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Characterization of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta 3 gene. Its regulation within the avian nervous system is effected by a promoter 143 base pairs in length.

Genomic and cDNA clones encoding the chicken neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta 3 subunit were isolated and sequenced. The beta 3 gene consists of six protein-encoding exons and the deduced protein has the structural features found in all other members of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit family. Although they are undetectable in most brain compartments, beta 3 mRNAs are relatively abundant in the developing retina and in the trigeminal ganglion. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that in retina, beta 3 transcripts and protein are confined to subpopulations of cells in the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers. Beta 3 is expressed in the proximal and distal regions of the developing trigeminal ganglion, i.e. in both placode- and neural crest-derived neurons. Transient transfection assays in cells freshly dissociated from selected regions of the central nervous system at different developmental stages allowed the identification of genetic elements involved in the neuronal-selective expression of the beta 3 gene. A promoter fragment 143 base pairs in length and containing TATA, CAAT, and other consensus sequences is sufficient to restrict reporter gene expression to a subpopulation of retinal neurons. This promoter is totally inactive upon transfection into neuronal and non-neuronal cells from other regions of the central nervous system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine nucleic acids: adjustment of the dA-dT to the dG-dC base pair stability.

The pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-4,6-diamine nucleosides 2b-d stabilize the dA-dT base pair significantly when the dA-residue is replaced. Oligonucleotide duplexes incorporating 2b-d show a 4-6 degrees C Tm increase per modification. The 7-bromo compound 2b harmonizes the stability of the dA-dT vs. the dG-dC pair. According to this the stability of such duplexes depends no longer on the base pair composition of a DNA molecule.

Base Pairing↗

A 330 kb CENP-A binding domain and altered replication timing at a human neocentromere.

Centromere protein A (CENP-A) is an essential centromere-specific histone H3 homologue. Using combined chromatin immunoprecipitation and DNA array analysis, we have defined a 330 kb CENP-A binding domain of a 10q25.3 neocentromere found on the human marker chromosome mardel(10). This domain is situated adjacent to the 80 kb region identified previously as the neocentromere site through lower-resolution immunofluorescence/FISH analysis of metaphase chromosomes. The 330 kb CENP-A binding domain shows a depletion of histone H3, providing evidence for the replacement of histone H3 by CENP-A within centromere-specific nucleosomes. The DNA within this domain has a high AT-content comparable to that of alpha-satellite, a high prevalence of LINEs and tandem repeats, and fewer SINEs and potential genes than the surrounding region. FISH analysis indicates that the normal 10q25.3 genomic region replicates around mid-S phase. Neocentromere formation is accompanied by a replication time lag around but not within the CENP-A binding region, with this lag being significantly more prominent to one side. The availability of fully sequenced genomic markers makes human neocentromeres a powerful model for dissecting the functional domains of complex higher eukaryotic centromeres.

Autoantigens↗

Direct detection of point mutations by mismatch analysis: application to haemophilia B.

Rapid detection of point mutations in genomic DNA has been achieved by chemical mismatch analysis of heteroduplexes formed between amplified wild-type and target sequences in the human factor IX gene. Amplification and mismatch detection (AMD) analysis of DNA from relatives of haemophilia B patients permitted carrier diagnosis by direct identification of the presence or absence of the mutation in all cases, thus eliminating the need for the informative segregation of polymorphic markers. This extends diagnostic capability to virtually all haemophilia B families. AMD analysis permits detection of all sequence variations in genomic DNA and is therefore applicable to direct diagnosis of X-linked and autosomal diseases and for identification of new polymorphisms for genetic mapping.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nucleoprotein hybridization: a method for isolating active and inactive genes as chromatin.

