Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Cosmids”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,531 records · Page 85Linked to original sources

Isolation and characterization of a novel interferon-alpha-encoding gene, IFN-alpha 11, within a murine IFN cluster.

Two recombinant cosmids containing three complete murine interferon-alpha-encoding genes (Mu IFN-alpha) have been isolated from a mouse cosmid library. The cluster organization of these genes has been determined. A new Mu IFN-alpha gene (Mu IFN-alpha 11) has been isolated and studied with respect to its structure and inducible transcription pattern. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the Mu IFN-alpha 11 gene, as compared to the two other IFN-alpha 7 and IFN-alpha 8 genes, show that, albeit highly homologous, these genes are all different. The transient expression of the three genes gave rise to proteins showing antiviral properties which were neutralized with murine anti-IFN-alpha antibodies. The transcription of the Mu IFN-alpha genes was studied in two uninduced or Newcastle-disease-virus-induced murine cell types. Mu IFN-alpha 11, as well as alpha 7 and alpha 8, are not expressed in L929 nor in C243 cells upon viral induction and therefore constitute an interesting model to study Mu IFN-alpha gene repression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The a mating-type alleles of Ustilago maydis are idiomorphs.

Two unlinked incompatibility loci, a and b, control mating, pathogenicity, and sexual development in Ustilago maydis, a fungal pathogen of corn. Fusion of nonpathogenic haploid cells occurs when alleles of the a locus differ; fusion products that differ at the b locus will be pathogenic and complete sexual development. The two alleles of the a locus have been cloned. The a2 allele was isolated by exploiting the close linkage of the a locus to the genetic marker pan1. Several cosmids from a clonal a2 mating-type library allowed, via DNA-mediated transformation, an a1 mating type, pan1-1 auxotrophic recipient to grow prototrophically on medium lacking pantothenic acid. Cosmids containing functional a2 mating-type regions were identified by their ability to confer a2 mating behavior to the a1 recipient strain. The a1 allele was isolated from a plasmid library using DNA from the a2 region as a hybridization probe. The isolated clones contain a1 or a2 mating-type specificity as demonstrated by a plate mating assay, by pathogenicity tests on corn, and by gene replacement experiments. The a1 and a2 mating-type clones contain nonhomologous DNA segments that are flanked by similar nucleotide (nt) sequences. Restriction fragments containing a mating-type function are embedded within the nonhomologous DNA segments. U. maydis contains a single copy of either the a1 or a2 mating-type sequence within each haploid genome. This structural organization demonstrates that the a mating-type alleles of U. maydis are idiomorphs sensu Metzenberg and Glass (1990), nt sequences mapping to the same genetic locus that share no obvious evolutionary relationship.

Alleles↗

Human L7a ribosomal protein: sequence, structural organization, and expression of a functional gene.

A cDNA coding for the human L7a ribosomal protein (r-protein) was used to isolate the corresponding gene by screening two human genomic libraries constructed in bacteriophage lambda and in a cosmid vector. One of the cosmid clones isolated, cos1.1, contains the whole L7 alpha gene, composed of eight exons and seven introns spanning 3226 bp. As in other mammalian housekeeping genes, the promoter and the first exon of the L7 alpha reside within a CpG-rich island. Furthermore, similar to the other higher eukaryote r-protein-encoding genes characterized so far, the human L7 alpha gene has a C as the major transcriptional start point localized in a pyrimidine-rich region and lacks a canonical TATA sequence. We show that 130 bp of the human L7 alpha gene 5'-flanking region represent the minimal element required to promote its transcription. This element is strikingly conserved between the mouse and human L7 alpha genes. Finally, a comparison of the human L7 alpha gene coding sequence and the predicted amino acid (aa) sequence with the sequences of mouse L7a, rat L7a, and the homologous yeast L4 shows that the aa sequence has been highly conserved during evolution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and structure of the gene encoding the human N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR1).

The complete gene encoding the human N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR1 (NMDAR1) has been isolated on a single cosmid clone. The gene is composed of 21 exons distributed over a total length of about 31 kb. More than 24 kb were sequenced. Exons 4, 20 and 21 are identical in their amino-acid sequence to those exons that are subject to alternative splicing in rat, indicating that all eight NMDAR1 isoforms found in rat will also be expressed in the human brain. Computer analysis of the pre-mRNA sequence revealed no secondary structures stable enough to explain alternative splicing. We suggest that cell-specific factors control expression of different isoforms. The promoter region contains two perfect copies of the recognition sequence for the Drosophila even-skipped protein, indicating that the developmentally regulated expression of NMDAR1 is controlled by a homeobox protein. The complete cosmid clone covering NMDAR1 was mapped to chromosome 9q34.3-qter by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The telomeric location is supported by an imperfect (CA)n repeat homologous to a subtelomeric repeat on chromosome 16p.

Alternative Splicing↗

Sequences of nifX, nifW, nifZ, nifB and two ORF in the Frankia nitrogen fixation gene cluster.

