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Factors that influence selection of coding resumption sites in translational bypassing: minimal conventional peptidyl-tRNA:mRNA pairing can suffice.

This study investigates bypassing initiated from codons immediately 5' of a stop codon. The mRNA slips and is scanned by the peptidyl-tRNA for a suitable landing site, and standard decoding resumes at the next 3' codon. This work shows that landing sites with potentially strong base pairing between the peptidyl-tRNA anticodon and mRNA are preferred, but sites with little or no potential for Watson-Crick or wobble base pairing can also be utilized. These results have implications for re-pairing in ribosomal frameshifting. Shine-Dalgarno sequences in the mRNA can alter the distribution of landing sites observed. The bacteriophage T4 gene 60 nascent peptide, known to influence take-off in its native context, imposes stringent P-site pairing requirements, thereby limiting the number of suitable landing sites.

Base Sequence↗

Spectrum of perforin gene mutations in familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is an autosomal recessive disease of early childhood characterized by nonmalignant accumulation and multivisceral infiltration of activated T lymphocytes and histiocytes (macrophages). Cytotoxic T and natural killer (NK) cell activity is markedly reduced or absent in these patients, and mutations in a lytic granule constituent, perforin, were recently identified in a number of FHL individuals. Here, we report a comprehensive survey of 34 additional patients with FHL for mutations in the coding region of the perforin gene and the relative frequency of perforin mutations in FHL. Perforin mutations were identified in 7 of the 34 families investigated. Six children were homozygous for the mutations, and one patient was a compound heterozygote. Four novel mutations were detected: one nonsense, two missense, and one deletion of one amino acid. In four families, a previously reported mutation at codon 374, causing a premature stop codon, was identified, and, therefore, this is the most common perforin mutation identified so far in FHL patients. We found perforin mutations in 20% of all FHL patients investigated (7/34), with a somewhat higher prevalence, approximately 30% (6/20), in children whose parents originated from Turkey. No other correlation between the type of mutation and the phenotype of the patients was evident from the present study. Our combined results from mutational analysis of 34 families and linkage analysis of a subset of consanguineous families indicate that perforin mutations account for 20%-40% of the FHL cases and the FHL 1 locus on chromosome 9 for approximately 10%, whereas the major part of the FHL cases are caused by mutations in not-yet-identified genes.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Aberrant splicing of the COL4A5 gene in patients with Alport syndrome.

A variety of mutations have been identified in the X-linked type IV collagen alpha 5 chain (COL4A5) gene in patients with Alport syndrome. A substantial number of these mutations were predicted to have an effect on RNA splicing. For 4 such mutations in our group of patients the effect of the DNA mutation on the COL4A5 mRNA structure and stability was analysed. An alteration of the invariant splice acceptor site of intron 41 resulted in a shift of the actual splicing to either a cryptic splice site within exon 42 or the normal splice site in the next intron. A single base substitution of the final nucleotide of exon 48 resulted in the removal of the entire exon. Two frameshift mutations, a 10 basepair duplication in exon 49 and a single base deletion in exon 41, were incorporated in the mRNA as such and resulted in a stretch of missense codons terminated by a premature stop codon. Exon skipping was occasionally observed in these samples, but not reproducibly in every experiment. In healthy controls exon skipping was never detected. Analysis of female carriers revealed that in only one case was the stability of the mutated mRNA reduced in comparison with the normal transcript. The extent to which the non-collagenous domain was predicted to be deleted correlated with the severeness of the disease.

Base Sequence↗

Mouse models of USH1C and DFNB18: phenotypic and molecular analyses of two new spontaneous mutations of the Ush1c gene.

