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High resolution mapping of Xenopus laevis 5S and ribosomal RNA genes by EM in situ hybridization.

We have developed a modification of in situ hybridization at the electron microscope level that permits simultaneous detection of at least two sequences. Probes are labelled with either biotin or AAF and detected with two distinct sizes of colloidal gold. This protocol has been applied to map the positions of Xenopus laevis oocyte-type 5S genes relative to ribosomal precursor genes in several independently derived cell lines. The results for the line TRXO, which expresses some oocyte 5S RNA, indicate that this inappropriate expression is not due to translocation from telomeric sites into the nucleolus organizer, as previously hypothesized. In addition we found that four other Xenopus cell lines, none of which express these genes, also contain distinct 5S oocyte translocations. These results suggest that an alteration in chromosome position is insufficient to result in gene activation and that sequences which are telomeric-proximal are exceptionally prone to translocation.

Animals↗

Control of enzyme synthesis and stability during sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Studies were undertaken to understand the control of synthesis, stability and modification of UDP galactose epimerase and DNA-dependent RNA polymerase during sporulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When a pre-induced culture of an inducible strain (wild type) is transferred to sporulation medium, the epimerase is inactivated to an undetectable level within 16 hours. Surprisingly, the addition of cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, during sporulation stabilizes the epimerase activity. However, in a constitutive strain, the epimerase continues to be synthesized de novo during sporulation. Since the enzyme is synthesized during both vegatative growth and sporulation constitutively, the controls for synthesis of epimerase must be similar under these physiologically different conditions. After chromatography on DEAE Sephadex, there is no change observed in the elution patterns of RNA polymerase forms extracted from acetate growth vegetative cells, sporulating cells or from mature asci ; in all cases RNA polymerase consists of three forms, Ib, II and III. However, single spore suspension obtained from asci by treatment with zymolase contains a new form with chromatographic properties similar to those of form Ia. Our data suggests that form Ia may be a modification product of from Ib.

Carbohydrate Epimerases↗

The development of a monoclonal antibody specific for a 2(')-C-allyl modification of uridine, and its use in the localization of ribozymes in vivo.

Ribozymes are catalytically active RNA molecules that cleave other RNA molecules in a sequence-specific fashion, with significant turnover. The successful design and synthesis of ribozymes with modifications to increase their stability in biological fluids, while maintaining catalytic activity, has been instrumental in moving this technology from the laboratory into clinical trials. With the entry of ribozymes into the clinical setting, the need has arisen for reagents and/or assays to detect these drugs in tissues. We have developed a monoclonal antibody to the 2(')-deoxy-2(')-C-allyl uridine modification present in our synthetic hammerhead ribozymes. The monoclonal antibody, termed CA1USR, is a murine IgG1(k), whose epitope appears to involve both the 2(')-C-allyl modification, and the uridine base. Use of CA1USR for immunohistochemical detection of ribozymes in the tissues of mice which were administered two structurally different ribozymes has demonstrated its utility as a reagent for in vivo localization of ribozymes containing the 2(')-C-allyl uridine modification.

Allyl Compounds↗

Isolation and characterization of the TRM1 locus, a gene essential for the N2,N2-dimethylguanosine modification of both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tRNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The trm1 mutation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a single nuclear mutation that affects a specific base modification of both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNA. Transfer RNA isolated from trm1 cells lacks the modified base N2,N2-dimethylguanosine, and extracts from these cells do not have detectable N2,N2-dimethylguanosine-specific tRNA methyltransferase activity. As part of our efforts to determine how this mutation affects enzyme activities in two different cellular compartments we have isolated the TRM1 locus by genetic complementation. The TRM1 locus restores the N2,N2-dimethylguanosine modification to both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNA in trm1 cells. An open reading frame in this TRM1 gene is essential for complementation of the trm1 phenotype. Expression of this open reading frame in Escherichia coli converts the organism from one that neither makes N2,N2-dimethylguanosine nor has N2,N2-dimethylguanosine-specific tRNA methyltransferase activity into one that does. This result suggests that the TRM1 locus is the structural gene for the tRNA modification enzyme and that both nuclear/cytoplasmic and mitochondrial forms of the methyltransferase are produced from the same gene.

Base Sequence↗

Kinetics of thermal denaturation of human rhinoviruses in the presence of anti-viral capsid binders analyzed by capillary electrophoresis.