The developmentally regulated sea urchin early histone gene repeat (SUEHGR) from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus was isolated as chromatin by nucleoprotein hybridization. This technique is a novel method to isolate specific sequences as chromatin. Because the purification scheme is based only on the gene sequence and is independent of other physical properties such as protein composition and transcriptional activity, we were able to isolate the same gene in different functional states. Gene size chromatin fragments were solubilized by restriction endonuclease digestion of cell nuclei. Using T7 gene 6 exonuclease, the 3'termini of the fragments were exposed and then hybridized in solution to a biotinylated oligonucleotide complementary to one end of the SUEHGR fragment. The hybrids were bound to an Avidin D matrix. DTT cleavage of the biotin linker yielded a chromatin fraction greater than 700 fold enriched in SUEHGR. Overall yields were between 2% and 15%. The purity of the isolated material was independently measured to be greater than 80%. The homogeneous native structure of the inactive genes was preserved as shown by electron microscopy and micrococcal nuclease digestion of the purified SUEHGR. Minor heterogeneity was observed for the purified active genes by micrococcal nuclease digestion but the main features of the active chromatin were preserved during isolation. This isolation offers the first opportunity to study the structure of an RNA polymerase II gene at different stages of the cell cycle and development.

Animals↗

Recognition of DNA insertion/deletion mismatches by an activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

An activity in nuclear extracts of S.cerevisiae binds specifically to heteroduplexes containing four to nine extra bases in one strand. The specificity of this activity (IMR, for insertion mismatch recognition) in band shift assays was confirmed by competition experiments. IMR is biochemically and genetically distinct from the MSH2 dependent, single base mismatch binding activity. The two activities migrate differently during electrophoresis, they are differentially competable and their spectra of mispair binding are distinct. Furthermore, IMR activity is observed in extracts from an msh2- msh3- msh4- strain. IMR exhibits specificity for insertion mispairs in two different sequence contexts. Binding is influenced by the structure of the mismatch since an insertion with a hairpin configuration is not recognized by this activity. IMR does not result from single-strand binding because single-stranded probes to not yield IMR complex and single-stranded competitors are unable to displace insertion heteroduplexes from the complex. Similar results with intrinsically bent duplexes make it unlikely that recognition is conferred by a bend alone. Heteroduplexes bound by IMR do not contain any obvious damage. These findings are consistent with the idea that yeast contains a distinct recognition factor, IMR that is specific for insertion/deletion mismatches.

Base Composition↗

Isolation and characterization of a carboxysome shell gene from Thiobacillus neapolitanus.

The gene coding for the major carboxysome shell peptide (csoS1) from Thiobacillus neapolitanus has been isolated and sequenced. Oligonucleotide primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 5' end of the gene were made possible by amino acid sequencing of the N-terminal residues of the shell peptide. A 41 bp PCR product was used as a probe to isolate the gene. The deduced amino acid composition of the 216 bp gene shows a high degree of hydrophobicity. The gene is located within a series of three repeated regions of DNA and appears to have arisen via gene duplication. The transcript of csoS1 is approximately 400 bases in length. The shell peptide shares significant homology with Synechococcus open reading frames implicated in carboxysome structure/assembly. These open reading frames and csoS1 are related and are probably members of a carboxysome gene family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mucosal adjuvants and delivery systems for protein-, DNA- and RNA-based vaccines.

Almost all vaccinations today are delivered through parenteral routes. Mucosal vaccination offers several benefits over parenteral routes of vaccination, including ease of administration, the possibility of self-administration, elimination of the chance of injection with infected needles, and induction of mucosal as well as systemic immunity. However, mucosal vaccines have to overcome several formidable barriers in the form of significant dilution and dispersion; competition with a myriad of various live replicating bacteria, viruses, inert food and dust particles; enzymatic degradation; and low pH before reaching the target immune cells. It has long been known that vaccination through mucosal membranes requires potent adjuvants to enhance immunogenicity, as well as delivery systems to decrease the rate of dilution and degradation and to target the vaccine to the site of immune function. This review is a summary of current approaches to mucosal vaccination, and it primarily focuses on adjuvants as immunopotentiators and vaccine delivery systems for mucosal vaccines based on protein, DNA or RNA. In this context, we define adjuvants as protein or oligonucleotides with immunopotentiating properties co-administered with pathogen-derived antigens, and vaccine delivery systems as chemical formulations that are more inert and have less immunomodulatory effects than adjuvants, and that protect and deliver the vaccine through the site of administration. Although vaccines can be quite diverse in their composition, including inactivated virus, virus-like particles and inactivated bacteria (which are inert), protein-like vaccines, and non-replicating viral vectors such as poxvirus and adenovirus (which can serve as DNA delivery systems), this review will focus primarily on recombinant protein antigens, plasmid DNA, and alphavirus-based replicon RNA vaccines and delivery systems. This review is not an exhaustive list of all available protein, DNA and RNA vaccines, with related adjuvants and delivery systems, but rather is an attempt to highlight many of the currently available approaches in immunopotentiation of mucosal vaccines.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Specific A/G-to-C.G mismatch repair in Salmonella typhimurium LT2 requires the mutB gene product.

