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Modelling the biomechanical properties of DNA using computer simulation.

Duplex DNA must remain stable when not in use to protect the genetic material. However, the two strands must be separated whenever genes are copied or expressed to expose the coding strand for synthesis of complementary RNA or DNA bases. Therefore, the double stranded structure must be relatively easy to take apart when required. These conflicting biological requirements have important implications for the mechanical properties of duplex DNA. Considerable insight into the forces required to denature DNA has been provided by nanomanipulation experiments, which measure the mechanical properties of single molecules in the laboratory. This paper describes recent computer simulation methods that have been developed to mimic nanomanipulation experiments and which, quite literally, 'destruction test' duplex DNA in silico. The method is verified by comparison with single molecule stretching experiments that measure the force required to unbind the two DNA strands. The model is then extended to investigate the thermodynamics of DNA bending and twisting. This is of biological importance as the DNA must be very tightly packaged to fit within the nucleus, and is therefore usually found in a highly twisted or supercoiled state (in bacteria) or wrapped tightly around histone proteins into a densely compacted structure (in animals). In particular, these simulations highlight the importance of thermal fluctuations and entropy in determining the biomechanical properties of DNA. This has implications for the action of DNA processing molecular motors, and also for nanotechnology. Biological machines are able to manipulate single molecules reliably on an energy scale comparable to that of thermal noise. The hope is that understanding the statistical mechanisms that a cell uses to achieve this will be invaluable for the future design of 'nanoengines' engineered to perform new technological functions at the nanoscale.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Replication of two influenza virus strains and a recombinant in HEF and LEP cells.

The replication of influenza viruses A/NWS-D, A/WS-MK and their r12 recombinant in human embryo fibroblast (HEF) and human diploid fibroblast (LEP) cell lines was studied. In HEF cells virus NWS-D and recombinant r12 induced synthesis of virus-specific macromolecules and produced infectious virions; virus WS-MK induced synthesis of virus complementary RNA (cRNA), virion RNA (vRNA), protein, RNP and non-infectious virions, but haemagglutinin cleavage was impaired and the virions formed contained uncleaved haemagglutinin. In LEP cells, infectious virions were formed only by virus NWS-D; viruses WS-MK and r12 induced synthesis of virus cRNA, vRNA, proteins and RNP; virus r12 had the haemagglutinin cleaved, whereas in virus WS-MK this process was impaired; neither virus WS-MK nor r12 was capable of forming virions. Analysis of the recombinant r12 genome showed that it had only inherited a single gene from NWS-D, the one coding for neuraminidase, having inherited all others (P1, P2, P3, HA, NP, M, NS) from WS-MK. The data obtained suggested that the inability of virus WS-MK to form infectious virions in HEF cells is due to the character of its neuraminidase, which is incapable of participating in haemagglutinin cleavage. The deficient reproduction of this virus in the other host-cell system (LEP) is apparently associated with some characteristics of another protein (other proteins) of this virus.

Animals↗

Studies on the temperature-dependent DNA replication of the herpesvirus of the turkey in chicken embryo fibroblasts.

The development of cytopathogenic changes in chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with the herpesvirus of the turkey, strain PB-THVI, and the release of virus particles into the supernatant of infected cultures is accelerated at temperatures higher than 37 degrees C and is fastest at 41 degrees C, the normal body temperature of chickens. The growth rate of HVT in CEF cultures was followed by determination of the number of virus genome equivalents within infected cells at various time intervals p.i. A temperature-dependent increase in the amount of virus DNA per infected cell could be detected, which is highest at 41 degrees C. At all temperatures tested (34, 36, 41 and 43 degrees C) the number of virus genome equivalents per infected cell ultimately reaches the same level. In the course of infection, virus DNA in CEF cultures at 37 and 41 degrees C becomes associated with the cellular DNA, as determined by neutral CsCl gradients of the total cellular DNA and hybridization of each fraction with 32P-labelled virus-specific complementary RNA. Association of virus to cellular DNA occurs earlier at 41 than at 37 degrees C. However, the same proportion (45%) of the total virus DNA appears ultimately to be associated with cellular DNA at both temperatures. A temperature-shift of CEF cultures infected with PB-THVI from 41 to 37 degrees C 24 h p.i. resulted in the same replication kinetics of virus DNA as was found at 41 degrees C.

