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Methylation status of imprinting centers for H19/IGF2 and SNURF/SNRPN in primate embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) hold promise for cell and tissue replacement approaches to treating human diseases based on their capacity to differentiate into a wide variety of somatic cells and tissues. However, long-term in vitro culture and manipulations of ESCs may adversely affect their epigenetic integrity, including imprinting. We have recently reported aberrant biallelic expression of IGF2 and H19 in several rhesus monkey ESC lines, whereas SNRPN and NDN were normally imprinted and expressed predominantly from the paternal allele. The dysregulation of IGF2 and H19 that is associated with tumorigenesis in humans may result from improper maintenance of allele-specific methylation patterns at an imprinting center (IC) upstream of H19. To test this possibility, we performed methylation analysis of several monkey ESC lines by genomic bisulfite sequencing. We investigated methylation profiles of CpG islands within the IGF2/H19 IC harboring the CTCF-6 binding site. In addition, the methylation status of the IC within the promoter/exon 1 of SNURF/SNRPN known as the Prader-Willi syndrome IC was examined. Our results demonstrate abnormal hypermethylation within the IGF2/H19 IC in all analyzed ESC lines, whereas the SNURF/SNRPN IC was differentially methylated, consistent with monoallelic expression.

Animals↗

Methylation of CpGs as a determinant of transcriptional activation at alternative promoters for transforming growth factor-beta3.

The human transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGF-beta3) gene has a typical CpG island, the core of which is centered just upstream of its principle promoter. Activation of an alternative downstream promoter, leading to the production of a truncated mRNA lacking the portion of the 5' noncoding region responsible for translational inhibition of TGF-beta3 mRNA, is only evident in breast cancer cells. We compared the methylation status of genomic DNA isolated from a panel of breast (SKBR-3 and T47-D) and non-breast cancer (HT-1080, A673, and A375) cell lines by sequencing sodium metabisulfite-treated DNA. In all cell lines, the core of the TGF-beta3 CpG island was predominantly unmethylated, irrespective of promoter usage associated with that cell line. In contrast, we observed a marked difference in methylation at 19 CpG sites immediately flanking and downstream of the alternative promoter's transcription initiation site. Specifically, the non-breast cancer cell lines exhibited nearly complete methylation of these CpG sites, whereas in the breast cancer cell lines, these CpGs were predominantly unmethylated. Our data support the hypothesis that methylation of a limited number of CpGs at the periphery of an otherwise unmethylated CpG island underlies the transcriptional repression of the downstream promoter in non-breast cancer cells, thereby serving to regulate the use of alternative promoters for TGF-beta3.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Dynamic readjustment of parental methylation patterns of the 5'-flank of the mouse H19 gene during in vitro organogenesis.

Gametic marks are stably propagated in order to manifest parent of origin-specific expression patterns of imprinted genes in the developing conceptus. Although the character of the imprint has not yet been fully elucidated, there is compelling evidence that it involves a methylation mark. This is exemplified by a region upstream of the H19 gene, which is not only methylated in a parent of origin-specific manner, but also regulates the silencing of the maternal Igf2 and paternal H19 alleles, respectively. We show here that the parental-specific methylation patterns within the differentially methylated domain (DMD) are perturbed in the soma during in vitro organogenesis. Under these conditions, the paternal DMD allele becomes partially demethylated, whereas the maternal DMD allele gains methylation. Despite these effects, there were no changes in allelic Igf2 or H19 expression patterns in the embryo. Finally, we show that although TSA derepresses the paternal H19 allele in ectoplacental cone when in vitro developed, there is no discernible effect on the methylation status of the paternally inherited 5'-flank in comparison to control samples. Collectively, this data demonstrates that the parental mark is sensitive to a subset of environmental cues and that a certain degree of plasticity of the gametic mark is tolerated without affecting the manifestation of the imprinted state.

Alleles↗

Loss of imprinting of insulin-like growth factor-II in Wilms' tumor commonly involves altered methylation but not mutations of CTCF or its binding site.

