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Developmental changes in distribution of NMDA receptor channel subunit mRNAs.

In situ hybridization analyses have revealed drastic changes in expression and distribution of five subunit mRNAs of the mouse NMDA receptor channel during brain development. The epsilon 1 subunit mRNA is expressed postnatally and widely in the brain. On the other hand, the epsilon 2 subunit mRNA is found throughout the entire embryonic brain, but its expression becomes restricted to the forebrain at postnatal stages. The epsilon 3 subunit mRNA appears postnatally and predominantly in the cerebellum, whereas the epsilon 4 subunit mRNA is abundantly expressed in the diencephalon and the brainstem at embryonic and neonatal stages. In contrast, the zeta 1 subunit mRNA distributes ubiquitously in the brain throughout development. These findings suggest that changes in the subunit composition of the NMDA receptor channel take place during brain development.

Animals↗

mRNA-based parallel detection of active methanotroph populations by use of a diagnostic microarray.

A method was developed for the mRNA-based application of microbial diagnostic microarrays to detect active microbial populations. DNA- and mRNA-based analyses of environmental samples were compared and confirmed via quantitative PCR. Results indicated that mRNA-based microarray analyses may provide additional information on the composition and functioning of microbial communities.

Ecosystem↗

Different patterns of G/T and A/C mismatch repair in simian cells correspond to the specificity of a mismatch binding protein isolated from simian and HeLa cells.

The two transition mispairs G/T and A/C are corrected with different efficiencies and specificities in CV-1 African green monkey kidney cells. G/T mispairs are corrected with 99% efficiency and almost always in favor of guanine, while A/C mispairs exhibit a 31% uncorrected sector and are otherwise randomly corrected. The higher correction efficiency and bias for the G/T mispair can be correlated with the substrate specificity of a protein, found in HeLa and CV-1 cell extracts, that binds selectively to oligonucleotide duplexes containing G/T mispairs. No binding can be detected to duplexes containing other mispairs, or to homoduplexes.

Adenine↗

Characterization and prediction of alternative splice sites.

Human alternative isoform, cryptic, skipped, and constitutive splice sites from the ALTEXTRON database were analysed regarding splice site strength, composition, GC content, position and binding site strength of polypyrimidine tract and branch site. Several features were identified which distinguish alternative isoform and cryptic splice sites, but not skipped splice sites from constitutive ones. These include splice site strength, introns GC content, U2AF35 binding site score, and oligonucleotide frequencies. For the predictive classification of splice sites, pattern recognition models for different splicing factor binding sites and oligonucleotide frequency models (OFMs) were combined using backpropagation networks. 67.45% of acceptor sites and 71.23% of donor sites are correctly classified by networks trained for classification of constitutive and alternative isoform/cryptic splice sites. A web-application for the prediction of alternative splice sites is available at http://es.embnet.org/~mwang/assp.html .

Alternative Splicing↗

Vitamin D receptor interactions with positive and negative DNA response elements: an interference footprint comparison.

Interference footprinting protocols were utilized to examine the interactions of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) with either a positive or a negative vitamin D response element (VDRE). A sequence from the human osteocalcin (hOC) gene was chosen for the prototypical positive DR+3 VDRE, while an analogous sequence linked to the avian parathyroid hormone gene (aPTH) was used as the negative VDRE. Both types of response elements were examined for phosphate backbone contacts, as well as base-specific interactions with guanine and thymine residues. Sources of VDR included partially purified canine intestinal preparations, as well as extracts of recombinant human VDR and retinoid X receptor alpha prepared from baculovirus-infected Sf9 insect cells. Cold competition experiments using variable amounts of these oligonucleotides in the mobility shift assay revealed that the hOC element was a five-fold better competitor for heterodimer complex binding than the negative VDRE. Interference footprints revealed extensive strong contacts to the phosphate backbone and individual guanine and thymine nucleotides of the hOC element. The composite hOC footprint was asymmetric for the number and strength of interactions observed over each of the respective direct repeat half-sites. In contrast, the aPTH VDRE footprints revealed fewer points of DNA contact that were limited to the hexanucleotide repeat regions and were strikingly weaker in nature. The alignment of DNA contact points for both elements produced a 5' stagger that was indicative of successive major groove interactions, and consistent with dimer binding. DNA helical representations indicate that the heterodimer contacts to these response elements are substantially different and provide insight into functional aspects of each complex.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning and characterization of bovine beta-mannosidase.

