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Application of synthetic oligonucleotides to the diagnosis of human genetic diseases.

Under appropriate conditions synthetic oligonucleotide hybridization probes display essentially absolute hybridization specificity. That is, every nucleotide must form a Watson-Crick base pair in order that the probe forms a stable duplex. All of the non-Watson-Crick base pairs, including G-T, have a destabilizing effect. Thus, it is possible to choose stringent conditions of hybridization such that, while a perfectly matched duplex between an oligonucleotide and complementary DNA will form, duplexes mismatched at one or more position will not. Mutations in a single base in the DNA sequence of a gene can and do result in genetic diseases. The hybridization of oligonucleotides to the region of DNA containing these base changes would be affected by the mutations and thus, oligonucleotide hybridization provides a means of detecting single base changes. In an attempt to develop a non-radioactive method for the detection of human genetic diseases, we have prepared biotinylated-oligonucleotides by an enzymatic method. An oligonucleotide probe (23-mer) containing a single biotinylated deoxyuridine residue at the 3'-terminus was prepared by a primer extention reaction using E. coli DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment). The probe could be specifically and tightly bound with Avidin D in 1 M NaCl. It could be hybridized to a plasmid DNA containing a perfectly matched complementary sequence, but not to a DNA containing 5 non-consecutive non-complementary bases. The hybridized biotinylated probe could be visualized by Avidin D and biotinylated alkaline phosphatase, even when 1.8 ng of the plasmid DNA (0.5 fmol) was used. A general approach to the enzymatic synthesis of oligonucleotides containing a single biotinylated deoxyuridine at the 3' end is described.

Alleles↗

Theoretical analysis of 'addressed' chemical modification of DNA.

Chemical "addressed" modification of DNA involves treatment of single-stranded DNA with oligonucleotides complementary to certain target sequences in this DNA and bearing a groupings reactive towards DNA bases. The binding of oligonucleotides can occur both at completely (specific) and incompletely (nonspecific) complementary sites. We analyse the modification of a fragment that is flanked by two target sequences complementary to a given oligonucleotide address, contains no more such targets and has some randomly distributed sites for nonspecific binding. Conditions for the maximum ratio between specific and non-specific modification are determined. We find the probability of both target termini being specifically modified without any non-specific modification occurring within the fragment up to a given moment in time. Quantitative analysis is based on the use of known features of the specific and non-specific binding of an oligonucleotide to DNA sites. This analysis shows the possibility of specific cutting of DNA based on addressed modification.

Base Composition↗

Relative stability of triplexes containing different numbers of T.AT and C+.GC triplets.

We have used DNase I footprinting to compare the stability of parallel triple helices containing different numbers of T.AT and C+. GC triplets. We have targeted a fragment containing the 17mer sequence 5'-AGGAAGAGAAAAAAGAA with the 9mer oligonucleotides 5'-TCCTTCTCT, 5'-TTCTCTTTT and 5'-TTTTTTCTT, which form triplexes at the 5'-end, centre and 3'-end of the target site respectively. Quantitative DNase I footprinting has shown that at pH 5.0 the dissociation constants of these oligonucleotides are 0.13, 4.7 and >30 microM respectively, revealing that increasing the proportion of C+.GC triplets increases triplex stability. The results suggest that the positive charge on the protonated cytosine contributes to triplex stability, either by a favourable interaction with the stacked pisystem or by screening the charge on the phosphate groups. In the presence of a naphthylquinoline triplex binding ligand all three oligonucleotides bind with similar affinities. At pH 6.0 these triplexes only form in the presence of the triplex binding ligand, while at pH 7.5 footprints are only seen with the oligonucleotide which generates the fewest number of C+.GC triplets (TTTTTTCTT) in the presence of the ligand.

Adenine↗

A multisubunit ribozyme that is a catalyst of and template for complementary strand RNA synthesis.

Derivatives of the sunY self-splicing intron efficiently catalyzed the synthesis of complementary strand RNA by template-directed assembly of oligonucleotides. These ribozymes were separated into three short RNA fragments that formed active catalytic complexes. One of the multisubunit sunY derivatives catalyzed the synthesis of a strand of RNA complementary to one of its own subunits. These results suggest that prebiotically synthesized oligonucleotides might have been able to assemble into a complex capable of self-replication.