Loss of imprinting (LOI) is the most common molecular abnormality in Wilms' tumor (WT), other embryonal cancers, and most other tumor types. LOI in WT involves activation of the normally silent maternal allele of the insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF2) gene, silencing of the normally active maternal allele of the H19 gene, and aberrant methylation of a differentially methylated region (DMR) upstream of the maternal copy of H19. Recently, the transcription factor CTCF, which binds to the H19 DMR, has been implicated in the maintenance of H19 and IGF2 imprinting. Here, we show that mutations in the CTCF gene or in the H19 DMR do not occur at significant frequency in WT, nor is there transcriptional silencing of CTCF. We also confirm that methylation of the H19 DMR in WT with LOI includes the CTCF core consensus site. However, some WTs with normal imprinting of IGF2 also show aberrant methylation of CTCF binding sites, indicating that methylation of these sites is necessary but not sufficient for LOI in WT.

Alleles↗

The kinetics of deregulation of expression by de novo methylation of the h19 imprinting control region in cancer cells.

Epigenetic lesions are common in neoplasia and range from hypermethylation of subsets of CpG islands to loss of imprinting. By exploiting an episomal model system and the strong de novo methylation capacity of a human cancer cell line, we show that an H19 minigene rapidly becomes methylated and silenced, mimicking the inactivation of the maternal H19 allele in a range of cancers. Although the H19 imprinting control region (ICR) initially displayed methylation protection, it eventually succumbed to the pressure mounted by the de novo methylation machinery of the JEG-3 cells. Importantly, we were able to visualize the kinetics of the loss of the H19 ICR chromatin insulator function in association with chromatin compaction. Our results document that a strong de novo methylation machinery leads to loss of methylation privilege states of H19 ICR to functionally manifest loss of insulator function in a matter of only a few days in human cancer cells.

Animals↗

Genomic imprinting in mammals.

In contrast to the biallelic expression of most genes, expression of imprinted genes is monoallelic and depends on the sex of the transmitting parents. In humans it has been implicated in some developmental failures, neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral disorders (such as Prader-Willi/Angelman, Silver-Russel or Beckwith-Wiedemann syndromes). The aim of this review is to present the phenomenon of parental imprinting as well as its molecular mechanism in various mammals. Several maternal and paternal imprinted genes and gene clusters are described.

Animals↗

Loss of IGF2 imprinting: mechanisms and consequences.

Although the leading dogma for the origin of the diversity in cancer cell subpopulations is based on a stepwise selection and accumulation of genetic changes that allow uncontrollable malignant growth, there is an emerging understanding that the variability of heritable phenotypes in cancer and cancer-prone cells may also involve epigenetic mechanisms. This is exemplified by the unscheduled activation of the normally repressed maternal IGF2 allele in a wide range of human cancers. The notion that this so-called loss of imprinting (LOI) provides a proliferative advantage by increasing the levels of the IGF-2 ligand available to its receptors is supported by the overgrowth symptoms of neonatal mice, which has been genetically manipulated to express Igf2 biallelically. Although the mechanisms underlying IGF2 LOI in human cancer remains unknown, it is likely to directly or indirectly involve the H19 imprinting control region (ICR). This stretch of 2 kb sequence just upstream of the H19 promoter functions to block enhancer-Igf2 promoter communications by means of a DNA methylation-sensitive chromatin insulator. We discuss here the possibility that pathological mechanisms leading to IGF2 LOI use different strategies with the neutralization of the H19 ICR insulator function as a common denominator.

Animals↗

Human cytochrome P-450 4 mRNA and gene: part of a multigene family that contains Alu sequences in its mRNA.

Several overlapping lambda gt11 cDNA clones have been sequenced and shown to encode for the full-length human cytochrome P-450 4. The structure and location of the exons and flanking intron regions were also identified from a lambda EMBL-3 human genomic clone that encodes the full-length human P-450 4 gene. The human P-450 4 mRNA is flanked by 62 base pairs of 5'- and 1508 base pairs of 3'-noncoding sequence, with 1548 bases that encode a protein of 516 amino acids (Mr, 58,376). The predicted amino acid sequence of human P-450 4 is 69% and 70% homologous to its equivalent in mouse and rat, respectively, 75% homologous to rabbit P-450 4, and 68% homologous to human P1-450. The 7.6-kilobase gene encodes 3118 nucleotides of exon sequence that is separated by six introns into seven exons. Exon 7, which is 1802 nucleotides, contains three inverse/complement Alu sequences that are organized in tandem. Comparison of the genomic DNA sequence of the human P-450 4 gene with the human P1-450 and related genes in rat and mouse and the identification of the amino acid residues and triplet codon at each exon-intron junction show that the location of each intron in the human P-450 4 gene is conserved within this gene family. Although the length and homology of the introns within a related gene family may not be conserved, the location of intronic sequences may be an important determinant in the identification of related P-450 genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Nucleotide sequence of the genome and complete amino acid sequence of a polyprotein of the tick-borne encephalitis virus].