An assay has been developed that permits analysis of repair of A/G mismatches to C.G base pairs in cell extracts of Salmonella typhimurium LT2. This A/G mismatch repair is independent of ATP, dam methylation, and mutS gene function. The gene product of mutB has been shown to be involved in the dam-independent pathway through the in vitro assay. Moreover, specific DNA-protein complexes and an endonuclease can be detected in S. typhimurium extracts by using DNA fragments containing an A/G mismatch. These activities are not observed with substrates which have a T/G mismatch or no mismatch. The S. typhimurium endonuclease, like the A/G endonuclease found in Escherichia coli (A-L. Lu and D.-Y. Chang, Cell 54:805-812, 1988), makes incisions at the first phosphodiester bond 3' to and the the second phosphodiester bond 5' to the dA of the A/G mismatch. No incision site was detected on the other DNA strand. Extracts prepared from mutB mutants cannot form A/G mismatch-specific DNA-protein complexes and do not contain the A/G endonuclease activity. Thus the A/G mismatch specific binding and nicking activities are probably involved in the A/G mismatch repair pathway. Preliminary analysis of the mutational spectrum of the mutB strain has indicated that this mutator allele causes an increase in C.G-to-A.T transversions without affecting the frequencies of other transversion or transition events. In addition, the mutB gene has been mapped to the 64-min region of the S. typhimurium chromosome. Together, this biochemical and genetic evidence suggests that the mutB gene product of S. typhimurium is the homolog of the E. coli micA (and/or mutY) gene product.

Adenine↗

Distinct mutations in yeast TAF(II)25 differentially affect the composition of TFIID and SAGA complexes as well as global gene expression patterns.

The RNA polymerase II transcription factor TFIID, composed of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and TBP-associated factors (TAF(II)s), nucleates preinitiation complex formation at protein-coding gene promoters. SAGA, a second TAF(II)-containing multiprotein complex, is involved in transcription regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One of the essential protein components common to SAGA and TFIID is yTAF(II)25. We define a minimal evolutionarily conserved 91-amino-acid region of TAF(II)25 containing a histone fold domain that is necessary and sufficient for growth in vivo. Different temperature-sensitive mutations of yTAF(II)25 or chimeras with the human homologue TAF(II)30 arrested cell growth at either the G(1) or G(2)/M cell cycle phase and displayed distinct phenotypic changes and gene expression patterns. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed that TAF(II)25 mutation-dependent gene expression and phenotypic changes correlated at least partially with the integrity of SAGA and TFIID. Genome-wide expression analysis revealed that the five TAF(II)25 temperature-sensitive mutant alleles individually affect the expression of between 18 and 33% of genes, whereas taken together they affect 64% of all class II genes. Thus, different yTAF(II)25 mutations induce distinct phenotypes and affect the regulation of different subsets of genes, demonstrating that no individual TAF(II) mutant allele reflects the full range of its normal functions.

Base Composition↗

Intercalation of daunomycin into d(CG)4 oligomer duplex containing G x T mismatches by vibrational circular dichroism and infrared absorption spectroscopy.

The vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and infrared absorption (IR) spectra of the mismatched octamer oligonucleotides d(CGTGCGCG)(2) (CGT) and d(CGCGTGCG)(2) (CGC) and their complexes with the antitumor drug daunomycin were measured in D(2)O, interpreted, and compared to the octamer d(CGCGCGCG)(2) (CG). The IR spectra of the mismatched octamers in the carbonyl-stretching region are similar to those of the parent CG, whereas the VCD spectra differ in several respects between each other. The main VCD feature due to carbonyl stretching is informative for the mismatches and CG. Vibrational modes in the sugar-phosphate region remain essentially unchanged especially for PO(2) (-) symmetric stretching. Differences between the free and complexed mismatch octamers occurred mainly in the carbonyl-stretching region (1,700-1,600 cm(-1)). The absorption intensity of the C==O peak of G is more prominent for CGC than CGT and resembles CG in this respect. The detailed composition of this doublet is clearly visible, indicating the geometric rearrangement of the base pairs in the presence of the mismatch and upon forming the daunomycin complex.

Base Pair Mismatch↗

Structural and functional characterization of neuwiedase, a nonhemorrhagic fibrin(ogen)olytic metalloprotease from Bothrops neuwiedi snake venom.

A fibrino(geno)lytic nonhemorrhagic metalloprotease (neuwiedase) was purified from Bothrops neuwiedi snake venom by a single chromatographic step procedure on a CM-Sepharose column. Neuwiedase represented 4.5% (w/w) of the crude desiccated venom, with an approximate Mr of 20,000 and pI 5.9. As regards the amino acid composition, neuwiedase showed similarities with other metalloproteases, with high proportions of Asx, Glx, Leu, and Ser. Atomic absorption spectroscopy showed that one mole of Zn2+ and one mole of Ca2+ were present per mole of protein. The cDNA encoding neuwiedase was isolated by RT-PCR from venom gland RNA, using oligonucleotides based on the partially determined amino-acid sequences of this metalloprotease. The full sequence contained approximately 594 bp, which codified the 198 amino acid residues with an estimated molecular weight of 22,375. Comparison of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of neuwiedase with those of other snake venom metalloproteases showed a high level of sequential similarity. Neuwiedase has two highly conserved characteristics sequences H142E143XXH146XXG149XXH152 and C164I165M166. The three-dimensional structure of neuwiedase was modeled based on the crystal structure of Crotalus adamanteus Adamalysin II. This model revealed that the zinc binding site region showed a high structural similarity with other metalloproteases. The proteolyitc specificity, using the Bbeta-chain of oxidized insulin as substrate, was shown to be directed to the Ala14-Leu15 and Tyr16-Leu17 peptide bonds which were preferentially hydrolyzed. Neuwiedase is a Aalpha,Bbeta fibrinogenase. Its activity upon the Aalpha chain of fibrinogen was detected within 15 min of incubation. The optimal temperature and pH for the degradation of both Aalpha and Bbeta chains were 37 degrees C and 7.4-8.0, respectively. This activity was inhibited by EDTA and 1,10-phenantroline. Neuwiedase also showed proteolytic activity upon fibrin and some components of the extracellular matrix. However, it did not show TAME esterase activity and was not able to inhibit platelet aggregation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Autoregulation enables different pathways to control CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBP beta) transcription.