Animals↗

Estimation of the relative abundance of different Bacteroides and Prevotella ribotypes in gut samples by restriction enzyme profiling of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene sequences.

We describe an approach for determining the genetic composition of Bacteroides and Prevotella populations in gut contents based on selective amplification of 16S rRNA gene sequences (rDNA) followed by cleavage of the amplified material with restriction enzymes. The relative contributions of different ribotypes to total Bacteroides and Prevotella 16S rDNA are estimated after end labelling of one of the PCR primers, and the contribution of Bacteroides and Prevotella sequences to total eubacterial 16S rDNA is estimated by measuring the binding of oligonucleotide probes to amplified DNA. Bacteroides and Prevotella 16S rDNA accounted for between 12 and 62% of total eubacterial 16S rDNA in samples of ruminal contents from six sheep and a cow. Ribotypes 4, 5, 6, and 7, which include most cultivated rumen Prevotella strains, together accounted for between 20 and 86% of the total amplified Bacteroides and Prevotella rDNA in these samples. The most abundant Bacteroides or Prevotella ribotype in four animals, however, was ribotype 8, for which there is only one known cultured isolate, while ribotypes 1 and 2, which include many colonic Bacteroides spp., were the most abundant in two animals. This indicates that some abundant Bacteroides and Prevotella groups in the rumen are underrepresented among cultured rumen Prevotella isolates. The approach described here provides a rapid, convenient, and widely applicable method for comparing the genotypic composition of bacterial populations in gut samples.

Animals↗

Addition of oligonucleotides to the 5'-terminus of DNA by T4 RNA ligase.

Bacteriophage T4-induced RNA ligase catalyzes the controlled template-independent addition of RNA to the 5'-phosphoryl end of large DNA molecules. Restriction enzyme-generated fragments of Co1E1 DNA with completely basepaired or cohesive ends and linear single-stranded øX174 viral DNA were all good substrates. DNA molecules from 10 to 6000 nucleotides long were quantitatively joined in an hour to a number of different RNA homopolymers. The most efficient of these was A(pA)5; I(pI)5 and C(pC)5 were also utilized while U(pU)5 was not. The optimum ribohomopolymer length was six nucleotides. Joining of ribohomopolymers between 10 and 20 nucleotides long occurred at approximately 1/2 the maximal rate and a trimer was the shortest substrate. Thus RNA ligase provides a method for generating extensions of predetermined length and base composition at the 5'-end of large DNA molecules that complements the available procedures for extending the 3'-hydroxyl terminus of DNA.

Coliphages↗

Structures and stabilities of small DNA dumbbells with Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen base pairs.

The structures and stabilities of cyclic DNA octamers of different sequences have been studied by NMR and CD spectroscopy and by restrained molecular dynamics. At low oligonucleotide concentrations, some of these molecules form stable monomeric structures consisting of a short stem of two base pairs connected by two mini-loops of two residues. To our knowledge, these dumbbell-like structures are the smallest observed to date. The relative stabilities of these cyclic dumbbells have been established by studying their melting transitions. Dumbbells made up purely of GC stems are more stable than those consisting purely of AT base pairs. The order of the base pairs closing the loops also has an important effect on the stabilities of these structures. The NMR data indicate that there are significant differences between the solution structures of dumbbells with G-C base pairs in the stem compared to those with A-T base pairs. In the case of dumbbells with G-C base pairs, the residues in the stem form a short segment of a BDNA helix stabilized by two Watson-Crick base pairs. In contrast, in the case of d , the stem is formed by two A-T base pairs with the glycosidic angles of the adenine bases in a syn conformation, most probably forming Hoogsteen base pairs. Although the conformations of the loop residues are not very well defined, the thymine residues at the first position of the loop are observed to fold back into the minor groove of the stem.

Base Composition↗

In vitro site-directed mutagenesis with synthetic DNA oligonucleotides yields unexpected deletions and insertions at high frequency.