Deficiency of lysosomal beta-mannosidase activity results in a severe neurodegenerative disease in goats and cattle and a relatively milder phenotype in humans. A cDNA coding for the entire beta-mannosidase protein is described. Mixed oligonucleotides derived from bovine beta-mannosidase peptide sequences were used to screen a bovine thyroid cDNA library. Clones covering about 80% of the C-terminal region were recovered. The missing 5'-region was obtained using the technique of 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The composite cDNA contains 3852 nucleotides, encoding 879 amino acids. The N-terminal methionine is followed by 16 amino acids displaying the characteristics of a typical signal peptide sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence is colinear with all peptide sequences determined by protein microsequencing. Northern blot analysis demonstrates a single 4.2-kilobase transcript in various tissues from both normal and affected goats and calves. The mRNA level is decreased in tissues of affected beta-mannosidosis animals. The gene encoding beta-mannosidase is localized to human chromosome 4 as shown by Southern analysis of rodent/human somatic cell hybrids. This is the first report of cloning of lysosomal beta-mannosidase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of cis-regulatory elements of the c-myc promoter responding to human GM-CSF or mouse interleukin 3 in mouse proB cell line BA/F3 cells expressing the human GM-CSF receptor.

Interleukin 3 (IL-3) or granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) activates c-fos, c-jun, and c-myc genes and proliferation in both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells. Using a series of deletion mutants of the beta subunit of human GM-CSF receptor (hGMR) and inhibitors of tyrosine kinase, two distinct signaling pathways, one for activation of c-fos and c-jun genes, and the other for cell proliferation and activation of c-myc gene have been elucidated. In contrast to wealth of information on the pathway leading to activation of c-fos/c-jun genes, knowledge of the latter is scanty. To clarify the mechanisms of activation of c-myc gene by cytokines, we established a transient transfection assay in mouse proB cell line BA/F3 cells expressing hGMR. Analyses of hGMR beta subunit mutants revealed two cytoplasmic regions involved in activation of the c-myc promoter, one is essential and the other is dispensable but enhances the activity. These regions are located at the membrane proximal and the distal regions covering amino acid positions 455-544 and 544-589, respectively. Characterization of cis-acting regulatory elements of the c-myc gene showed that the region containing the P2 promoter initiation site is sufficient to mediate the response to mIL-3 or hGM-CSF. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay using an oligonucleotide corresponding to the distal putative E2F binding site revealed that p107/E2F complex, the negative regulator of E2F, decreased, and free E2F increased after mIL-3 stimulation. These results support the thesis that mIL-3 or hGM-CSF regulates the c-myc promoter by altering composition of the E2F complexes at E2F binding site.

Animals↗

Oligonucleotide inhibition of IL2R alpha mRNA transcription by promoter region collinear triplex formation in lymphocytes.

The promoter region of the IL2R alpha gene 5' flanking sequence contains enhancer elements crucial for binding nuclear factors which upregulate transcription following T lymphocyte activation. A 3' exonuclease resistant oligonucleotide (3'A-IL28p, terminated by a free amine group at its 3' end) was designed to bind to the IL2R alpha promoter region from -273 to -246, forming a collinear triplex spanning the kappa B enhancer (-266 to -256) as well as most of the serum response element (CArG box, -251 to -244). The binding site specificity of this oligonucleotide was demonstrated in electrophoretic mobility shift assays and by inhibition of restriction endonuclease (HinfI) cleavage within the segment of the target DNA predicted to form a triplex with the oligonucleotide. Intact normal lymphocytes, preincubated for 2h with 3'A-IL28p, accumulated less IL2Ralpha mRNA relative to other mRNAs (c-myc, beta-actin, IL2R beta, IL-6) for up to 12h after PHA stimulation, than did lymphocytes treated with a control oligomer of similar composition but different sequence. Nuclear run-on studies demonstrated that the rate of IL2R alpha mRNA synthesis relative to c-myc and beta-actin was also selectively diminished by treatment with 3'A-IL28p. These experiments suggest that transcription of individual genes can be selectively modulated in living cells by sequence specific collinear triplex formation in regulatory enhancer sequences.

