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Genetic analysis of the rat leukemia virus: influence of viral sequences in transduction of the c-ras proto-oncogene and expression of its transforming activity.

The rat leukemia virus (RaLV) is an endogenous retrovirus that is spontaneously released by Sprague-Dawley rat embryo cells. The overall structure of the RaLV genome resembles that of other simple, replication-competent retroviruses, but the sequence of the long terminal repeats (LTR) is unique and unrelated to the known retroviruses. Phylogenetically, the RaLV genome appears to be more closely related to the feline leukemia virus group of retroviruses than to the murine leukemia virus group. A remarkable feature of RaLV is that it is capable of transducing a ras proto-oncogene from rat tumor cells in the form of an acutely transforming virus, designated the Rasheed strain of the rat sarcoma virus (RaSV). With the exception of the c-ras sequence, the genomes of both RaLV and RaSV are collinear. The RaSV-encoded oncogene v-Ra-ras expresses a fusion protein with a molecular mass of 29 kDa, and it exhibits a unique structure that has not been described previously for any known virus. The 5' end of this gene is derived from sequences encoding RaLV matrix followed by 20 bp derived from the U5 region of the RaLV LTR (RS-U5 element) which is joined at its 3' end to sequences derived from all six (coding and noncoding) exons of the c-ras proto-oncogene at the 3' end. This recombinational event represents a novel mechanism among the acutely transforming viruses that have been studied.

3T3 Cells↗

The mitochondrial genome of the wine yeast Hanseniaspora uvarum: a unique genome organization among yeast/fungal counterparts.

The complete sequence of the apiculate wine yeast Hanseniaspora uvarum mtDNA has been determined and analysed. It is an extremely compact linear molecule containing the shortest functional region ever found in fungi (11 094 bp long), flanked by Type 2 telomeric inverted repeats. The latter contained a 2704-bp-long subterminal region and tandem repeats of 839-bp units. In consequence, a population of mtDNA molecules that differed at the number of their telomeric reiterations was detected. The functional region of the mitochondrial genome coded for 32 genes, which included seven subunits of respiratory complexes and ATP synthase (the genes encoding for NADH oxidoreductase subunits were absent), two rRNAs and 23 tRNA genes which recognized codons for all amino acids. A single intron interrupted the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene. A number of reasons contributed towards its strikingly small size, namely: (1) the remarkable size reduction (by >40%) of the rns and rnl genes; (2) that most tRNA genes and five of the seven protein-coding genes were the shortest among known yeast homologs; and (3) that the noncoding regions were restricted to 5.1% of the genome. In addition, the genome showed multiple changes in the orientation of transcription and the gene order differed drastically from other yeasts. When all protein coding gene sequences were considered as one unit and were compared with the corresponding molecules from all other complete mtDNAs of yeasts, the phylogenetic trees constructed robustly supported its placement basal to the yeast species of the 'Saccharomyces complex', demonstrating the advantage of this approach over single-gene or multigene approaches of unlinked genes.

Base Sequence↗

Prolactin-dependent growth and gamma-casein gene expression in Ba/F3 cells transfected with a long form of mouse mammary prolactin receptor.

Complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding a long form of prolactin receptor (PRL-RL) was cloned from mouse mammary gland by PCR using primers designed from the noncoding regions of previously reported rat ovarian PRL-RL cDNA. The nucleotide sequence encoding the extracellular and transmembrane domains of PRL-RL is completely identical to that of short forms of mouse PRL-R. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of mouse PRL-RL is 91% identical to that of rat PRL-RL. To address the question of whether or not the cloned mouse PRL-RL cDNA encodes a functional PRL-RL we transfected Ba/F3 IL-3-dependent murine pro-B lymphoid cells with the cDNA. By culturing the transfected cells in a medium which contained PRL in place of IL-3, we selected 5 PRL-dependent clones. All of these PRL-dependent clones, BaF/PD cells, expressed PRL-RL mRNA. In addition, BaF/PD cells expressed mammary-specific gamma-casein mRNA in response to PRL and dexamethasone. Based on these results, it was concluded that the mouse mammary PRL-RL cDNA cloned in this study is functionally active in mediating both PRL-dependent growth and mammary-specific gene expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Gene and pseudogene of the mouse cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. Genomic organization, expression, and chromosomal localization.

The cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CD-MPR) is one of the two transmembrane proteins involved in transport of lysosomal enzymes. We have cloned the mouse CD-MPR gene and also a very unusual processed-type CD-MPR pseudogene. They are both present at one copy per haploid genome and map to chromosomes 6 and 3, respectively. Comparison of the complete 10-kilobase (kb) sequence of the functional gene with the cDNA indicates that it contains seven exons. Exon 1 encodes the 5'-untranslated region of the mRNA, the others (exons 2-7) encode the luminal, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains of the CD-MPR. Exon 7 also contains a 1.2-kb-long 3'-untranslated region of the mRNA. A unique transcription-initiation site was determined by primer extension of mouse liver mRNA. The promoter elements in the 5' upstream region of this site resemble those contained in genes constitutively transcribed. However, Northern blot analysis demonstrates that the CD-MPR is variably expressed in adult mouse tissues and during mouse development. The pseudogene, which is flanked by direct repeats, is almost colinear with the cDNA indicating that it presumably arose by reverse transcription of an mRNA. However, the pseudogene differs from the cDNA. It contains at its 5' end, an additional 340-nucleotide (nt) sequence homologous to the promoter region of the functional gene. This sequence exhibits some promoter activity in vitro. Furthermore, a 24-nt insertion interrupts the region homologous to the 5'-noncoding region of the cDNA. In the functional gene, this 24-nt sequence occurs between exon 1 and 2, where it is flanked by typical consensus sequences of exon/intron boundaries. Therefore, it may represent an additional exon of the functional gene. These two features of the pseudogene suggest that expression of the CD-MPR gene may be regulated by use of different promoters and/or alternative splicing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Enhanced translational efficiency of a novel transforming growth factor beta 3 mRNA in human breast cancer cells.

The mRNA for transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-beta 3) includes a long (1.1-kb) 5' noncoding region which exerts a potent inhibitory effect on translational efficiency. We now report that many human breast cancer cell lines (T47-D, SK-BR-3, ZR-75-1, and BT-474) express two mRNA species for TGF-beta 3: the 3.5-kb transcript previously described as the only TGF-beta 3 mRNA species in cells and a novel 2.6-kb transcript which lacks approximately 870 nucleotides from the 5' noncoding region. The 5' end of the shorter transcript was sequenced, establishing it to be a 5' truncation of the full-length TGF-beta 3 transcript. Estradiol decreased mRNA levels of both TGF-beta 3 mRNA transcripts to an equivalent degree in estrogen receptor-positive cells. In contrast, the synthetic progestin gestodene altered the relative abundance of the two transcripts, preferentially diminishing the expression of the 2.6-kb transcript. The potential for enhanced mRNA translation attributable to the shorter 5' noncoding region was evaluated by transfection of cells with chimeric plasmid constructs in which the transcription unit consisted of coding sequence for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase downstream of the 5' noncoding sequence from TGF-beta 3. The translational efficiency of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase-encoding mRNA containing the shorter 5' noncoding region of the 2.6-kb TGF-beta 3 transcript was approximately seven times greater than with the full-length 5' noncoding region of TGF-beta 3. Polysome analysis of TGF-beta 3 mRNA in SK-BR-3 cells supported the hypothesis that the 2.6-kb transcript was more actively engaged in translation.

Base Sequence↗

Analysis of multiple restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the gene for the human complement receptor type I. Duplication of genomic sequences occurs in association with a high molecular mass receptor allotype.