We mapped two new recessive mutations causing circling behavior and deafness to the same region on chromosome 7 and showed they are allelic by complementation analysis. One was named 'deaf circler' (allele symbol dfcr) and the other 'deaf circler 2 Jackson' (allele symbol dfcr-2J). Both were shown to be mutations of the Ush1c gene, the mouse ortholog of the gene responsible for human Usher syndrome type IC and for the non-syndromic deafness disorder DFNB18. The Ush1c gene contains 28 exons, 20 that are constitutive and eight that are alternatively spliced. The dfcr mutation is a 12.8 kb intragenic deletion that eliminates three constitutive and five alternatively spliced exons. The dfcr-2J mutation is a 1 bp deletion in an alternatively spliced exon that creates a transcriptional frame shift, changing 38 amino acid codons before introducing a premature stop codon. Both mutations cause congenital deafness and severe balance deficits due to inner ear dysfunction. The stereocilia of cochlear hair cells are disorganized and splayed in mutant mice, with subsequent degeneration of the hair cells and spiral ganglion cells. Harmonin, the protein encoded by Ush1c, has been shown to bind, by means of its PDZ-domains, with the products of other Usher syndrome genes, including Myo7a, Cdh23 and Sans. The complexes formed by these protein interactions are thought to be essential for maintaining the integrity of hair cell stereocilia. The Ush1c mutant mice described here provide a means to directly investigate these interactions in vivo and to evaluate gene structure-function relationships that affect inner ear and eye phenotypes.

Animals↗

The trfB region of broad host range plasmid RK2: the nucleotide sequence reveals incC and key regulatory gene trfB/korA/korD as overlapping genes.

We report the nucleotide sequence of the trfB region of broad host range plasmid RK2. This region encodes the following loci: trfB, identical to korA and korD, which encodes a key transcriptional repressor of certain RK2 operons; incC, which appears to be involved in plasmid maintenance, possibley through post-transcriptional regulation of trfA product levels; the start of korB, which encodes a second transcriptional repressor of operons involved in stable inheritance of RK2. These loci are expressed as part of the trfB operon. In combination with deletion analysis, transcriptional and translation fusions and 'maxicell' analysis of polypeptides, the DNA sequence allows a number of conclusions to be drawn. First, the korB ORF start codon overlaps the incC ORF stop codon, suggesting the possibility of translational coupling between these two genes. Second, the trfB ORF lies entirely within the first third of the incC ORF using a different phase. Third, the incC ORF appears to contain a second transcriptional start whose function appears to be coupled to translation of the trfB ORF. Analysis of codon usage in the region of overlap between incC and trfB suggests that the incC gene may have evolved before the trfB gene. Determination of the DNA sequence of a mutant in which the product of trfB is rendered defective for transcriptional repression reveals an amino acid alteration within a region of this polypeptide which exhibits homology to the alpha helix-turn-alpha helix motif characteristic of many DNA binding proteins, and which is probably responsible for recognition of the trfB operator by this protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Three distinct RNA sequence elements are required for efficient apolipoprotein B (apoB) RNA editing in vitro.

Apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA is edited in rat liver and intestine to convert a CAA glutamine codon to a UAA translational stop codon by the direct conversion of cytidine to uridine at nucleotide 6666. We have proposed the 'mooring sequence' model for apoB RNA editing, in which editing complexes (editosomes) assemble on specific apoB mRNA flanking sequences to direct this site-specific editing event. One sequence element (approx. nts 6671-81, the presumed 'mooring sequence') has been previously identified as necessary for editing. We have identified two additional sequence elements which are necessary for efficient editing: (1) a 5' 'Regulator' region which modulates editing efficiency and (2) a 'Spacer' region between the editing site and the 3' mooring sequence, whose distance is critical for efficient editing. Utilizing this data, we have induced editing at a cryptic site and have defined a 22 nucleotide 'cassette' of specific apoB sequence which is sufficient to support wild-type levels of editing in vitro in a background of distal apoB RNA sequence.

Animals↗

A general method for rapid purification of soluble versions of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins expressed in insect cells: an application for human tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase.