Base Sequence↗

The lung HETEs (and EETs) up.

Arachidonic acid metabolites of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways have a variety of important lung functions. Recent observations indicate that cytochrome P-450 (P-450) monooxygenases are also expressed in the lung, localized to specific pulmonary cell types (e.g., epithelium, endothelium, and smooth muscle), and may modulate critical lung functions. This review summarizes recent data on the presence and biological activity of P-450-derived eicosanoids in the pulmonary vasculature and airways, including effects on pulmonary vascular and bronchial smooth muscle tone and airway epithelial ion transport. We hypothesize a number of potential functions of P-450-derived arachidonate metabolites in the lungs such as contribution to hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, regulation of bronchomotor tone, control of the composition of airway lining fluid, and limitation of pulmonary inflammation. Finally, we describe a number of emerging technologies, including congenic and transgenic strains of experimental animals, P-450 isoform-specific inhibitors and inhibitory antibodies, eicosanoid analogs, and vectors for delivery of P-450 cDNAs and antisense oligonucleotides. These tools will facilitate further studies on the contribution of endogenously formed P-450 eicosanoid metabolites to lung function, under both normal and pathological conditions.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗

Expression profiling analyses of gonadotropin responses and tumor development in the absence of inhibins.

Transgenic mice with engineered disruptions in bidirectional endocrine signaling between the pituitary and gonad have shed light on the specific effects of the loss of function of gonadotropins and inhibins. These models are valuable tools for studying ovarian biology because they phenocopy specific pathological states and have variations in ovarian tissue composition that allow us to identify genes expressed in specific cell types. We have used emerging mRNA expression profiling technologies to gain a more comprehensive view of genes that are expressed in the mammalian ovary and adrenal gland in the FSHbeta and inhibin alpha knockout mouse models. Oligonucleotide array hybridization experiments using Affymetrix GeneChip technology and NIA 15K murine cDNA microarray studies identified hundreds of transcripts differentially expressed compared with wild type, over 30 of which were selected for further characterization by Northern blot analyses. Additionally, we performed in situ hybridization studies to localize 10 mRNAs, melanocyte-specific gene 1, amino acid transporter SN2, overexpressed and amplified in teratocarcinoma (Bcat1), Forkhead box protein FOXO1, 24p3, vascular cell adhesion molecule, epiregulin, Bcl2-like10, PC3B, and retinoblastoma binding protein 7. These 10 genes have expression patterns and postulated functions suggesting that they mediate important processes in the physiology and pathology of ovarian and adrenal tissue.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

Sustained release of nanosized complexes of polyethylenimine and anti-TGF-beta 2 oligonucleotide improves the outcome of glaucoma surgery.

The purpose of this study was to design microspheres combining sustained delivery and enhanced intracellular penetration for ocular administration of antisense oligonucleotides. Nanosized complexes of antisense TGF-beta2 phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (PS-ODN) with polyethylenimine (PEI), and naked PS-ODN were encapsulated into poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres prepared by the double-emulsion solvent evaporation method. The PS-ODN was introduced either naked or complexed in the inner aqueous phase of the first emulsion. We observed a marked influence of microsphere composition on porosity, size distribution and PS-ODN encapsulation efficiency. Mainly, the presence of PEI induced the formation of large pores observed onto microsphere surface. Introduction of NaCl in the outer aqueous phase increased the encapsulation efficiency and reduced microsphere porosity. In vitro release kinetic of PS-ODN was also investigated. Clearly, the higher the porosity, the faster was the release and the higher was the burst effect. Using an analytical solution of Fick's second law of diffusion, it was shown that the early phase of PS-ODN and PS-ODN-PEI complex release was primarily controlled by pure diffusion, irrespectively of the type of microsphere. Finally, microspheres containing antisense TGF-beta2 nanosized complexes were shown, after subconjunctival administration to rabbit, to significantly increase intracellular penetration of ODN in conjunctival cells and subsequently to improve bleb survival in a rabbit experimental model of filtering surgery. These results open up interesting prospective for the local controlled delivery of genetic material into the eye.