Human CR1 exhibits an unusual form of polymorphism in which allotypic variants differ in the molecular weight of their respective polypeptide chains. To address mechanisms involved in the generation of the CR1 allotypes, DNA from individuals having the F allotype (250,000 Mr), the S allotype (290,000 Mr), and the F' allotype (210,000 Mr) was digested by restriction enzymes, and Southern blots were hybridized with CR1 cDNA and genomic probes. With the use of Bam HI and Sac I, an additional restriction fragment was observed in 20 of 21 individuals having the S allotype with no associated loss of other restriction fragments. Southern blot analysis with a noncoding genomic probe derived from the S allotype-specific Bam HI fragment showed hybridization to this fragment and to two other fragments that were also present in FF individuals. Thus, an intervening sequence may be repeated twice in the F allele and three times in the S allele. A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) unique to two individuals expressing the F' allotype was seen with Eco RV, but the absence of persons homozygous for this rare allotype prevented further comparisons with the F and S allotypes. Analysis of the CR1 transcripts associated with the three CR1 allotypes indicated that these differed by 1.3-1.5 kb and had the same rank order as the corresponding allotypes. Taken together, these findings suggest that the S allele was generated from the F allele by the acquisition of additional sequences, the coding portion of which may correspond to a long homologous repeat of approximately 1.4 kb that has been identified in CR1 cDNA. We saw two other RFLPs with Hind III and Pvu II that were in linkage dysequilibrium with the Bam HI-Sac I RFLPs associated with the S allotype, and a third polymorphism was seen with Eco RI that was not in linkage dysequilibrium with the other polymorphisms. Thus, 10 commonly occurring CR1 alleles can be defined, making this locus a useful marker for the long arm of chromosome 1 to which the CR1 gene maps.

Alleles↗

A novel sodium bicarbonate cotransporter-like gene in an ancient duplicated region: SLC4A9 at 5q31.

BACKGROUND: Sodium bicarbonate cotransporter (NBC) genes encode proteins that execute coupled Na+ and HCO3- transport across epithelial cell membranes. We report the discovery, characterization, and genomic context of a novel human NBC-like gene, SLC4A9, on chromosome 5q31. RESULTS: SLC4A9 was initially discovered by genomic sequence annotation and further characterized by sequencing of long-insert cDNA library clones. The predicted protein of 990 amino acids has 12 transmembrane domains and high sequence similarity to other NBCs. The 23-exon gene has 14 known mRNA isoforms. In three regions, mRNA sequence variation is generated by the inclusion or exclusion of portions of an exon. Noncoding SLC4A9 cDNAs were recovered multiple times from different libraries. The 3' untranslated region is fragmented into six alternatively spliced exons and contains expressed Alu, LINE and MER repeats. SLC4A9 has two alternative stop codons and six polyadenylation sites. Its expression is largely restricted to the kidney. In silico approaches were used to characterize two additional novel SLC4A genes and to place SLC4A9 within the context of multiple paralogous gene clusters containing members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF), ankyrin (ANK) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) families. Seven human EGF-SLC4A-ANK-FGF clusters were found. CONCLUSION: The novel sodium bicarbonate cotransporter-like gene SLC4A9 demonstrates abundant alternative mRNA processing. It belongs to a growing class of functionally diverse genes characterized by inefficient highly variable splicing. The evolutionary history of the EGF-SLC4A-ANK-FGF gene clusters involves multiple rounds of duplication, apparently followed by large insertions and deletions at paralogous loci and genome-wide gene shuffling.

Adult↗

Structural organization of the human S-antigen gene. cDNA, amino acid, intron, exon, promoter, in vitro transcription, retina, and pineal gland.