Animals↗

Studies of fowl plague virus temperature-sensitive mutants with defects in transcription.

Two fowl plague virus temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants belonging to different complementation groups were studied. Both were defective in the syntheses of unpolyadenylated complementary RNA [A(-)cRNA] and virus RNA (vRNA) at non-permissive temperature whereas primary transcription was unaffected. In addition, ts 29, in which the ts mutation is in gene 1 coding for polypeptide P3, has a defect in 'secondary' synthesis of mRNA at non-permissive temperature whereas inhibition of mRNA synthesis by ts 131, in which the ts mutation is in gene 2 coding for polypeptide P1, appeared to result from a defect in vRNA synthesis. These results indicate, therefore, that different enzymes are responsible for the syntheses of virus mRNAs and A(-)cRNAs, which is consistent with the apparent differences in initiation and termination of transcription in the two reactions. The patterns of synthesis of the various types of virus RNA during infection are discussed.

Cycloheximide↗

Maize stripe virus RNA5 is of negative polarity and encodes a highly basic protein.

The entire 1317 nucleotide sequence of the maize stripe virus (MStV) RNA5 was determined. Only one open reading frame (ORF) was identified and was found in the viral complementary RNA (vcRNA). This ORF appears to encode a protein of M(r) 44237, hereafter referred to as NS5 delta. In vitro translation of transcripts representing nearly full-length RNA5 vcRNA yielded products of the predicted size, as well as some smaller, less prominent products. No products were identified from transcripts of viral polarity. RNA hybridization analyses of MStV-infected Zea mays revealed RNAs corresponding only to full-length RNA5, but both positive and negative polarity RNAs were abundant. Analysis of the NS5 amino acid sequence revealed that it is extremely basic, containing 21% arginine and lysine. Database comparisons showed that NS5 had no significant similarity to other protein sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

In vitro transcription and polymerase binding studies of the termini of influenza A virus cRNA: evidence for a cRNA panhandle.

An in vitro transcription assay was used to study transcription from synthetic RNA corresponding to the 3' terminus of influenza A virus cRNA. Micrococcal nuclease-treated influenza virus ribonucleoprotein was used as a source of active polymerase complex. Mutations at two regions of the 13 nucleotide-long conserved cRNA 3' terminus were shown to reduce transcription templated by the short added model RNAs. The first region, at positions 1 and 2 from the 3' terminus, was shown to be affected by the exact nature of the dinucleotide primer used in the in vitro transcription reactions and may not be relevant in vivo. The second region, centred on positions 11 and 12, may be involved in base pairing with conserved nucleotides at the 5' terminus of the cRNA. Evidence for this comes from the finding that RNA corresponding to 5' conserved sequences, but mutated to restore the postulated base pairing with the mutated 3' ends, could partly restore transcription. Binding of the influenza virus polymerase complex to a set of 5'-mutated RNAs was investigated using a photochemical cross-linking assay. Specific binding to two regions of the cRNA 5' terminus was demonstrated, at positions 1 to 3 and positions 8 to 10. Together, these observations suggest that a panhandle forms from the termini of the cRNA molecule and that this structure may play a role in transcription to produce virion RNA.

Base Sequence↗

Inhibition of influenza viral polymerases by minimal viral RNA decoys.

All gene segments of influenza virus share a common feature at their respective termini. Both the 5'- and 3'-terminal sequences are highly conserved and possess partial inverted complementarity. This allows for the formation of a double-stranded duplex, which plays a major role in transcription, replication and packaging of the viral genome. In vitro studies have shown that the viral polymerase binds to short RNA molecules containing these termini. In this study, attempts were made to test whether mini-RNA decoys containing either or both termini can inhibit the activity of the viral polymerase in vivo. RNA molecules containing either the 5' or the 3' noncoding sequences were unable to inhibit NS-CAT RNA replication, while mini-RNA decoys consisting of both the 5' and 3' noncoding sequences of vRNA or cRNA were able to efficiently inhibit the activity of the viral polymerases expressed from vaccinia virus vectors.

Base Sequence↗

The Thogoto orthomyxovirus cRNA promoter functions as a panhandle but does not stimulate cap snatching in vitro.