A soluble form of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase was purified to apparent homogeneity from the culture media of Sf9 cells which had been infected with recombinant baculoviruses encoding human tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP). To facilitate purification, an oligonucleotide consisting of 6 tandem codons for histidine and a stop codon was engineered into the TNSALP cDNA. The molecular mass of the enzyme purified through a nickel-chelate column was estimated to be 54 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. That of the native enzyme was 90 kDa as estimated by gel filtration, indicating that the purified soluble TNSALP is dimeric. The enzyme was used for production of antibodies specific for human TNSALP. Immunoblotting analysis showed a single 80-kDa band in the cell homogenate prepared from Saos-2 (human osteosarcoma) cells. However, upon digestion with peptide: N-glycosidase F, the 80-kDa TNSALP of human origin and the soluble enzyme of insect origin migrated to the same position on SDS-polyacrylamide gel, indicating that the size difference between the two enzymes is ascribed to N-linked oligosaccharides. The antibodies prepared against the purified TNSALP were found to be useful also for immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence studies.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

A frameshift mutation of beta subunit of epithelial sodium channel in a case of isolated Liddle syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Liddle syndrome is an autosomal dominant form of salt-sensitive hypertension caused by mutations in the epithelial sodium channel expressed in the distal nephron playing an essential role in Na absorption. All reported mutations in Liddle syndrome are either missense mutations or frameshift mutations destroying the PY motif closer to the C-terminus of the beta or gamma subunits causing the situation that the epithelial sodium channels are not degraded and sodium is pooled and thus hypertension and hypokalemia are caused. METHODS: We sequenced the C-terminus of the beta or gamma subunits of the epithelial sodium channel in a Japanese family of a patient clinically diagnosed as having Liddle syndrome. RESULTS: As a result, we found in the proband, a frameshift mutation of the beta subunit caused by a single cytosine insertion at the codon 595, introducing a new stop codon at 605 and deleting the last 34 amino acids from the normally encoded protein. CONCLUSION: This mutation is carried by neither parent (with paternity proven) and hence confirms this has occurred as a event within this family.

Adolescent↗

A 5' stem-loop and ribosome binding but not translation are important for the stability of Bacillus subtilis aprE leader mRNA.

The Bacillus subtilis aprE leader is a determinant of extreme mRNA stability. The authors examined what properties of the aprE leader confer stability on an mRNA. The secondary structure of the aprE leader mRNA was analysed in vitro and in vivo, and mutations were introduced into different domains of an aprE leader-lacZ fusion. The half-lives of the corresponding transcripts were determined and beta-galactosidase activities were measured. Removal of a stem-loop structure at the 5' end or diminishing the strength of the RBS reduced the half-lives from more than 25 min to about 5 min. Interfering with translation by abolishing the start codon or creating an early stop codon had no or little effect on mRNA stability. The authors conclude that a 5' stem-loop and binding of ribosomes are necessary for the stability of aprE leader mRNA. The present results, together with a number of other data, suggest that translation of a B. subtilis mRNA is generally not important for its stability; the situation seems different in Escherichia coli. It is further concluded that the calculated strength of a B. subtilis RBS cannot be used to predict the stability of the corresponding transcript.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Cloning and characterization of the pyrF operon of Salmonella typhimurium.

The pyrF gene of Salmonella typhimurium encoding the sixth enzyme of pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis, OMP decarboxylase, was isolated from a pyrF-complementing R' factor. A 2.0-kbp DNA fragment, generated by PvuI cleavage, was subsequently subcloned into the multicopy vector pBR322 and shown to contain the intact pyrF gene. Bacterial strains harbouring the resulting plasmid contain 15-20-fold elevated levels of OMP decarboxylase, and these levels increase 4-5-fold during uracil starvation. Experiments utilizing minicells identified the gene product as a polypeptide with a molecular mass of approximately 27 kDa. Furthermore, it was found that the pyrF gene is expressed as the first gene of a bicistronic operon, wherein the second gene encodes an 11-kDa polypeptide of unknown functions. The complete nucleotide sequence of the pyrF operon was determined. An open reading frame, encoding a polypeptide with a calculated molecular mass of 26213 Da, was deduced to be the coding region for pyrF. Another open reading frame, with a translational start codon which overlaps the translational stop codons of the pyrF gene, encodes a polypeptide of 11513 Da. This open reading frame represents the coding region for the second gene of the operon, orfF. S1-nuclease mapping indicated that pyrF transcription is initiated 54 bases upstream of the translational start. The leader region does not show any features resembling the attenuators found preceding the pyrBI operon and the pyrE gene.