Animals↗

Structure of a DNA duplex that contains alpha-anomeric nucleotides and 3'-3' and 5'-5' phosphodiester linkages: coexistence of parallel and antiparallel DNA.

We report a comparative spectroscopic study of a novel self-complementary duplex decamer, d(GCGAAT-3'-3'-(alpha T)-5'-5'-CGC)2, in which an alpha-anomeric nucleotide has been inserted into the sequence in a parallel orientation via 3'-3' and 5'-5' phosphodiester bonds, and its unmodified B-DNA analog, d(GCGAATTCGC)2. Plots of the hyperchromicity and circular dichroism of these oligonucleotides are virtually identical, indicating that the overall base stacking and handedness are preserved in the alpha duplex. Thermodynamic parameters extracted from UV melting experiments show that the alpha duplex is only slightly less stable than the control. A near complete set of 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) assignments were obtained for both duplexes using classical one- and two-dimensional approaches. Several lines of evidence, in particular, imino 1H, 31P, nuclear Overhauser enhancement, and deoxyribose ring proton spin-spin coupling data, convincingly demonstrate that the overall structural integrity of the alpha and control duplexes are quite comparable, with any perturbations in the former localized to the regions of the construct encompassing the alpha-nucleotide and the unique backbone linkages. Specifically, the alpha duplex exhibits normal Watson-Crick type base pairing, it remains antiparallel except at the inverted nucleotide, all bases are in the anti orientation, and the sugar ring puckering is predominantly "S"-type. However, the J-coupling information for the alpha-nucleotide and the neighboring (3') cytidine are notably different, and reflect a decrease in the amplitude of the sugar pucker in alpha T7, and a significant shift in the conformational equilibrium of the furanose ring in C8 toward the "N"-type pucker. The feasibility of synthesizing oligodeoxynucleotides containing a combination of alpha sugars and short parallel stranded segments, their propensity for forming stable duplexes, and the structural insights into such complexes reported here are of potential importance in the area of antisense therapy.

Base Composition↗

Development of internal controls for probe-based nucleic acid diagnostic assays.

A method is described for the design, evaluation, and application of internal control targets and probes for use in probe-based nucleic acid diagnostic assays (i.e., PCR-ELISA). The technique is a modified version of oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis in conjunction with PCR amplification to develop a novel probe-annealing sequence in a cloned IS1111a gene fragment of Coxiella burnetii. The internal control probe-recognition site with its complementary probe was identical to the wild-type-specific probe in length, base composition, location, and annealing temperature. Neither the internal control nor the wild-type probes annealed to the recognition sequence of the other. As both of the amplified nucleic acid fragments, internal control and wild type, were identical in length and base composition, the amplification conditions for the diagnostic assay were not affected. This allowed small copy numbers of the internal control clone to be loaded into a diagnostic assay without negatively affecting it. In a single reaction we were able to differentiate between an assay reporting a true or false-negative signal. A negative signal is defined as the absence of detectable pathogen genetic material (true) or inhibition/failure of the reaction (false).

Base Sequence↗

PCR-RFLP and sequence analysis of a non-ribosomal fragment for genetic characterization of European stone fruit yellows phytoplasmas infecting various Prunus species.