We have used in vitro site-directed mutagenesis with synthetic DNA oligonucleotides to introduce single nucleotide mutations in yeast mtDNA. In addition to the expected DNA alterations we also recovered with high frequency mutants with large deletions and insertions which arose through interaction with the synthetic DNA fragment. Characterization of a number of these by DNA sequence analysis has permitted reconstruction of the mutagenic events. In all cases, the DNA fragment had base paired with non-adjacent DNA sequences sometimes more than 1000 nucleotides apart from each other on the target strand. The products of such interactions cannot be avoided due to the non-stringent annealing conditions during complementary DNA strand synthesis. However, deliberate mispairing can be directed precisely, as shown by our ability to specifically delete the 1143-bp intron from the yeast mitochondrial gene coding for large ribosomal RNA with a synthetic DNA fragment consisting of the sequence of the exon borders flanking the intron.

Base Composition↗

Functional analysis of GC element binding and transcription in the hamster dihydrofolate reductase gene promoter.

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene expression is required for cell growth. The DHFR gene promoter contains several GC elements capable of binding the transcription factor Sp1. In this report we have characterized the effect of protein(s) binding to these sequence elements in the Chinese hamster DHFR promoter on transcription. We have constructed a series of deletions containing from 896 to 103 bp 5' to the start of translation. The protein binding domains have been mapped by DNAse I footprint analysis using HeLa nuclear extract, and the function of the protein-binding elements has been assessed by in vitro transcription and transient CAT expression. Maximal transcription in vitro and CAT expression is obtained with a construct containing 3 GC elements extending to position -184. Removal of GC element binding factor(s), by competition with an oligonucleotide containing an Sp1 binding site, completely abolishes transcription in vitro and significantly diminishes CAT expression. Ten-fold higher molar excess of competitor is required to abolish SV40 early transcription, suggesting that the GC element interactions in the DHFR promoter are different from those in the SV40 early region. Co-transfection of a DHFR CAT construct with an expressor of Sp1 dramatically increased CAT expression in Drosophila cells.

Animals↗

The AT richness and gid transcription determine the left border of the replication origin of the E. coli chromosome.

We have identified novel, cis-acting elements which enhance in vivo the replication activity of plasmids carrying the minimal oriC of Escherichia coli. These are (i) the AT rich sequence ('AT-cluster') which exists immediately left of the 13mer repeats and (ii) the gid transcriptional unit. The 'AT-cluster' was functionally replaced by an unrelated AT rich sequence. This was also the case for the left and middle 13mers; they were substituted by the AT rich fragment from mini-F plasmid. The left 13mer was replaced by the AT rich sequence which did not show the 'reduced helical stability' known as the important character of the 13mer region. In contrast to these results, the right 13mer sequence was strictly required. As to the effect of the transcription from the gid promoter, the minimal oriC was activated only when the transcription was directed away from the left side of it. mioC transcription proceeding toward the oriC had no effect on the activation. Mutations in the DnaA boxes were partially suppressed by gid transcription leaving oriC from the left side. From these results, we propose that the AT richness is a determinant to identify the left border of oriC. It is presumed that gid transcription introduces negative superhelicity at the AT rich region and facilitates DnaA dependent duplex opening.

Adenine↗

AraC-DNA looping: orientation and distance-dependent loop breaking by the cyclic AMP receptor protein.

The arabinose operon promoter, pBAD, is negatively regulated in the absence of arabinose by AraC protein, which forms a DNA loop by binding to two sites separated by 210 base-pairs, araO2 and araI1. pBAD is also positively regulated by AraC-arabinose and the cyclic AMP receptor protein, CRP. We provide evidence that CRP breaks the araO2-araI1 repression loop in vitro. The ability of CRP to break the loop in vitro and to activate pBAD in vivo is dependent upon the orientation and distance of the CRP binding site relative to araI1. An insertion of one DNA helical turn, 11 base-pairs, between CRP and araI only partially inhibits CRP loop breaking and activation of pBAD, while an insertion of less than one DNA helical turn, 4 base-pairs, not only abolishes CRP activation and loop breaking, but actually causes CRP to stabilize the loop and increases the araO2-mediated repression of pBAD. Both integral and non-integral insertions of greater than one helical turn completely abolish CRP activation and loop breaking in vitro.