Base Composition↗

The aconitase of Escherichia coli. Nucleotide sequence of the aconitase gene and amino acid sequence similarity with mitochondrial aconitases, the iron-responsive-element-binding protein and isopropylmalate isomerases.

The nucleotide sequence of the aconitase gene (acn) of Escherichia coli was determined and used to deduce the primary structure of the enzyme. The coding region comprises 2670 bp (890 codons excluding the start and stop codons) which define a product having a relative molecular mass of 97,513 and an N-terminal amino acid sequence consistent with those determined previously for the purified enzyme. The acn gene is flanked by the cysB gene and a putative riboflavin biosynthesis gene resembling the ribA gene of Bacillus subtilis. The 1004-bp cysB--acn intergenic region contains several potential promoter and regulatory sequences. The amino acid sequence of the E. coli aconitase is similar to the mitochondrial aconitases (27-29% identity) and the isopropylmalate isomerases (20-21% identity) but it is most similar to the human iron-responsive-element-binding protein (53% identity). The three cysteine residues involved in ligand binding to the [4Fe-4S] centre are conserved in all of these proteins. Of the remaining 17 active-site residues assigned for porcine aconitase, 16 are conserved in both the bacterial aconitase and the iron-responsive-element-binding protein and 14 in the isopropylmalate isomerases. It is concluded that the bacterial and mitochondrial aconitases, the isopropylmalate isomerases and the iron-responsive-element-binding protein form a family of structurally related proteins, which does not include the Fe-S-containing fumarases. These relationships raise the possibility that the iron-responsive-element-binding protein may be a cytoplasmic aconitase and that the E. coli aconitase may have an iron-responsive regulatory function.

Aconitate Hydratase↗

Aberrant gene for E1 Tor hemolysin from Vibrio cholerae non-O1, N037.

Vibrio cholerae non-O1 strain N037 produced a hemolysin (NO37-Hly) which was antigenically similar to E1 Tor hemolysin (E1 Tor-Hly) but different in molecular size, hemolytic activity, and glucose binding capacity. In the gene encoding NO37-Hly, a 4-bp insertion into the structural gene for E1 Tor-Hly (hlyA) was found. The insertion in a shift of codon frames generating a new stop codon in the downstream region. NO37-Hly was a truncated product of E1 Tor-Hly sharing 90% of the N terminal region. This suggested that the 10% C-terminal region of E1 Tor-Hly is needed for the maximal hemolytic activity and glucose binding capacity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification and sequence analysis of the Bacillus subtilis W23 xylR gene and xyl operator.

The xyl operator of Bacillus subtilis W23 was identified by deletion analysis of the xyl regulatory region as a 25-base-pair (bp) sequence located 10 bp downstream from the xyl promoter. The outer 10 bp of the xyl operator exhibit perfect palindromic symmetry, while 5 central bp are nonpalindromic. It was demonstrated that the penultimate base pair near the end of this sequence is important for repressor binding. The location of the xylR gene encoding the repressor was determined by its ability to mediate xylose-dependent repression of a xyl-cat fusion on a multicopy plasmid. The nucleotide sequence of 1,355 bp from this DNA was analyzed and contains an open reading frame with a coding capacity for 384 amino acids leading to a protein with a calculated molecular weight of 42,270. A mutant with a deletion in this reading frame showed no repression of the xyl-cat fusion. The coding sequence is preceded by a suitable ribosome-binding sequence and uses GTG as a start codon and TAA as a stop codon. The relationship of these results to corresponding data obtained from B. subtilis 168 is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nonsense mutation in open reading frame E2 of bovine papillomavirus DNA.

Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was used to construct a nonsense mutation in open reading frame (ORF) E2 of bovine papillomavirus DNA. A single base substitution mutation was constructed which converted a TAC codon into a TAG amber stop codon at a position in the ORF that did not overlap with any other viral ORFs. Full-length viral DNA containing the mutation induced only approximately 2% of the transformed foci of mouse C127 cells that were induced by wild-type DNA. In a different transformation assay, approximately one-half of the C127 cells which had acquired the mutant DNA gave rise to colonies containing at least some cells with transformed morphology. The constructed mutation was maintained in cell lines derived from cells which had acquired the mutant viral DNA, but the viral DNA appeared to be integrated into the host cell genome. Genetic mapping experiments proved that the constructed amber mutation caused the decrease in focus-forming activity and the integration of the mutant viral DNA. These results suggest that ORF E2 encodes a protein which is involved either directly or indirectly in some aspects of oncogenic transformation by bovine papillomavirus and in maintaining the viral DNA as a plasmid in transformed cells.

Animals↗

Alternative translation initiation of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus.

DA strain and other members of the TO subgroup of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) produce a chronic demyelinating disease in which the virus persists but has a restricted expression. We previously reported that TO subgroup strains, in addition to synthesizing the picornaviral polyprotein, use an alternative initiation codon just downstream from the polyprotein's AUG to translate an 18-kDa protein called L* that is out of frame with the polyprotein (H. H. Chen et al., Nat. Med. 1:927-931, 1995; W. P. Kong and R. P. Roos, J. Virol. 65:3395-3399, 1991). L* is critically important for virus persistence and the induction of the demyelinating disease (Chen et al., 1995; G. D. Ghadge et al. J. Virol. 72:8605-8612, 1998). We have proposed that variations in the amount of translation initiation from the L* AUG versus the polyprotein AUG may occur in different cell types and therefore affect the degree of expression of viral capsid proteins. We now demonstrate that ribosomal translation initiation at the polyprotein's initiation codon affects initiation at the L* AUG, suggesting that ribosomes land at the polyprotein's initiation codon before scanning downstream and initiating at the L* AUG. We also find that the viral 5' untranslated region affects utilization of the L* AUG. Surprisingly, mutant DA cDNAs were found to be infectious despite the presence of mutations of the polyprotein initiation codon or placement of a stop codon upstream of the L* AUG in the polyprotein's reading frame. Sequencing studies showed that these viruses had a second site mutation, converting the reading frame of L* into the polyprotein's reading frame; the results suggest that translation of the polyprotein during infection of these mutant viruses can be initiated at the L* AUG. These data are important in our understanding of translation initiation of TMEV and other RNAs that contain an internal ribosome entry site.

Animals↗

Exon 2-mediated c-myc mRNA decay in vivo is independent of its translation.

We have previously shown that the steady-state level of c-myc mRNA in vivo is primarily controlled by posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms. To identify the sequences involved in this process, we constructed a series of H-2/myc transgenic lines in which various regions of the human c-MYC gene were placed under the control of the quasi-ubiquitous H-2K class I regulatory sequences. We demonstrated that the presence of one of the two coding exons, exon 2 or exon 3, is sufficient to confer a level of expression of transgene mRNA similar to that of endogenous c-myc in various adult tissues as well as after partial hepatectomy or after protein synthesis inhibition. We now focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in modulation of expression of mRNAs containing c-myc exon 2 sequences, with special emphasis on the coupling between translation and c-myc mRNA turnover. We have undertaken an analysis of expression, both at the mRNA level and at the protein level, of new transgenic constructs in which the translation is impaired either by disruption of the initiation codon or by addition of stop codons upstream of exon 2. Our results show that the translation of c-myc exon 2 is not required for regulated expression of the transgene in the different situations analyzed, and therefore they indicate that the mRNA destabilizing function of exon 2 is independent of translation by ribosomes. Our investigations also reveal that, in the thymus, some H-2/myc transgenes express high levels of mRNA but low levels of protein. Besides the fact that these results suggest the existence of tissue-specific mechanisms that control c-myc translatability in vivo, they also bring another indication of the uncoupling of c-myc mRNA translation and degradation.