The actinomycete Frankia alni fixes N2 in root nodules of several non-leguminous plants. It is one of the few known N2-fixing members of the high-GC Gram+ lineage of prokaryotes. Thus, we have undertaken a study of its nitrogen fixation gene (nif) organization to compare with that of the more extensively characterized proteobacteria. A cosmid (pFN1) containing the nif region of Fa CpI1 was isolated from a cosmid library using the nifHDK genes of Fa CpI1 as a probe. A 4.5-kb BamHI fragment that mapped downstream from the previously characterized nifHDK genes was cloned and sequenced. Based on nt and aa sequence similarities to nif from other N2-fixing bacteria, eight ORF were identified and designated nifX, orf3, orf1, nifW, nifZ, nifB, orf2 and nifU. A region that hybridized to Rhizobium meliloti and Klebsiella pneumoniae nifA did not appear to contain a nifA-like gene. We have revised the map of the Fa nif region to reflect current information.

Actinomycetales↗

A dot-matrix program with dynamic threshold control suited for genomic DNA and protein sequence analysis.

Graphical dot-matrix plots can provide the most complete and detailed comparison of two sequences. Presented here is DOTTER2, a dot-plot program for X-windows which can compare DNA or protein sequences, and also DNA versus protein. The main novel feature of DOTTER is that the user can vary the stringency cutoffs interactively, so that the dot-matrix only needs to be calculated once. This is possible thanks to a 'Greyramp tool' that was developed to change the displayed stringency of the matrix by dynamically changing the greyscale rendering of the dots. The Greyramp tool allows the user to interactively change the lower and upper score limit for the greyscale rendering. This allows exploration of the separation between signal and noise, and fine-grained visualisation of different score levels in the dot-matrix. Other useful features are dot-matrix compression, mouse-controlled zooming, sequence alignment display and saving/loading of dot-matrices. Since the matrix only has to be calculated once and since the algorithm is fast and linear in space, DOTTER is practical to use even for sequences as long as cosmids. DOTTER was integrated in the gene-modelling module of the genomic database system ACEDB3. This was done via the homology viewer BLIXEM in a way that also allows segments from the BLAST suite of searching programs to be superimposed on top of the full dot-matrix. This feature can also be used for very quick finding of the strongest matches. As examples, we analyse a Caenorhabditis elegans cosmid with several tandem repeat families, and illustrate how DOTTER can improve gene modelling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and sequencing of the gene for the Thiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC33020 glutamate synthase (GOGAT) small subunit and complementation of an Escherichia coli gltD mutant.

A recombinant plasmid which contains the gltD gene coding for the glutamate synthase (GOGAT) small subunit was isolated from a Thiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC33020 gene bank by complementation of an Escherichia coli gltD mutant. The sequence of gltD was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence shows strong similarity to the two other prokaryote gltD sequences available, namely those of E. coli and A. brasilense (53% and 45% identity, respectively). A cosmid containing the gltBD region was isolated from a T. ferrooxidans cosmid gene bank, but was unable to complement an E. coli gltB mutant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Physical mapping of two loci (D9S5 and D9S15) tightly linked to Friedreich ataxia locus (FRDA) and identification of nearby CpG islands by pulse-field gel electrophoresis.

The Friedreich's ataxia locus (FRDA) has recently been mapped to 9q13-q21 by tight linkage to D9S15 and D9S5 loci. The present lack of recombination between these loci precludes further genetic mapping and suggests that the distances involved are in the megabase range. We have established a 1-Mb map around loci D9S15 (defined by probe MCT112) and D9S5 (defined by probe DR47) and found that they are at most 260 apart. Six rare cutting site clusters were found in a 450-kb segment containing both loci. Three clusters were completely unmethylated in two cell lines tested and might correspond to CpG islands flanking transcribed sequences. Cosmid mapping of a 52-kb region around D9S5 and pulse-field gel electrophoresis analysis showed the presence of three other CpG clusters that were partially or completely methylated. Two of them were present in the cosmid clones available and were associated with sequences conserved in other vertebrate species. The CpG islands and conserved sequences presented here can be used to search for genes defective in Friedreich's ataxia.

Animals↗

Isolation of a zinc finger motif (ZNF75) mapping on chromosome Xq26.

We report here the partial characterization of a new human zinc finger (ZNF75) gene of the Kruppel type mapping to the long arm of the X chromosome. A cosmid clone was isolated from a library specific to the Xq24-qter region by hybridization to a degenerate oligonucleotide representing the link between two contigous fingers of the C2H2 type. The sequence of the pertinent cosmid fragments demonstrated five consecutive zinc finger motifs, all pertaining to the Kruppel family. A reading frame starting at least 75 amino acids before the first zinc finger and ending 11 amino acids after the last one was identified; comparison with other ZF genes suggests that this genomic fragment represents the carboxy-terminal exon of the gene. Homology of approximately 55% in the zinc finger region was detected with many zinc finger genes including mouse Zfp-35 and human ZFN7 cDNA clones. Mapping using a panel of sematic cell hybrids and chromosomal in situ hybridization localized the gene to Xq26, in a region not previously known to contain zinc finger genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of 57 conventional RFLP and 6 VNTR systems with 32 DNA clones on chromosome 11p15.