We have cloned and sequenced RNA encoding all virion and nonstructural proteins of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Its length is 10,477 bases with a single open reading frame (nucleotides 127-10,363) encoding 3412 amino acids. The 5'- and 3'-noncoding regions have stem- and- loop structure. The polyprotein precursor is proteolytically cleaved, apparently, by a mechanism resembling that proposed for the expression of polyproteins of other flaviviruses, such as yellow fever, West Nile and Kunjin viruses. The deduced TBEV gene order is 5'-C-preM (M)-E-NS1-NS2A-NS2B-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5++ +-3'. The genome and the polyprotein of TBEV and other flaviviruses appears to be structurally similar, although these flaviviruses are transmitted to and from their vertebrate hosts by different carriers, such as ticks or mosquitoes. Analysis of sequence homologies of polyproteins of flaviviruses suggests that TBEV is more closely related to yellow fever virus than to other serological subgroups of flaviviruses (West Nile or Dengue viruses). The hydrophobic profiles of the flaviviruses are highly conservative. Nonstructural proteins NS2A, NS2B, NS4A and NS4B are extremely hydrophobic, suggesting that they are likely to be associated with cellular membranes. Proteins E, NS1, NS3 and NS5 are the most conservative and may be involved in general enzymatic activities related to viral replication and virion assembly.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular evolution of the psi eta-globin gene locus: gibbon phylogeny and the hominoid slowdown.

An 8.4-kb genomic region spanning both the psi eta-globin gene locus and flanking DNA was sequenced from the common gibbon (Hylobates lar). In addition, sequencing of the entire orthologous region from galago (Galago crassicaudatus) was completed. The gibbon and galago sequences, along with published orthologous sequences from 10 other species, were aligned. These noncoding nucleotide sequences represented four human alleles, four apes (chimpanzee, gorilla, organgutan, and gibbon), an Old World monkey (rhesus monkey), two New World monkeys (spider and owl monkeys), tarsier, two strepsirhines (galago and lemur), and goat. Divergence and maximum parsimony analyses of the psi eta genomic region first groups humans and chimpanzees and then, at progressively more ancient branch points, successively joins gorillas, orangutans, gibbons, Old World monkeys, New World monkeys, tarsiers, and strepsirhines (the lemuriform-lorisiform branch of primates). This cladistic pattern supports the taxonomic grouping of all extant hominoids into family Hominidae, the division of Hominidae into subfamilies Hylobatinae (gibbons) and Homininae, the division of Homininae into tribes Pongini (orangutans) and Hominini, and the division of Hominini into subtribes Gorillina (gorillas) and Hominina (chimpanzees and humans). The additional gibbon and galago sequence data provide further support for the occurrence of a graded evolutionary-rate slowdown in the descent of simian primates, with the slowing rate being more pronounced in the great-ape and human lineages than in the gibbon or monkey lineages. A comparison of global versus local molecular clocks reveals that local clock predictions, when focused on a specific number of species within a narrow time frame, provide a more accurate estimate of divergence dates than do those of global clocks.

Animals↗

Large-scale transcriptome analyses reveal new genetic marker candidates of head, neck, and thyroid cancer.

A detailed genome mapping analysis of 213,636 expressed sequence tags (EST) derived from nontumor and tumor tissues of the oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, and thyroid was done. Transcripts matching known human genes were identified; potential new splice variants were flagged and subjected to manual curation, pointing to 788 putatively new alternative splicing isoforms, the majority (75%) being insertion events. A subset of 34 new splicing isoforms (5% of 788 events) was selected and 23 (68%) were confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR and DNA sequencing. Putative new genes were revealed, including six transcripts mapped to well-studied chromosomes such as 22, as well as transcripts that mapped to 253 intergenic regions. In addition, 2,251 noncoding intronic RNAs, eventually involved in transcriptional regulation, were found. A set of 250 candidate markers for loss of heterozygosis or gene amplification was selected by identifying transcripts that mapped to genomic regions previously known to be frequently amplified or deleted in head, neck, and thyroid tumors. Three of these markers were evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR in an independent set of individual samples. Along with detailed clinical data about tumor origin, the information reported here is now publicly available on a dedicated Web site as a resource for further biological investigation. This first in silico reconstruction of the head, neck, and thyroid transcriptomes points to a wealth of new candidate markers that can be used for future studies on the molecular basis of these tumors. Similar analysis is warranted for a number of other tumors for which large EST data sets are available.