S-Antigen (S-Ag) is a major soluble photoreceptor protein involved in the visual transduction cascade. Several S-Ag cDNAs and a gene coding for human S-Ag were isolated from cDNA and gene libraries. The gene sequences of the coding, noncoding, and 5'-flanking regions of the gene were determined. The S-Ag gene was approximately 50 kbp (kilobase pairs) in length and contained 16 exons and 15 introns. The length of most exons was less than 100 base pairs (bp) and the smallest one was only 10 bp. In contrast, the length of most introns was larger than 2 kbp, and the gene comprised 97% intron and 3% exon. The splice sites for donor and acceptor were in good agreement with the GT/AG rule. The S-Ag protein of 403 amino acid residues was translated from a mRNA of 1.9 kbp, and the mRNA was transcribed from a gene of 50 kbp. The 5'-flanking region of the gene, approximately 1.1 kbp long, had no known regulatory elements for transcription such as TATA, GC, and CCAAT boxes. Interestingly, the 5'-flanking region had promoter activity in an in vitro transcription assay using a nuclear extract of rat brain. A major transcription start site was found at 387 bp upstream from the translation start site ATG. Our results indicate that the sequence of S-Ag promoter differs from other known promoters and may, perhaps, be specific for photoreceptor rod cells and pinealocytes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Use of polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of picornavirus infection in subjects with and without respiratory symptoms.

Rhinoviruses and enteroviruses are the major members of the picornavirus genus that cause human disease. We compared the polymerase chain reaction and viral culture for the identification of picornaviruses in nasal aspirates from children during episodes of respiratory symptoms and when asymptomatic and from asymptomatic adults. One hundred eight children, aged 9 to 11 years, completed a year-long study. Within 24 to 48 h of a report of respiratory symptoms, a nasal aspirate was taken in the home. Nasal aspirates were also taken from 65 of the children and from 33 normal adults when they had been free of respiratory symptoms for at least 2 weeks. Picornaviruses were isolated by culture for three passages in Ohio HeLa cells in rolling tubes at 33 degrees C and pH 7.0. For the polymerase chain reaction, duplicate 50-microliters samples were amplified with conserved primers from the 5' noncoding region. Picornaviruses generated approximately 380-bp bands in agarose gel electrophoresis; the specificity of these bands was confirmed by filter hybridization with a conserved internal probe. Picornaviruses were isolated by culture in 47 (46 rhinoviruses) of 292 symptomatic episodes (16%), whereas the polymerase chain reaction identified picornavirus genomic material in 146 episodes (50%), including all but one of the culture-positive episodes. As for asymptomatic samples, eight (12%) children and two (4%) adults were positive by the polymerase chain reaction, whereas only one child's specimen was positive by culture. This polymerase chain reaction assay represents a clear advance in the identification of picornavirus infection, with a detection rate threefold greater than the virus culture method.

Adult↗

Antigenic variants of yellow fever virus with an altered neurovirulence phenotype in mice.

The live-attenuated yellow fever (YF) vaccine virus, strain 17D-204, has long been known to consist of a heterologous population of virions. Gould et al. (J. Gen. Virol. 70, 1889-1894 (1989)) previously demonstrated that variant viruses exhibiting a YF wild-type-specific envelope (E) protein epitope are present at low frequency in the vaccine pool and were able to isolate representative virus variants with and without this epitope, designated 17D(+wt) and 17D(-wt), respectively. These variants were employed here in an investigation of YF virus pathogenesis in the mouse model. Both the 17D-204 parent and the 17D(+wt) variant viruses were lethal for adult outbred mice by the intracerebral route of inoculation. However, the 17D(-wt) variant was significantly attenuated (18% mortality rate) and replicated to much lower titer in the brains of infected mice. A single amino acid substitution in the envelope (E) protein at E-240 (Ala-->Val) was identified as responsible for the restricted replication of the 17D(-wt) variant in vivo. The 17D(+wt) variant has an additional second-site mutation, believed to encode a reversion to the neurovirulence phenotype of the 17D-204 parent virus. The amino acid substitution in the E protein at E-173 (Thr-->Ile) of the 17D(+wt) variant which results in the appearance of the wild-type-specific epitope or nucleotide changes in the 5' and 3' noncoding regions of the virus are proposed as a candidates.

Animals↗

Tyrosine hydroxylase in the european eel (Anguilla anguilla): cDNA cloning, brain distribution, and phylogenetic analysis.

