucleotide containing two deoxy residues directs specific cleavage of RNA by E. coli RNase H. Structural requirements for cleavage are proposed for RNase V1 and RNase H.

Base Sequence↗

Distinctive protein signatures provide molecular markers and evidence for the monophyletic nature of the deinococcus-thermus phylum.

The Deinococcus-Thermus group of species is currently recognized as a distinct phylum solely on the basis of their branching in 16S rRNA trees. No unique biochemical or molecular characteristics that can distinguish this group from all other bacteria are known at present. In this work, we describe eight conserved indels (viz., inserts or deletions) in seven widely distributed proteins that are distinctive characteristics of the Deinococcus-Thermus phylum but are not found in any other group of bacteria. The identified signatures include a 7-amino-acid (aa) insert in threonyl-tRNA synthetase, 1- and 3-aa inserts in the RNA polymerase beta' subunit, a 5-aa deletion in signal recognition particle (Ffh/SR54), a 2-aa insert in major sigma factor 70 (sigma70), a 2-aa insert in seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS), a 1-aa insert in ribosomal protein L1, and a 2-aa insert in UvrA homologs. By using PCR primers for conserved regions, fragments of these genes were amplified from a number of Deinococcus-Thermus species, and all such fragments (except SerRS in Deinococcus proteolyticus) were found to contain the indicated signatures. The presence of these signatures in various species from all three known genera within this phylum, viz., Deinococcus, Thermus, and Meiothermus, provide evidence that they are likely distinctive characteristics of the entire phylum which were introduced in a common ancestor of this group. The signature in SerRS, which is absent in D. proteolyticus, was likely introduced after the branching of this species. Phylogenetic studies as well as the nature of the inserts in some of these proteins (viz., sigma70 and SerRS) also support a sister group relationship between the Thermus and the Meiothermus genera. The identified signatures provide strong evidence for the monophyletic nature of the Deinococcus-Thermus phylum. These molecular markers should prove very useful in the identification of new species related to this group.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A mutant RNA polymerase reveals a kinetic mechanisms for the switch between nonproductive stuttering synthesis and productive initiation during promoter clearance.

During transcription initiation from galP2, one of the two promoters of the Escherichia coli galactose operon with an initially transcribed sequence of pppAUUUC, RNA polymerase (RNAP) is known to engage nonproductive stuttering synthesis, which is sensitive to the concentration of UTP. This study examines the effect of this nonproductive synthesis on promoter clearance and determines other parameters that might affect stuttering synthesis by analyzing a mutant RNAP, RpoB3449, that has altered its function at this process at galP2. RpoB3449 has dramatically diminished stuttering synthesis, and consequently, it has increased the rate of productive initiation due to its enhanced rate of promoter clearance of galP2 compared with wild-type RNAP. Thus, a direct linkage between promoter clearance and productive transcription is demonstrated. The mechanism by which the mutant RNAP has altered the switch between nonproductive stuttering synthesis and productive initiation during promoter clearance is studied. Apparently, RpoB3449 has increased its efficiency in incorporating CTP at the +5 position of the galP2 transcript leading to its reduced stuttering synthesis, indicating that the rate of an RNAP incorporating the CTP after a stretch of uridine residues is important for promoter clearance at galP2. Because RpoB3449 demonstrates "wild-type" stuttering synthesis at the mutant galP2 promoter, which contains the 6 residue at the +5 position, it indicates that the mutant RNAP has altered in binding CTP at this context. Further experiments indicate that it is the +5 position per se of the galP2 sequence rather than a particular nucleotide at that position that is critical in determining the switch between the two alternate pathways during transcription initiation. A checkpoint model for the switch between nonproductive and productive initiations during promoter clearance is discussed.

Base Sequence↗

An inexpensive semi-automated sequence reader for the Apple II computer.

We describe a relatively inexpensive digitizing pad, available from Houston Instruments, for which we have written software which allows the direct reading of DNA (or RNA) sequencing gel autoradiographs. This eliminates several sources of error in nucleic acid sequencing, and renders computer analysis less cumbersome.

Autoradiography↗

Structures of ternary complexes of rat DNA polymerase beta, a DNA template-primer, and ddCTP.

