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[Immunochemical analysis of histone H1 and H5 from pigeon erythroid cells].

An antiserum with the antibody titer of 1 : 4096 was obtained by immunization of rabbits with the tRNA-histone H5 complex from pigeon erythrocytes. The specificity of the antiserum was studied quantitatively from the reaction of the complement binding to a homologous antigen (histone H5) and its modifications (I, II, III), differing in the degree of phosphorylation. It was shown that phosphorylation of histone H5 increases the ability of the antigen to bind to antibodies, which is especially well-pronounced at the antiserum dilutions as high as 20480. The comparison of the antigenic properties of histones H5 from pigeon and chicken erythrocytes revealed beside structural differences of the proteins the presence of common antigenic determinants. A similar observation was made when histones H5 and H1 from pigeon erythrocytes were compared. Histone H1 from chicken erythrocytes and histone H1 from calf thymus did not produce criss-cross reactions with antiserum H5.

Animals↗

Compilation of tRNA sequences.

This compilation presents in a small space the tRNA sequences so far published. The numbering of tRNAPhe from yeast is used following the rules proposed by the participants of the Cold Spring Harbor Meeting on tRNA 1978 (1,2;Fig. 1). This numbering allows comparisons with the three dimensional structure of tRNAPhe. The secondary structure of tRNAs is indicated by specific underlining. In the primary structure a nucleoside followed by a nucleoside in brackets or a modification in brackets denotes that both types of nucleosides can occupy this position. Part of a sequence in brackets designates a piece of sequence not unambiguosly analyzed. Rare nucleosides are named according to the IUPACIUB rules (for complicated rare nucleosides and their identification see Table 1); those with lengthy names are given with the prefix x and specified in the footnotes. Footnotes are numbered according to the coordinates of the corresponding nucleoside and are indicated in the sequence by an asterisk. The references are restricted to the citation of the latest publication in those cases where several papers deal with one sequence. For additional information the reader is referred either to the original literature or to other tRNA sequence compilations (3-7). Mutant tRNAs are dealt with in a compilation by J. Celis (8). The compilers would welcome any information by the readers regarding missing material or erroneous presentation. On the basis of this numbering system computer printed compilations of tRNA sequences in a linear form and in cloverleaf form are in preparation.

Bacteria↗

Finding of an isoleucine derivative of a recombinant protein for pharmaceutical use.

Protein modification generally occurs by addition to the amino acid side-chains of protein at the post-translational stage, for example, by enzymatic or chemical reactions after polypeptide synthesis. Recently, the recombinant hirudin analog CX-397, a potent thrombin inhibitor, was found to contain methylated Ile residues when it was overproduced by Escherichia coli in the absence of amino acids in the culture medium. The Ile derivatives, deduced to be beta-methylnorleucine [betaMeNle; (2S, 3S)-2-amino-3-methylhexanoic acid] by systematic chromatographic analysis, do not appear to be normal post-translational modifications of the protein because Ile has no functional group in its side-chain. We, therefore, propose that betaMeNle is biosynthesized by E. coli, activated by E. coli isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS), then incorporated into the overproduced recombinant hirudin analog. The biosynthesis of betaMeNle in E. coli is thought to occur as follows: alpha-ketovalerate is synthesized from alpha-ketobutyrate by three Leu biosynthetic enzymes, alpha-isopropylmalate synthase (IPMS) (EC 4.1.3.12), alpha-isopropylmalate isomerase (ISOM) (EC 4.2.1.33) and beta-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (IPMD) (EC 1.1.1.85), which have broad substrate specificities. alpha-Ketovalerate is then converted to alpha-keto-beta-methylcaproate by three Ile and Val biosynthetic enzymes, acetohydroxy acid synthase (AS) (EC 4.1.3.18), acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase (IR) (EC 1.1.1.86) and dihydroxy acid dehydratase (DH) (EC 4.2.1.9). Finally, this is converted to betaMeNle by branched-chain amino acid transaminase (EC 2.6.1.42), one of the Ile and Val biosynthetic enzymes.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Fluoresceinylthiocarbamyl-tRNATyr: a useful derivative of tRNATyr (E.coli) for physicochemical studies.

Fluoresceinylthiocarbamyl-tRNATyr (FTC-tRNATyr) is prepared from tRNATyr and fluoresceinisothiogyanate (FITC) under mildly alkaline conditions. Labelling occurs specificly at the base Q of tRNATyr. The modified tRNA is fully active in the aminoacylation assay; when aminoacylated it is recognized by the elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu). Codon-anticodon interaction, however, is severely affected by the modification.

Anticodon↗

In vitro mutagenesis of the mitochondrial leucyl tRNA synthetase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae shows that the suppressor activity of the mutant proteins is related to the splicing function of the wild-type protein.