We report the isolation of a full-length eel tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) cDNA that is characterized by a long 3' untranslated region and by a diversity restricted to the 3' end owing to the differential use of three polyadenylation signals. The longest eel TH mRNA was distinctive in the presence of four pentameric elements (AUUUA) in the AU-rich 3' noncoding region. Such a diversity could provide the basis of posttranscriptional or translational regulation of eel TH gene expression. Comparison of the eel TH sequence with those of other aromatic amino acid hydroxylases (TH, tryptophan hydroxylase, and phenylalanine hydroxylase) and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the N-terminal regulatory domain is highly divergent, contrasting with the conservation of the catalytic core of the enzyme. Molecular phylogenies including the available sequences of the three hydroxylase genes suggested that the duplication of their common ancestor occurred before the emergence of arthropods. The regional expression of the eel TH mRNA was studied by semiquantitative PCR, northern blots, and in situ hybridization and compared with the immunocytochemical localization of TH protein. The data showed that TH mRNA is mostly expressed in the olfactory and hypothalamic areas, whereas sparse TH-expressing cell bodies are present in the telencephalic region and brainstem. No labeling was detected in the mesencephalic area, in striking contrast with that found in amphibians and amniotes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Construction of less neurovirulent polioviruses by introducing deletions into the 5' noncoding sequence of the genome.

Viral attenuation may be due to lowered efficiency of certain steps essential for viral multiplication. For the construction of less neurovirulent strains of poliovirus in vitro, we introduced deletions into the 5' noncoding sequence (742 nucleotides long) of the genomes of the Mahoney and Sabin 1 strains of poliovirus type 1 by using infectious cDNA clones of the virus strains. Plaque sizes shown by deletion mutants were used as a marker for rate of viral proliferation. Deletion mutants of both the strains thus constructed lacked a genome region of nucleotide positions 564 to 726. The sizes of plaques displayed by these deletion mutants were smaller than those by the respective parental viruses, although a phenotype referring to reproductive capacity at different temperatures (rct) of viruses was not affected by introduction of the deletion. Monkey neurovirulence tests were performed on the deletion mutants. The results clearly indicated that the deletion mutants had much less neurovirulence than with the corresponding parent viruses. Production of infectious particles and virus-specific protein synthesis in cells infected with the deletion mutants started later than in those infected with the parental viruses. The rate at which cytopathic effect progressed was also slower in cells infected with the mutants. Phenotypic stability of the deletion mutant for small-plaque phenotype and temperature sensitivity was investigated after passaging the mutant at an elevated temperature of 37.5 degrees C. Our data strongly suggested that the less neurovirulent phenotype introduced by the deletion is very stable during passaging of the virus.

Animals↗

The Tub alpha 3 gene from Zea mays: structure and expression in dividing plant tissues.

A gene (Tub alpha 3) coding for an alpha-Tub, expressed in dividing tissues, has been cloned from Zea mays. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence, 450 aa long, is very similar to the other plant alpha-Tub (85-89% homology) so far reported, and in particular to the other two aa sequences (alpha 1-Tub and alpha 2-Tub) already published from the same species (93% homology). The genomic structure is also very similar, having three introns located at the same positions as in the Tub alpha 1 and Tub alpha 2 genes, one of them placed at the same position in the homologous genes from Arabidopsis thaliana. Nevertheless, the noncoding sequences are very different from the two other maize genomic sequences. In particular, no homology has been found either in the 5' upstream or in the 3'-untranslated sequences. Using specific 3' probes, it has been possible to detect the mRNA coded by this gene in many of the plant organs measured, but its highest abundance is observed in the organs rich in dividing cells, a pattern correlated with that of the histone H4-encoding gene. A cDNA clone has been identified in maize coleoptiles and sequenced, confirming the expression of the Tub alpha 3 in this organ. No preferential accumulation in any organ of the plant was found, in contrast with what was observed in the Tub alpha 1 and Tub alpha 2 genes already described. The Tub alpha gene family seems to consist in maize by at least two groups of homologous sequences, each one including a maximum of two or three coding units.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential expression of pentraxin 3 in fibroblasts from patients with major depression.