In vivo, the icosahedral capsid of human rhinoviruses undergoes well-defined transitions during the infection pathway. Native virus, sedimenting at 150S, is converted to subviral particles with a sedimentation coefficient of 135S, which have lost the innermost capsid protein VP4. Upon release of the genomic RNA empty 80S capsids remain. Similar structural modifications are observed in vitro upon exposure to low pH and/or elevated temperature. Virions are stabilized against these transitions by various antiviral compounds, which bind to a hydrophobic pocket in the capsid protein VP1. Using capillary electrophoresis the kinetics of viral decay in the presence of such hydrophobic drugs was investigated. Assuming first-order kinetics, the increase of the time constant reflects the extent of stabilization. Exposure of the virions to 55 degrees C after presaturation with the antivirals increased the time constants (as compared to native virus) by a factor of 8-30, from a few minutes to several ten minutes. Denaturation of the stabilized capsid gave rise to heterogeneous material rather than to defined subviral particles. This was confirmed by electron microscopy and indicates that the structural modification of the virus follows a kinetically well-defined pathway which is disturbed by the drugs resulting in disorganized disruption of the virion.

Antiviral Agents↗

A simple and rapid procedure for the purification of plasmid DNA using reverse-phase C18 silica beads.

A simple and efficient procedure for the rapid isolation of plasmid DNA free of chromosomal DNA and with only minor contamination with RNA is described. The protocol is a modification of the boiling method described by Holmes and Quigley [(1981) Anal. Biochem. 114, 193-197.] and utilizes C18 reverse-phase silica beads for final concentration and purification of plasmid DNA. The entire procedure can be carried out in 1 day and does not require the use of phenol or cesium chloride gradients, which require considerable labor and may sometimes cause nicking and lower recoveries of supercoiled DNA. The plasmid DNA obtained by this method retains biological activity, is supercoiled, and is suitable for restriction and DNA sequence analysis.

1-Propanol↗

Mutated and hypermutated genes of persistent measles viruses which caused lethal human brain diseases.

Persistent measles viruses (MVs) causing lethal human brain diseases are defective, and the structure of several mutated matrix genes has been elucidated previously. The present study of four persistent MVs revealed a high number of differences from a consensus sequence also in other genes. Amino acid changes accumulated in the carboxyl terminus of the nucleocapsid protein and in the amino terminus of the phosphoprotein, but did not significantly alter these products, which are implicated in viral replication and transcription. The contrary is true for the envelope glycoproteins: In three of four cases, mutations caused partial deletion of the short intracellular domain of the fusion protein, most likely compromising efficient viral budding. Moreover, in the hemagglutinin gene of a strain showing strongly reduced hemadsorption, 20 clustered A to G mutations, resulting in 16 amino acid changes, were detected. This hypermutation might be due to unwinding modification of a part of the MV RNA genome accidentally present in a double-stranded form. Finally, we classified four lytic and seven persistent MV strains on the basis of their sequences. Surprisingly, the four lytic viruses considered belong to the same class. The persistent viruses form more loosely defined groups, which all differ from the vaccine strain Edmonston.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chimeric streptogramin-tyrocidine antibiotics that overcome streptogramin resistance.

Streptogramin antibiotics are comprised of two distinct chemical components: the type A polyketides and the type B cyclic depsipeptides. Clinical resistance to the type B streptogramins can occur via enzymatic degradation catalyzed by the lyase Vgb or by target modification through the action of Erm ribosomal RNA methyltransferases. We have prepared through chemical and chemo-enzymatic approaches a series of chimeric antibiotics composed of elements of type B streptogramins and the membrane-active antibiotic tyrocidine that evade these resistance mechanisms. These new compounds show broad antibiotic activity against gram-positive bacteria including a number of important pathogens, and chimeras appear to function by a mechanism that is distinct from their parent antibiotics. These results allow for the development of a brand new class of antibiotics with the ability to evade type B streptogramin-resistance mechanisms.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Probing RNA hairpins with cobalt(III)hexammine and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

In this work, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) was employed to study the interactions of cobalt(III) hexammine, Co(NH3)6(3+), with five RNA hairpins representing the 790 loop of 16S ribosomal RNA and 1920 loop of 23S ribosomal RNA. The RNAs varied in mismatch identity (G.U versus A.C) and level of base modification (pseudouridine versus uridine). Co(NH3)6(3+) binding was observed with the four RNA hairpins that contained a G.U wobble pair in the stem region. ESI MS revealed 1:1 and 1:2 complex formation with all RNAs. Weaker binding was observed with the fifth RNA hairpin that contained an A.C wobble pair in the stem region. The effects of pH on Co(NH3)6(3+) binding were also examined.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Immunoglobulin locus silencing and allelic exclusion.