The cRNA promoter of Thogoto virus, a tick-borne orthomyxovirus, was investigated using an in vitro polymerase assay based on purified viral cores and synthetic oligoribonucleotides corresponding to the 3' and 5' ends of cRNA. In vitro polymerase activity relied on an interaction between the 3' and 5' ends of cRNA and was ApG primer-dependent. Mutational analysis of the promoter showed that interstrand base-pairing of residues 11 and 12 of the 3' promoter arm with residues 10 and 11 of the 5' promoter arm, respectively, was essential for polymerase activity. These data provide the first clear evidence for a cRNA panhandle in an orthomyxovirus. No evidence was obtained for the presence of a 5' or 3' hook structure in the cRNA promoter, and transcription could not be primed with rabbit globin mRNA or synthetic cap analogues. This demonstrates that cap snatching activity relies on the presence of the vRNA terminal sequences.

DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases↗

Alternative base pairs attenuate influenza A virus when introduced into the duplex region of the conserved viral RNA promoter of either the NS or the PA gene.

The development of plasmid-based rescue systems for influenza virus has allowed previous studies of the neuraminidase (NA) virion RNA (vRNA) promoter to be extended, in order to test the hypothesis that alternative base pairs in the conserved influenza virus vRNA promoter cause attenuation when introduced into other gene segments. Influenza A/WSN/33 viruses with alternative base pairs in the duplex region of the vRNA promoter of either the polymerase acidic (PA) or the NS (non-structural 1, NS1, and nuclear export, NEP, -encoding) gene have been rescued. Virus growth in MDBK cells demonstrated that one of the mutations, the D2 mutation (U-A replacing G-C at nucleotide positions 12'-11), caused significant virus attenuation when introduced into either the PA or the NS gene. The D2 mutation resulted in the reduction of PA- or NS-specific vRNA and mRNA levels in PA- or NS-recombinant viruses, respectively. Since the D2 mutation attenuates influenza virus when introduced into either the PA or the NS gene segments, or the NA gene segment, as demonstrated previously, this suggests that this mutation will lead to virus attenuation when introduced into any of the eight gene segments. Such a mutation may be useful in the production of live-attenuated viruses.

Animals↗

Role of the influenza virus heterotrimeric RNA polymerase complex in the initiation of replication.

Both transcription and replication of the influenza virus RNA genome are catalysed by a virus-specific RNA polymerase. Recently, an in vitro assay, based on the synthesis of pppApG, for the initiation of replication by recombinant RNA polymerase in the absence of added primer was described. Here, these findings are extended to show that adenosine, AMP and ADP can each substitute for ATP in reactions catalysed by either recombinant ribonucleoprotein or RNA polymerase complexes with either model virion RNA (vRNA) or cRNA promoters. The use of either adenosine or AMP, rather than ATP, provides a convenient, sensitive and easy assay of replication initiation. Moreover, no pppApG was detected when a PB1-PA dimer, rather than the trimeric polymerase, was used to catalyse synthesis, contrasting with a previous report using baculovirus-expressed influenza RNA polymerase. Overall, it is suggested that the heterotrimeric polymerase is essential for the initiation of replication.

Adenosine↗

Hierarchy of sequence-dependent features associated with prokaryotic translation.

Protein expression in the cell is affected by various sequence-dependent features. Several such sequence-dependent features have been individually studied,yet they have not been compared quantitatively in terms of their relative influence on protein expression,and a hierarchy of these elements has not been determined. Here we present a quantitative analysis examining sequence-dependent features involved in prokaryotic translation,namely,the base-pairing potential between the mRNA Shine-Dalgarno sequence and the ribosomal RNA,codon bias,and the identity of the stop codon. We analyzed these features both at intra- and intergenomic levels using the Escherichia coli and Haemophilus influenzae genomes. Within each genome,we examined the relationship between each feature and protein expression levels determined by 2D-gel analyses. At the intergenomic level,comparative genomic principles were applied to study the relative preservation of the different sequence-dependent properties between orthologs. From these analyses,we determined that biased codon usage is the property that is most highly associated with protein expression and that is most conserved. The identity of the stop codon and the base-pairing potential of the mRNA Shine-Dalgarno sequence and the rRNA seem to have less of an effect on protein expression.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Arrays of arrays for high-throughput gene expression profiling.