The NAM2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes the mitochondrial leucyl tRNA synthetase (mLRS), which is necessary for the excision of the fourth intron of the mitochondrial cytb gene (bI4) and the fourth intron of the mitochondrial coxI gene (aI4), as well as for mitochondrial protein synthesis. Some dominant mutant alleles of the gene are able to suppress mutations that inactivate the bI4 maturase, which is essential for the excision of the introns aI4 and bI4. Here we report mutagenesis studies which focus on the splicing and suppressor functions of the protein. Small deletions in the C-terminal region of the protein preferentially reduce the splicing, but not the synthetase activity; and all the C-terminal deletions tested abolish the suppressor activity. Mutations which increase the volume of the residue at position 240 in the wild-type mLRS without introducing a charge, lead to a suppressor activity. The mutant 238C, which is located in the suppressor region, has a reduced synthetase activity and no detectable splicing activity. These data show that the splicing and suppressor functions are linked and that the suppressor activity of the mutant alleles results from a modification of the wild-type splicing activity.

Endoribonucleases↗

Reduced aminoacylation of asparagine-transfer RNA early in the developmental cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum: modification pattern and possible significance of the uncharged isoacceptor tRNAAsn3.

Changes in the patterns of isoacceptors of tRNAAsn and alterations in modification of the guanine residue 34, the first position of the anticodon of tRNAAsn, have been observed in eukaryotes during differentiation. We use Dictyostelium discoideum as a model system to elucidate the possible involvement of tRNAAsn in developmental processes. Vegetative amoebae were induced to undergo developmental transition by nutrient starvation. Since amino acid starvation alone is a specific stimulus initiating development and unacylated tRNAs might be involved in control mechanisms of protein synthesis, the level of aminoacylation of tRNAAsn isoacceptors has been investigated. As early as two minutes after the onset of development, the aminoacylation of tRNAAsn specifically was reduced to about 30%, whereas at the same time 10 other tRNA species were found to be charged normally, i.e. to 70-100%. One of the two major isoacceptors, tRNAAsn3, was completely deacylated, whereas the other one, tRNAAsn2, accounted for the residual aminoacylation. Analyses of the modified nucleosides of highly purified tRNAAsn2 and tRNAAsn3 are respectively, show that both isoacceptors are identical in their modification patterns except for the modification at the first position of the anticodon; tRNAAsn2 comprises queuine (Q), 7-[(4,5-cis-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-ylamino)methyl]-7-deazaguanine, whereas tRNAAsn3 contains guanine.

Amino Acids↗

Functional transfer RNAs with modifications in the 3'-CCA end: differential effects on aminoacylation and polypeptide synthesis.

The trinucleotide CCA sequence is present at the 3' terminus of all mature tRNAs. Despite this high degree of conservation, we have been able to prepare in vitro transcripts of Escherichia coli tRNA(Val) with altered 3' termini that are readily aminoacylated and can function in polypeptide synthesis. Replacement of the 3'-terminal adenosine with either cytidine or uridine yields a tRNA(Val) variant that retains almost full aminoacylation activity, having specificity constants (Vmax/Km) 40-50% that of wild-type tRNA(Val). The tRNA(Val) variant with a 3'-terminal guanosine remains fully chargeable but is a poor substrate for valyl-tRNA synthetase, largely as the result of a decrease in the catalytic constant. End-group analysis revealed the absence of adenosine at the 3' end of the tRNA(Val) mutants and identified the nucleotide expected from the sequence of the DNA template as the predominant 3'-terminal residue; Val-cytidine was isolated from the aminoacylated C76 mutant. Val-tRNA(Val) with 3'-CCG is active in poly(U,G)-directed (Val, Phe) copolypeptide synthesis, whereas the tRNA(Val) mutants terminating in 3'-CCC and 3'-CCU, which are readily aminoacylated, are inactive. The differential effects of nucleotide substitution on aminoacylation and polypeptide synthesis suggest that the universally conserved 3'-CCA end of tRNAs is monitored at two or more steps in protein synthesis that have different nucleotide recognition specificities.

Base Sequence↗

A post-translational modification in the GGQ motif of RF2 from Escherichia coli stimulates termination of translation.

A post-translational modification affecting the translation termination rate was identified in the universally conserved GGQ sequence of release factor 2 (RF2) from Escherichia coli, which is thought to mimic the CCA end of the tRNA molecule. It was shown by mass spectrometry and Edman degradation that glutamine in position 252 is N:(5)-methylated. Overexpression of RF2 yields protein lacking the methylation. RF2 from E.coli K12 is unique in having Thr246 near the GGQ motif, where all other sequenced bacterial class 1 RFs have alanine or serine. Sequencing the prfB gene from E.coli B and MRE600 strains showed that residue 246 is coded as alanine, in contrast to K12 RF2. Thr246 decreases RF2-dependent termination efficiency compared with Ala246, especially for short peptidyl-tRNAs. Methylation of Gln252 increases the termination efficiency of RF2, irrespective of the identity of the amino acid in position 246. We propose that the previously observed lethal effect of overproducing E.coli K12 RF2 arises through accumulating the defects due to lack of Gln252 methylation and Thr246 in place of alanine.