Two ternary complexes of rat DNA polymerase beta (pol beta), a DNA template-primer, and dideoxycytidine triphosphate (ddCTP) have been determined at 2.9 A and 3.6 A resolution, respectively. ddCTP is the triphosphate of dideoxycytidine (ddC), a nucleoside analog that targets the reverse transcriptase of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and is at present used to treat AIDS. Although crystals of the two complexes belong to different space groups, the structures are similar, suggesting that the polymerase-DNA-ddCTP interactions are not affected by crystal packing forces. In the pol beta active site, the attacking 3'-OH of the elongating primer, the ddCTP phosphates, and two Mg2+ ions are all clustered around Asp190, Asp192, and Asp256. Two of these residues, Asp190 and Asp256, are present in the amino acid sequences of all polymerases so far studied and are also spatially similar in the four polymerases--the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, T7 RNA polymerase, and rat DNA pol beta--whose crystal structures are now known. A two-metal ion mechanism is described for the nucleotidyl transfer reaction and may apply to all polymerases. In the ternary complex structures analyzed, pol beta binds to the DNA template-primer in a different manner from that recently proposed for other polymerase-DNA models.

Animals↗

Novel mechanism for reverse transcription in hepatitis B viruses.

Reverse transcription of all retroviruses and most retroid elements requires tRNA as a primer for DNA synthesis. However, in hepatitis B viruses the viral polymerase itself acts as a primer for reverse transcription (G.-H. Wang and C. Seeger, Cell 71:663-670, 1992). We have now demonstrated that in order to prime DNA synthesis, the polymerase binds to an RNA hairpin, which then serves as a template for the formation of a short DNA primer that is covalently linked to protein. Following its synthesis, the nascent DNA strand apparently dissociates from its template and reanneals with complementary sequences at the 3' end of the RNA genome, where DNA synthesis continues. Since this RNA hairpin also functions as a packaging signal for viral RNA, hepadnaviruses have adopted a replication strategy that relies on the same signal for two biochemically distinct events, RNA packaging and reverse transcription. This mechanism is without precedent among all known retroid elements and among other viruses and bacteriophages that use protein as a primer for RNA or DNA synthesis. It could provide an effective target for antiviral therapy, which is required for the treatment of more than 300 million carriers of hepatitis B virus.

Base Sequence↗

Polyamine enhancement of the synthesis of adenylate cyclase at the translational level and the consequential stimulation of the synthesis of the RNA polymerase sigma 28 subunit.

The effects of polyamines on the synthesis of various final sigma subunits of RNA polymerase were studied using Western blot analysis. Synthesis of final sigma(28) was stimulated 4.0-fold and that of final sigma(38) was stimulated 2.3-fold by polyamines, whereas synthesis of other final sigma subunits was not influenced by polyamines. Stimulation of final sigma(28) synthesis was due to an increase in the level of cAMP, which occurred through polyamine stimulation of the synthesis of adenylate cyclase at the level of translation. Polyamines were found to increase the translation of adenylate cyclase mRNA by facilitating the UUG codon-dependent initiation. Analysis of RNA secondary structure suggests that exposure of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence of mRNA is a prerequisite for polyamine stimulation of the UUG codon-dependent initiation.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Sindbis virus RNA polymerase is degraded by the N-end rule pathway.

Upon infection of animal cells by Sindbis virus, four nonstructural (ns) proteins, termed nsP1-4 in order from 5' to 3' in the genome, are produced by posttranslational cleavage of a polyprotein. nsP4 is believed to function as the viral RNA polymerase and is short-lived in infected cells. We show here that nsP4 produced in reticulocyte lysates is degraded by the N-end rule pathway, one ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic pathway. When the N-terminal residue of nsP4 is changed by mutagenesis, the metabolic stabilities of the mutant nsP4s follow the N-end rule, in that the half-life of nsP4 bearing different N-terminal residues decreases in the order Met greater than Ala greater than Tyr greater than or equal to Phe greater than Agr. Addition of dipeptides Tyr-Ala, Trp-Ala, or Phe-Ala to the translation mixture inhibits degradation of Tyr-nsP4 and Phe-nsP4, but not of Arg-nsP4. Conversely, dipeptides His-Ala, Arg-Ala, and Lys-Ala inhibit the degradation of Arg-nsP4 but not of Tyr-nsP4 or Phe-nsP4. We found that there is no lysine in the first 43 residues of nsP4 that is required for its degradation, indicating that a more distal lysine functions as the ubiquitin acceptor. Strict control of nsP4 concentration appears to be an important aspect of the virus life cycle, since the concentration of nsP4 in infected cells is regulated at three levels: translation of nsP4 requires read-through of an opal termination codon such that it is underproduced; differential processing by the virus-encoded proteinase results in temporal regulation of nsP4; and nsP4 itself is a short-lived protein degraded by the ubiquitin-dependent N-end rule pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Role of transcription pausing in the control of the pyrE attenuator in Escherichia coli.