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBP beta) also named liver-enriched transcriptional activating protein (LAP) is a member of the C/EBP family of transcription factors and is involved in hepatocyte-specific gene expression and in the process of tissue differentiation. The activity of LAP/C/EBP beta can be regulated at the transcriptional and posttranslational level or by protein-protein interaction with other transcription factors. In this study we show that LAP/C/EBP beta can stimulate its own transcription. Deletion analysis of the rat LAP/C/EBP beta promoter in luciferase reporter gene experiments demonstrated that the region located between nucleotide -121 to -71, comprising two recently characterized cAMP responsive element (CRE)-like elements, is important for autoregulation. Gel shift experiments using oligonucleotides with overlapping point mutations identified the sequence GCAATGA (beta-site) adjacent to and partially overlapping the first CRE-like site as core motif for LAP/C/EBP beta binding. Analysis of a mutated beta-site in reporter gene experiments showed the functional relevance of this site for autoregulation. The composite C/EBP beta-CRE-element in the promoter enables synergistic activation of transcription by LAP/C/EBP beta and the protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) pathway in a cell-type specific manner. In hepatoma cells nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) increased autoregulation and therefore could mediate enhanced activation during inflammatory responses. In summary, our results demonstrated that the assembly of the three binding sites in the promoter and thus the interaction between LAP/C/EBP beta and members of the CREB or NF-kappa B family allows the control of LAP/C/EBP beta gene transcription as a response to different stimuli in a tissue specific manner.

Animals↗

Contamination-free and automated composition of a reaction mixture for nucleic acid amplification using a capillary electrophoresis apparatus.

The acceptance of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as an amplification method in molecular diagnostics and the rapid development of capillary electrophoresis (CE) as an analysis method of those PCR products was a reason for us to investigate further integration of those two techniques. Using a fused-silica capillary as a pipette we were able to compose a PCR mixture in the CE apparatus. Because a capillary can be thoroughly rinsed and the CE apparatus is a closed system, the risk of contamination and therefore the occurrence of false positive results is minimized. The fact that a CE system can be fully automated contributes to a more reproducible and standardized PCR composition protocol.

Autoanalysis↗

Simple two-color array-based approach for mutation detection.

The ability to analyze multiple polymorphic/mutation sites rapidly and accurately is pivotal in all areas of genetic analysis. We have applied single nucleotide primer extension (SNE) for detection of multiple point mutations in a micro-array format using two-color, fluorescent dye-tagged dideoxynucleoside triphosphate terminators (ddNTPs). The oligonucleotide primer ending one nucleotide short of the mutation site being probed is bound to the slide and single-base extended in place with two different Cy5/Cy3 dye-tagged terminators using solution-phase, locus-specific, single-stranded complementary templates generated by PCR from genomic DNA. The composite fluorescence produced contains peaks of distinct wave lengths corresponding to each Cy dye-tagged terminator incorporated, resulting in a fluorescent 'fingerprint' for each DNA target. DNA polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of Cy dye-tagged dideoxynucleoside triphosphates was dependent on the particular dyes, the specific ddNTP, the DNA target concentration, sequence of the template, on-slide temperature cycling and washing conditions. Results from analysis of mutations in the human hemochromatosis and connexin 26 genes show that this approach has several advantages over existing methods and is simple, rapid, robust, cost effective and accurate with potential applications in many areas of genetic analysis.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Detection of genes involved in biodegradation and biotransformation in microbial communities by using 50-mer oligonucleotide microarrays.

To effectively monitor biodegrading populations, a comprehensive 50-mer-based oligonucleotide microarray was developed based on most of the 2,402 known genes and pathways involved in biodegradation and metal resistance. This array contained 1,662 unique and group-specific probes with <85% similarity to their nontarget sequences. Based on artificial probes, our results showed that under hybridization conditions of 50 degrees C and 50% formamide, the 50-mer microarray hybridization can differentiate sequences having <88% similarity. Specificity tests with representative pure cultures indicated that the designed probes on the arrays appeared to be specific to their corresponding target genes. The detection limit was approximately 5 to 10 ng of genomic DNA in the absence of background DNA and 50 to 100 ng of pure-culture genomic DNA in the presence of background DNA or 1.3 x 10(7) cells in the presence of background RNA. Strong linear relationships between the signal intensity and the target DNA and RNA were observed (r(2) = 0.95 to 0.99). Application of this type of microarray to analyze naphthalene-amended enrichment and soil microcosms demonstrated that microflora changed differently depending on the incubation conditions. While the naphthalene-degrading genes from Rhodococcus-type microorganisms were dominant in naphthalene-degrading enrichments, the genes involved in naphthalene (and polyaromatic hydrocarbon and nitrotoluene) degradation from gram-negative microorganisms, such as Ralstonia, Comamonas, and Burkholderia, were most abundant in the soil microcosms. In contrast to general conceptions, naphthalene-degrading genes from Pseudomonas were not detected, although Pseudomonas is widely known as a model microorganism for studying naphthalene degradation. The real-time PCR analysis with four representative genes showed that the microarray-based quantification was very consistent with real-time PCR (r(2) = 0.74). In addition, application of the arrays to both polyaromatic-hydrocarbon- and benzene-toluene-ethylbenzene-xylene-contaminated and uncontaminated soils indicated that the developed microarrays appeared to be useful for profiling differences in microbial community structures. Our results indicate that this technology has potential as a specific, sensitive, and quantitative tool in revealing a comprehensive picture of the compositions of biodegradation genes and the microbial community in contaminated environments, although more work is needed to improve detection sensitivity.