AraC Transcription Factor↗

Factors influencing cDNA microarray hybridization on silylated glass slides.

cDNA microarray technology is becoming the technique of choice for studying gene expression and gene expression patterns. Although experimental protocols are available, only limited methodological information on microarray manufacture, hybridization, and signal interpretation has been published. The aim of this paper is to provide more insight into the practical aspects of microarray construction and hybridization. The influence of the size, composition, and concentration of the spotted DNA fragments on the final hybridization signal and the effect of hybridization volume, sample concentration, and sample depletion have been tested and are discussed.

Amines↗

Differences in secondary structure between packaged and unpackaged single-stranded DNA of bacteriophage phi X174 determined by Raman spectroscopy: a model for phi X174 DNA packaging.

The single-stranded packaged genome (ssDNA) of bacteriophage phi X174 is shown by Raman spectroscopy to lack both the ordered phosphodiester backbone and base stacking, which are demonstrated for unpackaged, protein-free ssDNA. In solutions of moderate ionic strength, unpackaged ssDNA contains 36 +/- 7% of deoxyribosyl phosphate groups with conventional B-type backbone geometry [i.e., gauche- and trans orientations, respectively, for the 5'O-P (alpha) and 3'O-P (zeta) torsions], indicative of hairpin formation and intramolecular base pairing. Additionally, the bases of unpackaged ssDNA are extensively stacked. Estimates from Raman band hypochromic effects indicate that unpackaged ssDNA contains approximately 70% of the maximal base stacking exhibited in the linear, double-stranded, replicative form III of phi X174 DNA. Conversely, for the packaged phi X174 genome, ordered (B-type) phosphodiester groups are not present, and only 40% of the base stacking in RFIII DNA is observed. These results are interpreted as evidence that the substantial hairpin-forming potential of ssDNA is eliminated by specific and extensive ssDNA-protein interactions within the phi X174 virion. Comparison of the present results with studies of other packaged single-stranded nucleic acids suggests that proteins of the capsid shell (gpF + gpG + gpH) do not fully account for the conformational constraints imposed on ssDNA of phi X174. Accordingly, we propose a model for ssDNA packaging in which the small basic gpJ protein, which is packaged along with the genome, is involved stoichiometrically in binding to the ssDNA (approximately 90 nucleotides per subunit). The proposed gpJ-DNA interactions could prevent helical hairpin formation, restrict base stacking, and disfavor fortuitous base pairing within the capsid. The present analysis is based upon use of model nucleic acids of known conformation for calibration of the Raman intensity in the region 810-860 cm-1 in terms of specific secondary structures. The calibration curve allows quantitative determination of the percentage of ssDNA nucleotides for which the 5'O-P-O3' group is configured (g-,t) as in the B-form of DNA. The method proposed here is analogous to that employed by Thomas and Hartman (1973) for ssRNA and should be applicable to single-stranded DNA and to partially denatured forms of double- and multiple-stranded DNAs.

Bacteriophage phi X 174↗

Insights into the dynamic nature of DNA duplex structure via analysis of nuclear Overhauser effect intensities.

Sequence-dependent structures of DNA duplexes in solution can be reliably determined using NMR data if care is taken to determine restraint bounds accurately. This entails use of complete relaxation matrix methods to analyze nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) spectroscopic cross-peak intensities, yielding accurate distance restraints. NMR studies of various DNA duplexes have suggested that there may be some limited internal motions. First, it is typically not possible to reconcile all vicinal proton coupling constants in deoxyribose rings with a single conformer. In addition, with the increased accuracy of interproton distance measurements afforded by the complete relaxation matrix algorithm MARDIGRAS, we find inconsistencies in certain distances which can most readily be ascribed to limited conformational flexibility, since conformational averaging is nonlinear. As base-sugar interproton distances depend on both sugar pucker and glycosidic torsion angle chi, motion involving these structural variables should be reflected by experimental data. Possible motional models have been considered to account for all of the data for three DNA duplexes. Analysis of intraresidue base-sugar interproton NOE bounds patterns suggests a motional model with individual sugars in equilibrium between S (2'-endo) and N (3'-endo) conformations, with S being preferred. As sugar repuckering is correlated with changes in glycosidic torsion angle chi, different sugar conformers imply different values for chi, but this is insufficient to account for all data. A two-state jump between anti and syn glycosidic conformers was considered, but it was incapable of accounting for all data. However, a model with restricted diffusion (rocking) about the glycosidic bond in addition to sugar repuckering was capable of accommodating all experimental data. This motional model is in qualitative agreement with experimental 13C relaxation-derived order parameter values in a DNA duplex.