Expression of the Escherichia coli pyrE gene is regulated by transcription attenuation in the intercistronic orfE-pyrE region and modulated by the distance between the transcribing RNA polymerase and the leading ribosome as a function of the supply of UTP and GTP. In this communication we show that pyrE expression is hyper-repressed in vivo following addition of uracil in strains carrying the nusAcs10 mutation. This phenotype, previously seen in rpsL1204 strains whose ribosomes are pseudodependent on streptomycin and work at suboptimal elongation rate, indicates that RNA polymerase escapes from the ribosomes in the pyrE attenuator region in the nusA mutant. In vitro transcription studies revealed that the build-up of the full-length attenuated orfE transcript occurred more slowly in the presence of the NusA protein than in its absence. Moreover, the NusA protein enhanced several transcription pauses through the orfE gene. These effects were more pronounced when low concentrations of either UTP or GTP were used than at low concentrations of either CTP or ATP. The results indicate that the NusA protein is required for proper regulation of pyrE gene expression and is involved, together with the NTP pools, in maintaining the coupling between transcription and translation in the pyrE attenuator region by inhibiting RNA chain elongation.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The replication activity of influenza virus polymerase is linked to the capacity of the PA subunit to induce proteolysis.

The PA subunit of the influenza virus polymerase complex is a phosphorylated protein that induces a proteolytic process that decreases its own accumulation levels and those of coexpressed proteins. The amino-terminal third of the protein is responsible for the induction of proteolysis. We mutated five potential casein kinase II phosphorylation sites located in the amino-terminal third of the protein. Mutations affecting position 157 almost completely abrogated proteolysis induction, whereas a mutation at position 162 produced a moderate decrease and mutations at positions 151, 200, and 224 did not affect proteolysis induction. Reconstitution of the influenza virus polymerase in vivo with viral model RNA containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene indicated that the CAT activity obtained correlated with the capacity of each PA mutant to induce proteolysis. RNA protection assays of the products obtained with viral polymerase, reconstituted in vivo with model RNAs, indicated that mutations at position 157 led to a selective loss of the ability to synthesize cRNA from the viral RNA template but not to transcribe viral RNA, while a mutation affecting position 162 showed an intermediate phenotype. Collectively, these data provide a link between PA-mediated induction of proteolysis and the replication activity of the polymerase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Host factor requirements for processive antitermination of transcription and suppression of pausing by the N protein of bacteriophage lambda.

The N protein of phage lambda prevents termination of transcription by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase at Rho-dependent and -independent terminators in the lambda early operons. The modification of RNA polymerase by N requires an N-utilization (nut) site, present in each lambda early operon, and involves the E. coli factors NusA, NusB, NusG, and ribosomal protein S10. We show that, in the presence of NusA, N inhibits pausing by RNA polymerase and Rho-dependent termination in vitro at three sites in the lambda terminator tR1 which are located less than 100 base pairs downstream from nutR. NusA is also sufficient for partial antitermination at sites located farther downstream from nutL and nutR if there is a high concentration of N in the reaction. At low concentrations of N, the additional factors NusB, S10, and NusG are essential for antitermination at distal sites. In these conditions, the presence of NusA, NusB, S10, and NusG in the reaction enables N-modified RNA polymerase to elongate efficiently and processively through Rho-dependent and -independent terminators over distances as great as 7 kilobases downstream from the lambda nut sites. This substantial processivity of antitermination in vitro also occurs in vivo and probably reflects the stable association of N, NusA, NusB, S10, and NusG with RNA polymerase and nut site RNA in elongation complexes transcribing the lambda chromosome.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Direct detection of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus by reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