Alanine↗

Nucleotide sequence of formylmethionine tRNA from an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus HB8.

The nucleotide sequence of formylmethionine tRNA from an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus HB8, was determined by a combination of classical methods using unlabeled samples to determine the sequences of the oligonucleotides of RNase T1 and RNase A digests and a rapid sequencing gel technique using 5'-32P labeled samples to determine overlapping sequences. Formylmethionine tRNA from T. thermophilus is composed of two species, tRNAf1Met and tRNAf2Met. Their nucleotide sequences are almost identical, and are also almost identical with that of E. coli tRNAfMet, except for slight modifications and replacements. Both species have modifications at three points which do not exist in E. coli tRNAfMet: 2'-O-methylation at G19, N-1-methylation at A59 and 2-thiolation at T55. Moreover U51 in E. coli tRNAfMet is replaced by C51 in both species, so that a G-C pair is formed between this C51 and G65. tRNAf2Met has a reversed G-C pair at positions 52 and 64 compared with those in tRNAf1Met and E. coli tRNAfMet. Other regions are mostly the same as those in all prokaryotic initiator tRNAs so far reported. The thermostability of these thermophile initiator tRNAs is discussed in relation to their unique modifications.

Base Sequence↗

Formation of the chlorophyll precursor delta-aminolevulinic acid in cyanobacteria requires aminoacylation of a tRNAGlu species.

In the chloroplasts of higher plants and algae, the biosynthesis of the chlorophyll precursor delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) involves at least three enzymes and a tRNA species. Here we demonstrate that in cell extracts of the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 ALA was formed from glutamate in a series of reactions in which activation of glutamate by glutamyl-tRNAGlu formation was the first step. The activated glutamate was reduced by a dehydrogenase which displayed tRNA sequence specificity. Fractionation of strain 6803 tRNA by reverse-phase chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis yielded two pure tRNAGlu species which stimulated ALA synthesis in vitro. These tRNAs had identical primary sequences but differed in the nucleotide modification of their anticodon. The 6803 tRNAGlu was similar to the sequences of tRNAGlu species or tRNAGlu genes from Escherichia coli and from chloroplasts of Euglena gracilis and higher plants. Southern blot analysis revealed at least two tRNAGlu gene copies in the 6803 chromosome. A glutamate-1-semialdehyde aminotransferase, the terminal enzyme in the conversion of glutamate to ALA in chloroplasts, was detected in 6803 cell extracts by the conversion of glutamate-1-semialdehyde to ALA and by the inhibition of this reaction by gabaculin.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗

[Structural elements of 80S ribosomes located near the 5'-region of the mRNA-binding center].

Affinity labeling of 80S ribosomes with 4-(N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylamino)benzylmethylphosphoramides of oligoribonucleotides [32P]AUGUn--mRNA analogs--was studied in three model complexes: 80S.ClRCH2N(CH3)-pAUGU6.Met(Phe)2-trRNA(Phe), 80S.ClRCH2N(CH3)pAUGU3.MetPhe-tRNA(Phe), and 80S.ClRCH2N(CH3)-pAUG.Met- tRNA(Met). Two of these complexes imitate the posttranslocational state of 80S ribosomes. Small subunits were labeled preferentially; both 18S rRNA and ribosomal proteins were modified by the mRNA analogs. The relative modification extents of proteins and rRNA depended on the length of the reagent oligoribonucleotide moiety. Extension of the latter resulted in decrease in the relative extent of 18S rRNA modification from 95 a to 16% (for proteins, increase from 5 to 84%, respectively). Fragments of 18S rRNA containing cross-linking sites were identified using blot hybridization. In all cases, fragment 976-1164 was found to be modified. In the case of ClRCH2N(CH3)pAUGU6, labeling occurred also within fragments 593-673 and 1748-1869. Analysis of the modified proteins revealed that proteins S14/S15 were labeled with all three reagents and were the single target of modification with ClRCH2N(CH3)pAUGU6. Proteins S3/S3a, S6, and S16/S18 were modified only with ClRCH2N(CH3)pAUGU3; protein S20 only with ClRCH2N(CH3)pAUG; and proteins S5 and S17 were labeled with both reagents (n = 0, 3).

Affinity Labels↗

Nucleotide sequence of a Xenopus laevis mitochondrial DNA fragment containing the D-loop, flanking tRNA genes and the apocytochrome b gene.