Lymphocytes are characterised by monoclonal expression of antigen receptors. This is achieved by silencing of one of two homologous antigen receptor alleles, a process known as allelic exclusion. This process is regulated both before and after V(D)J recombination, by a variety of mechanisms. These include nuclear localisation, changes in chromatin structure and histone modifications, non-coding sense and antisense RNA transcription, epigenetic alterations at the DNA level, feedback signalling from expressed alleles, locus contraction and decontraction, recruitment to heterochromatin. This review will focus on recent advances in the immunoglobulin heavy and kappa light chain loci. The current picture is of a complex, temporally ordered sequence of events, in which these loci share many contributory mechanisms, but clear and intriguing differences are emerging.

Alleles↗

Monitoring protein modification with allosteric ribozymes.

An allosteric ribozyme is an RNA-based enzyme (ribozyme) whose catalytic activity is modulated by molecular recognition of a protein. The direct coupling of a detectable catalytic event to molecular recognition by an allosteric ribozyme enables simple assays for quantitative protein detection. Most significantly, the mode of development and molecular recognition characteristics of allosteric ribozymes are fundamentally different from antibodies, providing them with functional characteristics that complement those of antibodies. Allosteric ribozymes can be developed using native proteins and, therefore, are often sensitive to protein conformation. In contrast, antibodies tend to recognize a series of adjacent amino acids as a consequence of antigen presentation and typically are not sensitive to protein conformation. Unlike antibody development, the development of allosteric ribozymes is a completely in vitro process that allows the specificity of an allosteric ribozyme to be tightly controlled. These significant differences from antibodies allow the pre-programmed development of conformation-state-specific protein detection reagents that can be used to investigate the activation-state of signal transduction components.

Allosteric Regulation↗

Aptamers with fluorescence-signaling properties.

Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules with ligand-binding capabilities. Signaling aptamers refer to aptamers or modified aptamers with recordable signal generation ability. Fluorescence-signaling aptamers, in particular, are valuable molecular tools that can be used to establish important techniques or assays for the interrogation of identities and concentrations of proteins and metabolites. Since standard DNA and RNA aptamers themselves are not inherently fluorescent, modification methods are required for rationally converting non-fluorescent aptamers into fluorescent reporters or for selecting fluorescent aptamers directly from random-sequence DNA libraries by in vitro selection. This article will provide a brief review of various signaling aptamer design strategies as well as a detailed description of methods that can be used to generate, by both rational design and in vitro selection, a special class of signaling aptamers dubbed "structure-switching signaling aptamers." This class of signaling aptamers are designed to function by switching structures from a pre-formed, lowly fluorescent duplex assembly to a ligand-aptamer complex having a higher level of fluorescence.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Anti-leukemia selectivity in actinomycin analogues.

An excellent anti-leukemia activity has been found in a group of actinomycin D analogues derivatized at the 2,2'- or 5,5'-position of the depsipeptides. On the basis of the water solubilities, the DNA binding affinities, the RNA synthesis inhibitory activities, the anticancer activities of actinomycin D (AMD), and the crystal structures of DNA-AMD complexes, it becomes clear that AMD is extremely well designed as an effective poison produced by micro-organisms. The anticancer activity of AMD is mainly due to its selective inhibition of RNA synthesis. We have hypothesized that a modification on the AMD structure at a site not involved in DNA interaction can either increase or decrease the diffusion rate of the analogue into certain cancer cells. Since the i-propyl groups of the D-valine residues at the 2,2'-positions and N-methyl-L-valine residues at the 5,5'-positions in the depsipeptides do not participate in interaction with DNA, these amino acid residues were replaced with other D-amino acid residues and N-methyl-L-amino acid residues, respectively. The cancer screen tests have indicated that AMD analogues 2,2'-D-PheAMD, 2,2'-D-OmeAMD, 5,5'-L-TyrAMD, 5,5'-D-ValAMD, 5,5'-D-TyrAMD, 5,5'-D-PheAMD, and 5,5'-D-OmeAMD, inhibit selectively the growth of leukemia cell lines at about 100- to 500-fold lower drug concentrations than those required to inhibit other cancer cell lines.

Animals↗

A conserved family of Saccharomyces cerevisiae synthases effects dihydrouridine modification of tRNA.