A method for direct detection of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus was developed, based on reverse transcription of the viral RNA coupled to DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction. A set of primers was designed from Lelystad virus sequence within ORF 7 encoding nucleocapsid protein. From seven Spanish field isolated strains the 312 bp amplified fragment was cloned and sequenced. Alignment with Lelystad virus sequence revealed a 96-97% homology. A maximum sensitivity of 6.7 TCID50 was achieved with the reported procedure in experimentally infected swine alveolar macrophages cultures. The sensitivity obtained in crude clinical samples from experimentally infected 3-weeks old pigs was approximately 10(2) TCID50. High specificity for the PRRS virus was demonstrated for the method, as none of the seven common swine virus assayed rendered DNA amplification product.

Animals↗

Nucleotide sequence of the glnA control region of Escherichia coli.

The RNA polymerase binding sites present along a DNA segment encompassing the glnA, glnL, and glnG genes have been identified in a hybrid plasmid carrying this chromosomal region of Escherichia coli. The DNA sequence was determined of an 817 base pair segment that contains the region coding for the first 42 amino acids of the NH2-terminal and of the glnA structural gene, as well as its regulatory region. Analysis of this nucleotide sequence revealed three probable RNA polymerase recognition sites, imperfect palindromes, inverted repeats, and direct repeated sequences.

Base Sequence↗

Localization of nusA-suppressing amino acid substitutions in the conserved regions of the beta' subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase.

Escherichia coli RNA polymerase is composed of four different subunits, alpha (present in two copies), beta, beta' and sigma. Among these, the beta' polypeptide shares nine conserved regions with the largest subunits of eukaryotic RNA polymerases, but its role is poorly understood. We isolated novel mutations in a plasmid-borne copy of rpoC, which encodes beta', as dominant suppressors of two temperature-sensitive nusA alleles. All 20 suppressors of nusA11 (single missense mutation) isolated had either of two specific substitutions: Lys for Glu-402 (rpoC10) and Thr for Ala-904 (rpoC111) in the beta' subunit. In vivo and in vitro transcription assays revealed that the rpoC10 allele of beta' participates in Rho-dependent transcription termination. On the other hand, of 20 suppressors of nusA134 (deletion of C-terminal one-third) scattered at 18 distinct sites, 16 were assigned to one of six conserved regions C-I. These results suggested that the conserved domains of the beta' subunit of E. coli RNA polymerase are involved in transcript termination or interaction with termination factor(s).

Alleles↗

Viroids: unusual small pathogenic RNAs.

Viroids are small (about 300 nucleotides), single-stranded, circular, non-encapsidated pathogenic RNA molecules. They do not code for proteins and thus depend on plant host enzymes for their replication and other functions. They induce plant diseases by direct interaction with host factors but the mechanism of pathogenicity is still unknown. They can alter the expression of selected plant genes important for growth and development. Viroids belong to two families, the Avsunviroidae and the Pospiviroidae. Viroids of the Avsunviroidae family adopt a branched or quasi rod-like secondary structure in their native state. Members of the Pospiviroidae family adopt a rod-like secondary structure. In such native structures five structural/functional domains have been identified: central (C), pathogenicity, variable and two terminal domains. The central conserved region (CCR) within the C domain characterizes viroids of the Pospiviroidae. Specific secondary structures of this region play an important role in viroid replication and processing. Viroids of the Avsunviroidae family lack a CCR but possess self-cleaving properties by forming hammerhead ribozyme structures; they accumulate and replicate in chloroplasts, whereas members of the Pospiviroidae family have a nuclear localization. Viroid replication occurs via a rolling circle mechanism using either a symmetric or asymmetric pathway in three steps, RNA transcription, processing and ligation.

Base Sequence↗

Nuclear encoding of a chloroplast RNA polymerase sigma subunit in a red alga.

A chloroplast RNA polymerase sigma factor is encoded by a nuclear gene, sigA, in the red alga Cyanidium caldarium RK-1. The encoded protein functions as an RNA polymerase sigma factor in vitro and it is localized to the chloroplast in vivo. SigA shows high sequence similarity to the sigma factors of cyanobacteria, which is indicative of the ancestral endosymbiotic event and subsequent transfer of the sigA gene to the nuclear genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