Bacteria↗

Chemical synthesis and biochemical properties of oligonucleotides that contain the (5'S,5S,6S)-5',6-cyclo-5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydro-2'-deoxyuridine DNA lesion.

The first chemical synthesis of (5'S,5S,6S)-5',6-cyclo-5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydro-2'-deoxyuridine [(5'S,5S,6S)-cyclo-5-OH-dHdU], a radiation-induced decomposition product of 2'-deoxycytidine in aerated solution, is reported. Subsequently, 2'-deoxycytidine was incorporated into oligodeoxyribonucleotides with defined sequences by using an optimized system of protection that takes into account the reactivity and stability of the modified building blocks. After deprotection and purification, the chemical composition of the modified DNA fragments was assessed by enzymatic digestions and mass spectrometry measurements. The MS analyses confirmed the presence and integrity of the lesion within the synthesized DNA fragments. In vitro replication and repair studies showed that (5'S,5S,6S)-cyclo-5-OH-dHdU acts as a block for DNA polymerases when inserted into DNA oligomers and is not excised by any of the tested DNA N-glycosylases. Therefore, (5'S,5S,6S)-cyclo-5-OH-dHdU may represent a potential lethal lesion within the cell if it is not removed by the nucleotide excision repair machinery.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

cDNA clones for mouse parotid proline-rich proteins. mRNA regulation by isoprenaline and the nucleotide sequence of proline-rich protein cDNA MP5.

cDNA clones for mRNA sequences regulated by isoprenaline in mouse parotid glands were identified by differential colony hybridisation and all hybridised to a diagnostic proline-rich protein (PRP) oligonucleotide. They were divided into two cross-hybridisation groups, A and B, which were shown by hybrid-selected translations to encode acidic PRP and basic PRP, respectively. The A-type subgroup consisted of sequences homologous to the previously identified mouse PRP genes MP2 and MP3. The B-type subgroup comprised clones for the previously identified cDNA pUMP125 (MP4) as well as other PRP sequences. Six of the B-type clones contained a novel PRP cDNA (MP5) and these were sequenced. The composite MP5 cDNA was 897 nucleotides long and contained an open reading frame capable of encoding a 260-residue-long salivary PRP precursor (30% Pro, 19% Gln and 18% Gly), containing nine variant repeat units of consensus PGNQQGPPPQGGPQQ(GPP)R(PPQ). MP5 was 80% identical to the sequence of MP4 and had a high degree of similarity (60%) at its 3'-untranslated region to rat salivary glutamate/glutamine-rich protein (GRP) cDNA. Two MP5 clones contained a 273-bp intron-like insertion in the 3' untranslated region, being derived, therefore, from incompletely spliced MP5 transcripts. Northern blotting showed that, although PRP mRNA species were induced by isoprenaline, a B-type PRP mRNA was present in normal parotid glands. RNA dot-blots probed with PRP-gene-specific oligonucleotides established that MP3, MP4 and MP5 PRP mRNA were all induced by isoprenaline.

Amino Acid Sequence↗