In this study, differential display technology was used to compare gene expression in cultured fibroblasts from patients with major depression, melancholic subtype vs nonmelancholic depressives and normal volunteer controls. Genes differentially expressed in depressives and normals included an overexpressed 269 bp sequence tag showing approximately 95% identity with the Homo sapiens long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) gene sequence in the 3' noncoding region. The 269 bp complimentary DNA probe hybridized with the 1.9 kb PTX3 mRNA. The densitometric analysis of slot blots showed that the mean steady-state mRNA level of PTX3 was 3.5-fold higher in the melancholic group as compared to that in normal controls and in nonmelancholic depressives (n=8, all groups). Incubation experiments were then conducted: confluent fibroblasts from melancholics and normal volunteers were incubated with isoproterenol 1 microM, dexamethasone (DEX) 500 nM, and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) 50 ng/ml, for 0, 0.5, 1, 4, and 24 h. mRNA was isolated and quantitated using Northern blot analysis. Isoproterenol produced no significant change in PTX3 expression; DEX produced a significant increase at 4 and 24 h; IL-1beta induced an increase in both the groups that peaked at 4 h, declining to near basal levels at 24 h. There were no differences between melancholics or controls in mean change or maximum response with either DEX or IL-1beta. The results are consistent with the reported effects of IL-1beta on PTX3 expression in mouse brain. The results are of potential importance because PTX3 is a member of the long pentraxin subfamily of acute-phase proteins, which is inducible by IL-1beta, and may play roles in neuroimmunity and neuroprotection.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Impact of dengue virus infection and its control.

Dengue virus infection has been counted among emerging and re-emerging diseases because of (1) the increasing number of patients, (2) the expansion of epidemic areas, and (3) the appearance of severe clinical manifestation of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)/dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which is often fatal if not properly treated. In the meantime, there are no effective dengue control measures: a dengue vaccine is still under development and vector control does not provide a long-lasting effect. In order to obtain direct evidence for the virulent virus theory concerning the pathogenesis of DHF/DSS, type 2 dengue virus strains isolated from patients with different clinical severities in the same epidemic area in northeast Thailand, during the same season, were comparatively sequenced. The result revealed a DF strain specific amino acid substitution from I to R in the PrM, and a DSS strain specific amino acid substitution from D to G in the NS1 gene regions, which could significantly alter the nature of these proteins. Moreover, DF strain specific nucleotide substitutions in the 3' noncoding region were predicted to alter its secondary structure. These amino acid and nucleotide substitutions in other strains isolated in different epidemic areas during other seasons, together with their biological significance, remain to be confirmed. In order to innovate dengue vector control, field tests were carried out in dengue epidemic areas in Vietnam to examine the efficacy of Olyset Net screen, which is a wide-mesh net made of polyethylene thread impregnated with permethrin. The results show that Olyset Net (1) reduced the number of principal dengue vector species, Aedes aegypti, (2) interrupted the silent transmission of dengue viruses and (3) was highly appreciated by the local people as a convenient and comfortable vector control method. This encouraging evaluation of the Olyset Net screen should be confirmed further by other tests under different settings.

Aedes↗

Identification, sequence analysis and phylogeny of the lef-2 gene of Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid baculovirus.