Alternative Splicing↗

Characterization of the 5' flanking region of the human D1A dopamine receptor gene.

To study how the expression of the D1A dopamine receptor gene is regulated, a human genomic clone was isolated by using a rat cDNA as probe. A 2.3-kilobase genomic fragment spanning -2571 through -236 relative to the adenosine of the first methionine codon was sequenced. The gene has an intron of 116 base pairs in the 5' noncoding region, nucleotides -599 through -484 as determined by S1 mapping and reverse transcription-PCR. It has multiple transcription initiation sites located between -1061 and -1040. The promoter region lacks a TATA box and a CAAT box, is rich in G+C content, and has multiple putative binding sites for transcription factor Sp1. Thus, the promoter region of the human D1A gene has features of "housekeeping" genes. However, it also has consensus sequences for AP1 and AP2 binding sites and a putative cAMP response element. The ability of four deletion mutants of the 2.3-kilobase fragment to modulate transcription of the heterologous chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene in the promoterless plasmid pCAT-Basic was determined. All mutants demonstrated substantial transcriptional activity in the murine neuroblastoma cell line NS20Y, which expresses the D1A gene endogenously. Transient expression assays suggested the presence of a positive modulator between nucleotides -1340 and -1102, and a negative modulator between -1730 and -1341. The four genomic fragments had no or very low transcriptional activity in NB41A3, C6, and Hep G2 cells, which are not known to express this gene. Thus, the human D1A gene belongs to the category of tissue-specific, regulated genes that have housekeeping-type promoters.

Base Sequence↗

Evolutionary discrimination of mammalian conserved non-genic sequences (CNGs).

Analysis of the human and mouse genomes identified an abundance of conserved non-genic sequences (CNGs). The significance and evolutionary depth of their conservation remain unanswered. We have quantified levels and patterns of conservation of 191 CNGs of human chromosome 21 in 14 mammalian species. We found that CNGs are significantly more conserved than protein-coding genes and noncoding RNAS (ncRNAs) within the mammalian class from primates to monotremes to marsupials. The pattern of substitutions in CNGs differed from that seen in protein-coding and ncRNA genes and resembled that of protein-binding regions. About 0.3% to 1% of the human genome corresponds to a previously unknown class of extremely constrained CNGs shared among mammals.

Animals↗

Sequence analysis and genome organisation of poinsettia mosaic virus (PnMV) reveal closer relationship to marafiviruses than to tymoviruses.

Sequence comparison and genome organisation of poinsettia mosaic virus (PnMV), a putative member of the tymoviruses, revealed a closer relationship to marafiviruses. The complete nucleotide sequence of PnMV was determined. The 6099-nt RNA genome encodes a putative 221-kDa polyprotein that lacks a stop codon between the replicase and the coat protein genes, as in most tymovirus RNAs. The genomic RNA has a poly(A) tail at its 3'-terminus in contrast to the tRNA-like structure found in the RNA of most tymoviruses, and no homology was observed to the conserved noncoding region of the tymoviral 3'-termini. The tymobox of PnMV, a 16-nt region of the subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) promoter shared by most tymoviruses, differs in 3 nt from the RNA sequence of tymoviruses but is identical to the sequence of marafiviruses. At least three sgRNAs were found in PnMV-infected Euphorbia pulcherrima and in isolated PnMV particles; one that is 650 nt long encodes the 21.4-kDa coat protein, and the others are about 3.5 and 1.7 kb and contain the 5'- and the 3'-terminal parts of genomic RNA, respectively. Like tymoviruses, PnMV particles sediment as top and bottom components. The particles of the top component contain the sgRNA (650 nt) encoding the coat protein, and those of bottom component contain both genomic and sgRNAs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Patterns of selection against transposons inferred from the distribution of Tc1, Tc3 and Tc5 insertions in the mut-7 line of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