Gene expression profiling using DNA arrays is rapidly becoming an essential tool for research and drug discovery and may soon play a central role in disease diagnosis. Although it is possible to make significant discoveries on the basis of a relatively small number of expression profiles, the full potential of this technology is best realized through more extensive collections of expression measurements. The generation of large numbers of expression profiles can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process with current one-at-a-time technology. We have developed the ability to obtain expression profiles in a highly parallel yet straightforward format using glass wafers that contain 49 individual high-density oligonucleotide arrays. This arrays of arrays concept is generalizable and can be adapted readily to other types of arrays, including spotted cDNA microarrays. It is also scalable for use with hundreds and even thousands of smaller arrays on a single piece of glass. Using the arrays of arrays approach and parallel preparation of hybridization samples in 96-well plates, we were able to determine the patterns of gene expression in 27 ovarian carcinomas and 4 normal ovarian tissue samples, along with a number of control samples, in a single experiment. This new approach significantly increases the ease, efficiency, and throughput of microarray-based experiments and makes possible new applications of expression profiling that are currently impractical.

Carcinoma↗

Isolation and characterization of a small heat shock protein gene from maize.

A maize (Zea mays L.) genomic clone (Zmempr 9') was isolated on the basis of its homology to a meiotically expressed Lilium sequence. Radiolabeled probe made from the maize genomic clone detected complementary RNA at high fidelity. Furthermore, it hybridized to RNA isolated from staged (an interval that is coincident with meiotic prophase) maize tassel spikelets. Complimentary RNA was strongly (at least 50-fold) induced during heat shock of maize somatic tissue and appeared as a single size class in Northern blot hybridizations. Sequencing of the complete coding region of Zmempr 9' confirmed the homology of the inferred amino acid sequence to other small heat shock proteins. Consensus sequences found in the flanking regions corresponded to the usual signals for initiation of RNA transcription, polyadenylate addition, and the induction of heat shock genes. The latter sequences conferred heat shock-specific transient expression in electroporated protoplasts when cloned into promoterless reporter gene plasmid constructs. Hybrid-selected translations revealed specific translation products ranging from 15 to 18 kilodaltons, providing evidence that this gene is a member of a related multigene family. We therefore conclude that this maize genomic DNA clone, recovered through its homology to clones for meiotic transcripts in lily, represents a genuine maize small heat shock protein gene.

Journal Article↗

Interactions between plasma membrane aquaporins modulate their water channel activity.

Plant plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) cluster in two evolutionary subgroups, PIP1 and PIP2, with different aquaporin activities when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Maize ZmPIP1;1 and ZmPIP1;2 do not increase the osmotic water permeability coefficient (Pf), whereas ZmPIP2;1, ZmPIP2;4, and ZmPIP2;5 do. Here, we show that coexpression of the nonfunctional ZmPIP1;2 and the functional ZmPIP2;1, ZmPIP2;4, or ZmPIP2;5 resulted in an increase in Pf that was dependent on the amount of injected ZmPIP1;2 complementary RNA. Confocal analysis of oocytes expressing ZmPIP1;2-green fluorescent protein (GFP) alone or ZmPIP1;2-GFP plus ZmPIP2;5 showed that the amount of ZmPIP1;2-GFP present in the plasma membrane was significantly greater in coexpressing cells. Nickel affinity chromatography purification of ZmPIP2;1 fused to a His tag coeluted with ZmPIP1;2-GFP demonstrated physical interaction and heteromerization of both isoforms. Interestingly, coexpression of ZmPIP1;1 and ZmPIP2;5 did not result in a greater increase in Pf than did the expression of ZmPIP2;5 alone, but coexpression of the ZmPIP1;1 and ZmPIP1;2 isoforms induced a Pf increase, indicating that PIP1 isoform heteromerization is required for both of them to act as functional water channels. Mutational analysis demonstrated the important role of the C-terminal part of loop E in PIP interaction and water channel activity induction. This study has revealed a new mechanism of plant aquaporin regulation that might be important in plant water relations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

CHL1 is a dual-affinity nitrate transporter of Arabidopsis involved in multiple phases of nitrate uptake.