Dihydrouridine modification of tRNA is widely observed in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, as well as in some archaea. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae every sequenced tRNA has at least one such modification, and all but one have two or more. We have used a biochemical genomics approach to identify the gene encoding dihydrouridine synthase 1 (Dus1, ORF YML080w), using yeast pre-tRNA(Phe) as a substrate. Dus1 is a member of a widespread family of conserved proteins, three other members of which are found in yeast: YNR015w, YLR405w, and YLR401c. We show that one of these proteins, Dus2, encoded by ORF YNR015w, has activity with two other substrates: yeast pre-tRNA(Tyr) and pre-tRNA(Leu). Both Dus1 and Dus2 are active as a single subunit protein expressed and purified from Escherichia coli, and the activity of both is stimulated in the presence of flavin adenine dinucleotide. Dus1 modifies yeast pre-tRNA(Phe) in vitro at U17, one of the two positions that are known to bear this modification in vivo. Yeast extract from a dus1-A strain is completely defective in modification of yeast pre-tRNAPhe, and RNA isolated from dus1-delta and dus2-delta strains is significantly depleted in dihydrouridine content.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evidence of the involvement of a 50S ribosomal protein in several active sites.

The functional role of the Bacillus stearothermophilus 50S ribosomal protein B-L3 (probably homologous to the Escherichia coli protein L2) was examined by chemical modification. The complex [B-L3-23S RNA] was photooxidized in the presence of rose bengal and the modified protein incorporated by reconstitution into 50S ribosomal subunits containing all other unmodified components. Particles containing photooxidized B-L3 are defective in several functional assays, including (1) poly(U)-directed poly(Phe) synthesis, (2) peptidyltransferase activity, (3) ability to associate with a [30S-poly(U)-Phe-tRNA] complex, and (4) binding of elongation factor G and GTP. The rates of loss of the partial functional activities during photooxidation of B-L3 indicate that at least two independent inactivating events are occurring, a faster one, involving oxidation of one or more histidine residues, affecting peptidyltransferase and subunit association activities and a slower one affecting EF-G binding. Therefore the protein B-L3 has one or more histidine residues which are essential for peptidyltransferase and subunit association, and another residue which is essential for EF-G-GTP binding. B-L3 may be the ribosomal peptidyltransferase protein, or a part of the active site, and may contribute functional groups to the other active sites as well.

Binding Sites↗

2'-O-[2-[N,N-(dialkyl)aminooxy]ethyl]-modified antisense oligonucleotides.

[structure] Oligonucleotides with two novel modifications, 2'-O-¿2-[N, N-(dimethyl)aminooxy]ethyl¿ (2'-O-DMAOE) and 2'-O-¿2-[N, N-(diethyl)aminooxy]ethyl¿ (2'-O-DEAOE), have been synthesized. These modifications exhibit high binding affinity to target RNA (and not to DNA) and enhance the nuclease stability of oligonucleotides considerably with t(1/2) > 24 h as a phosphodiester.

DNA, Complementary↗

Implication of abnormal epigenetic patterns for human diseases.

Significant evidences have brought new insights on the mechanisms by which epigenetic machinery proteins regulate gene expression, leading to a redefinition of chromatin regulation in terms of modification of core histones, DNA methylation, RNA-mediated silencing pathways, action of methylation-dependent sensitive insulators and Polycomb/Trithorax group proteins. Consistent with these fundamental aspects, an increasing number of human pathologies have been found to be associated with aberrant epigenetics regulation, including cancer, mental retardation, neurodegenerative symptoms, imprinting disorders, syndromes involving chromosomal instabilities and a great number of human life-threatening diseases. The possibility of reversing epigenetic marks, in contrast to genetic code, may provide new pharmacological targets for emerging therapeutic intervention.

Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly↗

Role of meningococcal endotoxin in meningococcal purpura.

Enteric bacilli and meningococci (MGC) both contain potent endotoxins, but purpuric skin lesions indistinguishable from the experimental dermal Shwartzman reaction are much more common during meningococcal bacteremia than during bacteremia with enteric organisms. Highly purified lipopolysaccharides (LPS), virtually free of contamination by protein, RNA, and capsule, were extracted by a modification of the phenol-water technique from MGC (serogroups A, B, and C) and enteric bacilli (Escherichia coli 04 and 0:111, and Salmonella typhimurium). Polysaccharides in these LPS were similar by gas chromatography except for one galactose-deficient strain of MGC (135B). LPS from MGC and enterics were equally potent for the general Shwartzman reaction and mouse lethality, but LPS from MGC was 5-10 times more potent in inducing the dermal Shwartzman reaction. The greater skin potency of LPS from MGC explains the prominence of purpura in meningococcemia. Comparison of the properties of LPS may explain other differences in clinical syndromes caused by gram-negative bacteria.

Animals↗