To identify the factors (selective or mutational) that affect the distribution of transposable elements (TEs) within a genome, it is necessary to compare the pattern of newly arising element insertions to the pattern of element insertions that have been fixed in a population. To do this, we analyzed the distribution of recent mutant insertions of the Tc1, Tc3, and Tc5 elements in a mut-7 background of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and compared it to the distribution of element insertions (presumably fixed) within the sequenced genome. Tc1 elements preferentially insert in regions with high recombination rates, whereas Tc3 and Tc5 do not. Although Tc1 and Tc3 both insert in TA dinucleotides, there is no clear relationship between the frequency of insertions and the TA dinucleotide density. There is a strong selection against TE insertions within coding regions: the probability that a TE will be fixed is at least 31 times lower in coding regions than in noncoding regions. Contrary to the prediction of theoretical models, we found that the selective pressure against TE insertions does not increase with the recombination rate. These findings indicate that the distribution of these three transposon families in the genome of C. elegans is determined essentially by just two factors: the pattern of insertions, which is a characteristic of each family, and the selection against insertions within coding regions.

Animals↗

Multiple mRNA species of choline acetyltransferase from rat spinal cord.

A cDNA library directed by a specific primer was constructed from the rat spinal cord and screened with 32P-labeled rat choline acetyltransferase cDNA which was recently isolated in this laboratory. Sequence analysis of 29 clones indicated that there are four types of cDNA (R1-, R2-, N1- and M-types). The nucleotide sequences in these cDNAs were identical in the coding region and the first 38 bp of the 5'-noncoding region, but differed in the 5'-noncoding region upstream of -38 bp. The R1-type was identical to the cDNA previously cloned from the rat spinal cord. The M and N1-type cDNAs both had sequences homologous to that of the cDNA previously obtained from the mouse spinal cord. Polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed the presence of these 4 types of mRNA and found another type (N2-type) of transcript. The numbers of cDNA clones isolated and the relative amounts of polymerase chain reaction products for each type of mRNA suggested that the most abundant transcript was M-type. Sequencing of the genomic clone containing the 5'-region of choline acetyltransferase mRNA revealed that these five types of mRNA species were transcribed from three different promoter regions and produced by differential splicing of the 5'-noncoding exons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolate KAV: a new genotype of the TT-virus family.

A novel DNA sequence belonging to a new genotype of TT virus (TTV) was detected by long-distance PCR in the serum of a chronically HCV-infected patient. The isolate was designated KAV according to the patient's initials. Extending the sequence to full length revealed a 3705-nt viral genome, which is about 100 nucleotides shorter than the other TT-viruses. KAV showed common features with the TTV family, such as the organization of open reading frames and conserved noncoding regions. The largest open reading frame of KAV (ORF 1) was about 40 aa shorter than that of other TT-viruses. Overall sequence homology with known TTV isolates was less than 66%. Phylogenetic analysis poses KAV in one major group with three recently published TTV sequences. So KAV can be considered as a new genotype of the TTV family (provisionally designated genotype 28).

Base Sequence↗

Early transcription of the ie-1 transregulator gene of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus is regulated by DNA sequences within its 5' noncoding leader region.

The ie-1 gene of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) encodes a transregulatory protein (IE1) which accelerates the expression of early and late virus genes. Transcription of ie-1 occurs immediately upon infection from a conserved CAGT motif and continues into the late phases. To examine the mechanisms by which ie-1 expression is regulated, cis-acting control elements within the ie-1 promoter were identified by constructing hybrid early promoters and by using site-directed mutagenesis. The ie-1 upstream activating region, extending from nucleotide -546 to the TATA element at -34, stimulated ie-1 basal promoter activity more than 1,000-fold when transfected into uninfected Spodoptera frugiperda SF21 cells. However, when introduced into the genome of AcMNPV recombinants, the ie-1 upstream activating region had only a minimal twofold effect early in infection. Instead, maximum steady-state levels of early ie-1 RNAs required sequences within the 5' noncoding leader region extending from +11 to +24 relative to the RNA start site (+1). The +11 to +24 noncoding region did not influence the stability of ie-1 transcripts. When assayed by in vitro transcription, deletion of the +11 to +24 region reduced the levels of ie-1 runoff RNAs. Thus, this downstream activating sequence controlled the rate of early ie-1 transcription. A larger overlapping region from +11 to +36 affected steady-state levels of ie-1 RNAs late (24 h) in infection. Deletion of sequences that included the conserved CAGT start site abolished early ie-1 transcription. Thus, ie-1 is the first example of an early baculovirus gene in which essential cis-acting regulatory elements reside within the 5' noncoding region and include sequences comprising the RNA start site.

Animals↗