Base Composition↗

Effects of high-fat diet, angiotensinogen (agt) gene inactivation, and targeted expression to adipose tissue on lipid metabolism and renal gene expression.

To address the role of angiotensinogen (agt) in lipid metabolism and its potential endocrine effects in vivo, we studied the effects of high-fat diet (HFD) on adult, 28-week-old agt knockout (KO) mice compared to wild type (WT) mice. Recent studies (Massiera et al., 2001) have demonstrated that reexpression of agt in adipose tissue of KO mice normalized adiposity, blood pressure, and kidney abnormalities. We therefore used microarray analysis to investigate changes in gene expression profile in kidneys of KO vs. Tg-KO mice, where agt expression is restricted to adipose tissue. Body weight, adiposity and insulin levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in KO mice on a chow diet (CD) compared to WT mice, while circulating leptin levels were similar. On a high-fat diet, KO mice exhibited significantly lower bodyweight (p < 0.05), adiposity (p < 0.05), leptin, and insulin levels (p < 0.05) compared to WT mice. In agreement with previously reported changes in kidney histology, agt KO mice displayed altered expressions of genes involved in blood pressure regulation and renal function, but these levels were corrected by reexpression of agt in adipose tissue. Collectively, these findings further document important endocrine roles of adipocyte agt, in part via regulation of lipid metabolism and kidney homeostasis.

Adipose Tissue↗

Best minimally modified antisense oligonucleotides according to cell nuclease activity.

Minimally modified oligonucleotides belong to the second-generation antisense class. They are phosphodiester oligonucleotides with a minimum of phosphorothioate linkages in order to be protected against serum and cellular exonucleases and endonucleases. They activate RNase H, have weak interactions with proteins, and have thus a better antisense efficiency. Two of them have been designed from an all-phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotide directed against mdrl-expressing cells. They are protected against serum and cellular enzymatic degradation by the self-forming hairpin d(GCGAAGC) at their 3'-end and by judiciously located phosphorothioate residues, depending on the cellular composition in exonucleases or endonucleases. Besides their already demonstrated ability to cleave pyrimidine sites, endonucleases show some specificity for CpG sites. Their activity is hindered if specific sites are involved in secondary structure as hairpin.

Base Sequence↗

Preparing a human membrane and secreted protein-enriched cDNA library using PCR primers derived from a genomic database.

We describe here a strategy for preparing a human membrane and secreted protein (MSP)-enriched cDNA library based on human MSP- and non-MSP-encoding cDNA sequences in the databases. The signal peptide parts of the MSP-encoding cDNA sequences, which currently comprise about half of the estimated total number in humans, were analyzed for common patterns. These patterns form a 'minimal' set of polymerase chain reaction primer candidates of length varying from 9 to 21 nt. The products stemming from each primer candidate were determined and the results allowed us to obtain an 'optimal' mixed-length primer set. Ninety-six percent of the primers in this set were predicted to yield </=10% undesired products, and the desired MSP-cDNA products could be easily separated by gel electrophoresis. The present analysis establishes a methodology for preparing a cDNA library that enables the analysis of individual MSPs. This methodology may also help identify new MSPs. As many cell regulatory processes are mediated by secreted proteins and their membrane-bound receptors, the preparation of a MSP-enriched cDNA library should benefit research on MSPs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Accessing genetic information with high-density DNA arrays.

Rapid access to genetic information is central to the revolution taking place in molecular genetics. The simultaneous analysis of the entire human mitochondrial genome is described here. DNA arrays containing up to 135,000 probes complementary to the 16.6-kilobase human mitochondrial genome were generated by light-directed chemical synthesis. A two-color labeling scheme was developed that allows simultaneous comparison of a polymorphic target to a reference DNA or RNA. Complete hybridization patterns were revealed in a matter of minutes. Sequence polymorphisms were detected with single-base resolution and unprecedented efficiency. The methods described are generic and can be used to address a variety of questions in molecular genetics including gene expression, genetic linkage, and genetic variability.

Algorithms↗