Extensive corrections of the nucleotide sequence of the Xenopus laevis mitochondrial (mt) displacement (D) loop and surrounding genes [Wong et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 11 (1983) 4977-4995] are reported, including addition of two stretches of nucleotides and 60 scattered modifications. The additional sequences presented here correspond to the apocytochrome b gene, the tRNAGlu gene and part of URF6. This allows us to propose a conformational model for the X. laevis apocytochrome b protein and also permits comparisons with mammalian mtDNA. The D-loop sequence is poorly conserved except for sequences involved in the regulation of the mt genome (conserved sequence blocks and the DNA polymerase stop sequences). On the other hand, all genes show marked conservation both of their nucleotide sequence and their respective location on the mt genome. Organization of the genetic information described for mammalian mtDNA also holds for the X. laevis mtDNA. This result strongly suggests that all animal vertebrate mtDNAs have followed the same evolutionary pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Translation rate modification by preferential codon usage: intragenic position effects.

We present a model for calculating the protein production rate as a function of the translation rate. The model takes into account that the elongation rate along an mRNA molecule is non-uniform as a result of different tRNA availabilities for different codons. Initiation of ribosomes on an mRNA is normally the rate-limiting step in the translation process, and blocking of the initiation site can be avoided if the codons closest to this site allow fast translation by the ribosome. Hence, different selective forces may act on the choice of synonymous codons in the initiation region than elsewhere on a given mRNA. We show that the elongation rate along the whole mRNA influences the production rate of abundant proteins, whereas only the elongation rate in the initiation region is of importance for the production rate of rare proteins. We also present an analysis of the codon distribution along known mRNAs coding for abundant and rare proteins.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Efficient reconstitution of functional Escherichia coli 30S ribosomal subunits from a complete set of recombinant small subunit ribosomal proteins.

Previous studies have shown that the 30S ribosomal subunit of Escherichia coli can be reconstituted in vitro from individually purified ribosomal proteins and 16S ribosomal RNA, which were isolated from natural 30S subunits. We have developed a 30S subunit reconstitution system that uses only recombinant ribosomal protein components. The genes encoding E. coli ribosomal proteins S2-S21 were cloned, and all twenty of the individual proteins were overexpressed and purified. Reconstitution, following standard procedures, using the complete set of recombinant proteins and purified 16S ribosomal RNA is highly inefficient. Efficient reconstitution of 30S subunits using these components requires sequential addition of proteins, following either the 30S subunit assembly map (Mizushima & Nomura, 1970, Nature 226:1214-1218; Held et al., 1974, J Biol Chem 249:3103-3111) or following the order of protein assembly predicted from in vitro assembly kinetics (Powers et al., 1993, J MoI Biol 232:362-374). In the first procedure, the proteins were divided into three groups, Group I (S4, S7, S8, S15, S17, and S20), Group II (S5, S6, S9, Sll, S12, S13, S16, S18, and S19), and Group III (S2, S3, S10, S14, and S21), which were sequentially added to 16S rRNA with a 20 min incubation at 42 degrees C following the addition of each group. In the second procedure, the proteins were divided into Group I (S4, S6, S11, S15, S16, S17, S18, and S20), Group II (S7, S8, S9, S13, and S19), Group II' (S5 and S12) and Group III (S2, S3, S10, S14, and S21). Similarly efficient reconstitution is observed whether the proteins are grouped according to the assembly map or according to the results of in vitro 30S subunit assembly kinetics. Although reconstitution of 30S subunits using the recombinant proteins is slightly less efficient than reconstitution using a mixture of total proteins isolated from 30S subunits, it is much more efficient than reconstitution using proteins that were individually isolated from ribosomes. Particles reconstituted from the recombinant proteins sediment at 30S in sucrose gradients, bind tRNA in a template-dependent manner, and associate with 50S subunits to form 70S ribosomes that are active in poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis. Both the protein composition and the dimethyl sulfate modification pattern of 16S ribosomal RNA are similar for 30S subunits reconstituted with either recombinant proteins or proteins isolated as a mixture from ribosomal subunits as well as for natural 30S subunits.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Mapping of the second tetracycline binding site on the ribosomal small subunit of E.coli.

Tetracycline blocks stable binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to the bacterial ribosomal A-site. Various tetracycline binding sites have been identified in crystals of the 30S ribosomal small subunit of Thermus thermophilus. Here we describe a direct photo- affinity modification of the ribosomal small subunits of Escherichia coli with 7-[3H]-tetracycline. To select for specific interactions, an excess of the 30S subunits over tetracycline has been used. Primer extension analysis of the 16S rRNA revealed two sites of the modifications: C936 and C948. Considering available data on tetracycline interactions with the prokaryotic 30S subunits, including the presented data (E.coli), X-ray data (T.thermophilus) and genetic data (Helicobacter pylori, E.coli), a second high affinity tetracycline binding site is proposed within the 3'-major domain of the 16S rRNA, in addition to the A-site related tetracycline binding site.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