A 927 bp non-ribosomal fragment was used to assess the genetic variability of the European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) phytoplasma infecting 14 different Prunus species. For this, 175 isolates originating from four different Mediterranean countries were tested by PCR-RFLP analysis with seven restriction enzymes. No polymorphism among the ESFY phytoplasma could be observed but 12 out of 18 restriction sites differed between the homologous fragments of ESFY and apple proliferation (AP) phytoplasmas. An 846 bp fragment of a French ESFY isolate was sequenced, it included the 3'-end of a putative nitroreductase gene, an intergenic region and a truncated open reading frame. This ESFY phytoplasma sequence showed 89.7% identity with the equivalent AP phytoplasma nucleotide sequence (83. 9% identity at the amino acid level). The G+C content of the entire sequence was extremely low (15.4%) and A+T-rich codons were highly preferred in codon usage. In this paper, we report the presence of the ESFY phytoplasma for the first time in Turkey and in five Prunus hosts never reported previously. Our results also indicate that the ESFY phytoplasma isolates affecting various Prunus species are genetically homogenous but can be distinguished from the AP phytoplasma. Therefore, they are likely to represent different taxons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Local sequential minimization of double stranded B-DNA using Monte Carlo annealing.

A software algorithm has been developed to investigate the folding process in B-DNA structures in vacuum under a simple and accurate force field. This algorithm models linear double stranded B-DNA sequences based on a local, sequential minimization procedure. The original B-DNA structures were modeled using initial nucleotide structures taken from the Brookhaven database. The models contain information at the atomic level allowing one to investigate as accurately as possible the structure and characteristics of the resulting DNA structures. A variety of DNA sequences and sizes were investigated containing coding and non-coding, random and real, homogeneous or heterogeneous sequences in the range of 2 to 40 base pairs. The force field contains terms such as angle bend, Lennard-Jones, electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding which are set up using the Dreiding II force field and defined to account for the helical parameters such as twist, tilt and rise. A close comparison was made between this local minimization algorithm and a global one (previously published) in order to find out advantages and disadvantages of the different methods. From the comparison, this algorithm gives better and faster results than the previous method, allowing one to minimize larger DNA segments. DNA segments with a length of 40 bases need approximately 4 h, while 2.5 weeks are needed with the previous method. After each minimization the angles between phosphate-oxygen-carbon A1, the oxygen-phosphate-oxygen A2 and the average helical twists were calculated. From the generated fragments it was found that the bond angles are A1=150 degrees +/-2 degrees and A2=130 degrees +/-10 degrees, while the helical twist is 36.6 degrees +/-2 degrees in the A strand and A1=150 degrees +/-6 degrees and A2=130+/-6 degrees with helical twist 39.6 degrees +/-2 degrees in the B strand for the DNA segment with the same sequence as the Dickerson dodecamer.

Algorithms↗

Methods of studying soil microbial diversity.

Soil microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, play central roles in soil fertility and promoting plant health. This review examines and compares the various methods used to study microbial diversity in soil.

Bacteria↗

Detecting genetic variability among different Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains using DNA microarrays technology.

Recent advances in functional and comparative genomics have improved our understanding of genetic diversity among the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. In this study, we investigated the genetic polymorphism of M. tuberculosis using whole-genome microarray analysis. Amplified fragments of 15 M. tuberculosis strains (from two different geographical origins) and the reference strain H37Rv were produced by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using three different primers. The RAPD products were labeled with fluorescent dyes (Cy3 and Cy5) and hybridized to a TB DNA microarray representing nearly all open reading frames (ORFs) of H37Rv. The final results were analyzed using bioinformatic tools. Some genetic variability was found among the 16 M. tuberculosis strains. The majority of the highly polymorphic DNA sequences were observed in ORFs representing non-essential genes of the bacterium. The future use of comparative genomics based on DNA microarray technology should prove a powerful tool for understanding phenotypic variability among M. tuberculosis isolates of similar genetic composition. It is also a promising approach to provide important insights into evolution, virulence and pathogenesis of M. tuberculosis.

DNA, Bacterial↗