Higher plants have both high- and low-affinity nitrate uptake systems. These systems are generally thought to be genetically distinct. Here, we demonstrate that a well-known low-affinity nitrate uptake mutant of Arabidopsis, chl1, is also defective in high-affinity nitrate uptake. Two to 3 hr after nitrate induction, uptake activities of various chl1 mutants at 250 microM nitrate (a high-affinity concentration) were only 18 to 30% of those of wild-type plants. In these mutants, both the inducible phase and the constitutive phase of high-affinity nitrate uptake activities were reduced, with the inducible phase being severely reduced. Expressing a CHL1 cDNA driven by the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter in a transgenic chl1 plant effectively recovered the defect in high-affinity uptake for the constitutive phase but not for the induced phase, which is consistent with the constitutive level of CHL1 expression in the transgenic plant. Kinetic analysis of nitrate uptake by CHL1-injected Xenopus oocytes displayed a biphasic pattern with a Michaelis-Menten Km value of approximately 50 microM for the high-affinity phase and approximately 4 mM for the low-affinity phase. These results indicate that in addition to being a low-affinity nitrate transporter, as previously recognized, CHL1 is also involved in both the inducible and constitutive phases of high-affinity nitrate uptake in Arabidopsis.

Animals↗

Keratin 17 gene expression during the murine hair cycle.

Keratin 17 (K17) expression is currently considered to be associated with hyperplastic or malignant growth of epithelial cells. The functions of this keratin in normal skin physiology and the regulation of its gene expression, however, are still unclear. As one possible approach to further explore K17 functions, we have studied the differential patterns of mouse K17 (MK17) transcription during the murine hair cycle by means of in situ hybridization, using a digoxigenin-labeled riboprobe. Cycling hair follicles in the skin of C57BL/6 mice were found to be the only skin structures expressing MK17 under physiologic conditions. MK17 transcripts were constantly observed throughout all hair cycle stages in the suprainfundibular outer root sheath (ORS). The MK17 expression was also evident in the isthmus part of the ORS, where it was expressed weakly and was spatially restricted during telogen, with an increase in early anagen and stable expression during mid- and late anagen, localizing to the zone of so-called trichilemmal keratinization. In addition, in early anagen, a group of epithelial cells in or next to the bulge region stained weakly for MK17. With progressing anagen development, MK17 expression in this region increased and was consistently localized to keratinocytes at the advancing front of the emerging epithelial hair bulb. In mid- and late anagen, this zone of MK17 expression spread along the proximal ORS, with a maximal level of expression in the innermost cell layer of the ORS. Overall, these findings provide data on the MK17 expression profile of normal murine skin and demonstrate hair-cycle-dependent regulation of MK17 expression.

Animals↗

The physical state of herpes simplex virus DNA in infected human cells.

Treatment of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-infected human embryo lung (HEL) cells with phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) resulted in complete inhibition of HSV DNA replication. DNA was extracted from PAA-treated HEL cells infected with HSV-1 and centrifuged in a neutral CsCl density gradient. The HSV DNA sequences in the nuclei of PAA treated cells at 24 hr post infection banded at the same density as free HSV DNA (1.725 g/cm3), but a significant amount of viral DNA sequences were detected in the regions of cell DNA (1.700 g/cm3) as well as in the intermediate fractions as determined by hybridization with 3H HSV complementary RNA. The viral DNA sequences of lower deisntiy did not change in density by recentrifugation in a CsCl density gradient, but did change to the density of free viral DNA after treatment with EcoR1 restriction endonuclease. When the DNA from the nuclei of PAA treated cells was analyzed in an alkaline glycerol gradient, more than 95% of the viral DNA sequences were found in the free viral DNA fractions. Since the viral and cellular hybrid DNA represented approximately 33% of the total viral DNA sequences, it is concluded that some of the HSV DNA sequences in PAA treated, infected cells are associated with cell DNA by alkali-labile bonds.

Base Sequence↗

Long-term antidepressant treatment reduces behavioural deficits in transgenic mice with impaired glucocorticoid receptor function.

Impaired cognitive function and enhanced activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system are among the cardinal symptoms of major depression in humans that resolve after successful antidepressant treatment. We used a transgenic mouse model expressing antisense RNA complementary to that of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA to test the hypothesis that reduced GR function can cause these clinical disturbances. The transgenic mice show profound behavioural changes in a number of animal tests that are indicative of cognitive impairment. These mice also have elevated plasma corticotropin concentrations in response to stress. After long-term treatment with moclobemide, a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type A that acts clinically as an antidepressant, both the behavioural deficits and the hormonal alterations disappeared. These observations suggest that a transgenic mouse with GR dysfunction may be a useful model for investigation of drug effects on the cognitive and neuroendocrine aspects of depression.

Animals↗