The baculovirus late expression factor 2 (LEF-2) is involved in DNA replication, and most likely function as a primase processivity factor. Lef-2 genes have been found in multinucleocapsid nucleopolyhedroviruses (MNPVs) and in granuloviruses (GVs), but not yet in single-nucleocapsid NPV (SNPV). Here, a lef-2 gene homolog was identified from SNPV of Helicoverpa armigera (HearNPV). The open reading frame of the HearNPV lef-2 gene is 696 nucleotides long, encoding a putative protein of 232 amino acids with an M(r) of about 26 kDa. The 5'-noncoding region contains two early (CAGT) consensus motifs for transcription initiation and three TATA boxes. Lef-2 transcripts started at a C, 29 nucleotides upstream of a putative translational start. A putative polyA signal, AATAAA, was found 76 nucleotides downstream of the translation stop codon. The HearNPV lef-2 gene has a low but significant degree of amino acid sequence identity (30%) to the lef-2 genes of 15 other baculoviruses of which nine were newly determined. The N-terminal half of the LEF-2 proteins contains one (I) and the C-terminal half two (II and III) conserved domains. Sixteen amino acids are absolutely conserved in those LEF-2 investigated and are probably critical for LEF-2 function. A phylogenetic tree of 16 baculovirus LEF-2 proteins was constructed by using maximum parsimony analysis and appeared to be comparable to a tree for ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyl transferases (Chen et al., 1997a). The genomic location of the lef-2 genes relative to polyhedrin/granulin and the clade structure of the gene trees suggest that genome organization and gene phylogeny are useful parameters to study the evolutionary history of baculoviruses. These two independent approaches also give a more complete picture of the ancestral relationship among baculovirus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and characterization of rat pancreatic beta-cell/liver type glucose transporter gene: a unique exon/intron organization.

Four overlapping lambda genomic clones encoding rat pancreatic beta-cell/liver type glucose transporter (GLUT2) have been isolated and characterized. The gene is about 35 kb long and contains 14 exons and 13 introns. Contrary to the exon 1 of the human or mouse counterpart, the rat GLUT2 gene has three additional noncoding exons which were identified by 5'-RACE and all four were designated exon 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d. The intron sequences bordering the splice site junctions generally follow the GT/AG rule except for one intron which begins with GC. The exon sequences determined from genomic DNA sequencing showed some differences when compared to the published rat GLUT2 cDNA. Transcription initiation site was determined by primer extension and located 661 bp upstream of the ATG translation initiation codon. Several potential binding sites for transcription factors such as C/EBP, Sp1, AP1, HNF-5, and UPE were observed and they may be responsible for the regulation of GLUT2 gene expression. The promoter region of rat GLUT2 showed little homology when compared with those of human or mouse. However, striking sequence identity (84%) was found when the adjacent intron regions flanking exon 1c were compared with the -970/-721 region of the mouse GLUT2 promoter. A series of deleted mutant constructs of the putative promoter region linked to the CAT reporter gene showed promoter activity in the primary hepatocyte culture. The region containing -4542/+240 showed the highest CAT activity and further deletion of the region showed gradual decrease in CAT activity.

Alternative Splicing↗

Complete thrombospondin mRNA sequence includes potential regulatory sites in the 3' untranslated region.

The nucleotide sequence of human thrombospondin (TS) mRNA has been determined from human fibroblast and endothelial cDNAs. The sequence of 5802 bp begins 110 bp upstream from the initiator codon and includes the entire 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the mRNA. The coding region (3510 bp) specifies a protein of 1170 amino acids with all of the known features of the TS subunit (Frazier, W. A. 1987. J. Cell Biol. 105:625-632). The long 3' UTR of 2166 nucleotides is extremely A/T-rich, particularly in the latter half. It contains 37 TATT or ATTT(A) sequences that have been suggested as mediators of the stability of mRNAs for cytokines, lymphokines, and oncogenes (Shaw, G., and R. Kamen. 1986. Cell. 46:659-667). Another unusual feature of the 3' UTR of TS mRNA is a stretch of 42 nucleotides of which 40 are thymidines (uridine in the mRNA) including an uninterrupted sequence of 26 thymidines. This region is flanked by two sets of direct repeats suggesting that it may be an insertion element of retrotranscriptional origin. Comparison of the 3' untranslated region of TS mRNA with the GenBank data base indicates the greatest degree of similarity with an alpha-interferon gene which contains a number of the TATT/ATTT consensus sites. The degree of similarity between the TS and interferon sequences is the same in regions of the interferon gene corresponding to its coding and noncoding regions suggesting that most of the TS 3' UTR may be derived from an interferon gene or pseudogene. The features of the TS mRNA 3' UTR provide a potential explanation for the rapid regulation of TS message observed in cultured cells in response to PDGF and suggest that TS is a member of a group of proteins which are intimately involved in the control of cell growth and differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