Animals↗

Role of C-terminal sequence of cytochrome P450scc in folding and functional activity.

To elucidate the role of Arg472 and C-terminal sequence of the mature form of cytochrome P450scc, a mitochondrial cytochrome P450, in the present work we have performed sequential removal of the C-terminal amino acid residues of the hemeprotein and evaluated their functional role in folding and catalysis. The removal of 2, 4, 7, or 9 amino acid residues (cytochrome P450scc mutants Delta2, Delta4, Delta7, and Delta9) does not significantly affect the physicochemical properties of the truncated forms of cytochrome P450scc, but results in significant increase in the expression level of the hemeprotein in Escherichia coli (Delta4 cytochrome P450scc mutant). However, removal of 10 C-terminal amino acid residues (Delta10 cytochrome P450scc) of mature form of cytochrome P450scc (replacement of codon for Arg472 for stop-codon) is followed by loss of the ability for correct folding in E. coli. Based on these data, it is concluded that the C-terminal amino acid residues of cytochrome P450scc (DeltaArg472-Ala481) play an important role in correct recombinant protein folding and heme binding by cytochrome P450scc during its expression in E. coli, while folding of mitochondrial cytochrome P450scc during its heterologous expression in bacterial cells is more similar to the folding of prokaryotic soluble cytochrome P450's than to microsomal cytochrome P450's.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Deletion in the OA1 gene in a family with congenital X linked nystagmus.

AIMS: To elucidate the molecular genetic defect of X linked congenital nystagmus associated with macular hypoplasia in three white males of a three generation family with clear features of ocular albinism in only one of them. METHODS: A three generation family with congenital nystagmus following X linked inheritance, and associated with macular hypoplasia was clinically examined (three males and two obligate carriers). Flash VEP was performed to look for albino misrouting. DNA samples were subjected to PCR and subsequent analysis using SSCP for all exons of the OA1 gene. RT-PCR was performed on a mRNA preparation from a naevus from one patient. PCR products presenting divergent banding patterns in SSCP and from the RT-PCR were sequenced directly using cycle sequencing with fluorescent chain termination nucleotides and electrophoresis in a capillary sequencer. RESULTS: The index case (patient 1, IV.1) was diagnosed with X linked OA1 at the age of 3 months because of typical clinical features: congenital nystagmus, iris translucency, macular hypoplasia, fundus hypopigmentation, normal pigmentation of skin and hair, and typical carrier signs of OA1 in his mother and maternal grandmother. Pigmentation of the iris and fundus had increased at the last examination at age 4 years. Albino misrouting was present at this age. In the maternal uncle (III.3, 51 years) who also suffered from congenital nystagmus there was clear macular hypoplasia and stromal focal hypopigmentation of the iris but no iris translucency or fundus hypopigmentation. Patient 3 (II.3, 79 years, maternal uncle of patient III.3) had congenital nystagmus and was highly myopic. The fundus appearance was typical for excessive myopia including macular changes. The iris did not show any translucency. Molecular genetic analysis revealed a novel 14 bp deletion of the OA1 gene at nt816 in exon 6. The mutation abolishes four amino acids (Leu 253-Ile-Ile-Cys) and covers the splice site. Nucleotides 814/815 are used as a new splice donor thus producing a frame shift in codon 252 and a new stop codon at codon 259. CONCLUSIONS: Macular hypoplasia without clinically detectable hypopigmentation as the only sign of X linked OA1 has been reported occasionally in African-American, Japanese, and white patients. The present family shows absent hypopigmentation in two patients of a white family with a deletion in the OA1 gene. We propose a model of OA1 that allows increase of pigmentation with age. We hypothesise that macular hypoplasia in all forms of albinism depends on the extracellular DOPA level during embryogenesis, and that in OA1 postnatal normalisation of the extracellular DOPA level due to delayed distribution and membrane budding/fusion of melanosomes in melanocytes results in increasing pigmentation.

Child, Preschool↗