Fifty-four clones containing human inserts were selected from a cosmid library constructed from a somatic cell hybrid containing chromosome 11p15.3-p15.5 as its only human complement. In 32 of these clones, 63 polymorphic systems were identified with a panel of restriction enzymes: 57 conventional RFLP systems and 6 highly polymorphic VNTR systems. Although we examined the cosmid with only seven enzymes, 18 clones (including 6 VNTRs) were polymorphic with three or more enzymes. The results suggested that DNA sequences on the peritelomeric region of chromosome 11p tend to be highly variable. Because these markers are highly informative, they will be excellent resources for investigations of hereditary diseases and tumor suppressor genes in this region of chromosome 11.

Animals↗

Construction, analysis, and application of a radiation hybrid mapping panel surrounding the mouse agouti locus.

The region surrounding the agouti coat color locus on mouse Chromosome 2 contains several genes required for peri-implantation development, limb morphogenesis, and segmentation of the nervous system. We have applied radiation hybrid mapping, a somatic cell genetic technique for constructing long-range maps of mammalian chromosomes, to eight molecular markers in this region. Using a mathematical model to estimate the frequency of radiation-induced breakage, we have constructed a map that spans approximately 20 recombination units and 475 centirays8000. The predicted order of markers, Prn-p-Pygb-Emv-13-Psp-Xmv-10-Emv-15-Src-Ada, is consistent with a previously derived multipoint meiotic map for six of the eight markers and suggests that Xmv-10 may lie relatively close to one or more of the agouti recessive lethal mutations. The resolution of our map is approximately 40-fold higher than the meiotic map, but the median retention frequency of mouse DNA in hybrid cells, 0.12, is 4-fold lower than similar experiments with human chromosomes. From one of the radiation hybrid lines that contained a minimum amount of mouse DNA, 25 independent cosmids were isolated with a mouse-specific hybridization probe. Single-copy fragments from two of these cosmids were shown to originate from mouse Chromosome 2, and the meiotic map position of one was found to be within 10 recombination units of the region of interest. Our results indicate more precise map positions for Pygb and Xmv-10, demonstrate that radiation hybrid mapping can provide high-resolution map information for the mouse genome, and establish a new method for isolating large fragments of DNA from a specific subchromosomal region.

Animals↗

The human gene for neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 2 (NTRK2) is located on chromosome 9 but is not the familial dysautonomia gene.

The neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 2 (NTRK2) gene is a member of the trk family of tyrosine protein kinases, which encode receptors for the nerve growth factor-related proteins known as neurotrophins. The neurotrophins and their receptors have long been considered candidate genes for familial dysautonomia (FD), a hereditary sensory neuropathy resulting from the congenital loss of both sensory and autonomic neurons. The DYS gene has recently been mapped to human chromosome 9q31-q33, and therefore we set out to determine the chromosomal localization of the candidate gene NTRK2. A mouse trkB probe was hybridized to both somatic cell hybrids containing human chromosome 9 and a human chromosome 9 flow-sorted cosmid library. The human homologue of trkB, NTRK2, was assigned to chromosome 9. To localize the NTRK2 gene further, a dinucleotide repeat polymorphism was identified within a cosmid that contains NTRK2 exon sequences. This marker was genotyped in the CEPH reference pedigrees and places the NTRK2 gene near D9S1 on the proximal long arm of human chromosome 9. The NTRK2 gene is located approximately 22 cm proximal to DYS and shows several recombinants in disease families. Therefore, the NTRK2 gene can now be excluded as a candidate gene for familial dysautonomia.

Animals↗

A physical map of chromosome 20 established using fluorescence in situ hybridization and digital image analysis.

The physical locations of 46 cosmid clones and 21 P1 clones were determined along the chromosome 20 axis relative to the p terminus (FLpter) using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and digital image microscopy. The cosmid clones were selected from the chromosomally enriched library LA20NC01. Nine P1 clones were selected from a pooled DuPont genomic library using PCR with primer pairs selected to amplify genetically mapped sequence-tagged sites. This information was used to relate the physical map to the genetic map. Twelve P1 clones were selected from the same library using PCR primer pairs that amplified known genes. Two of these, E2F and BCLX, had not been mapped previously.

Base Sequence↗

Comparative mapping of DNA probes derived from the V kappa immunoglobulin gene regions on human and great ape chromosomes by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of cosmid clones of human V kappa gene regions to human and primate chromosomes contributed to the dating of chromosome reorganizations in evolution. A clone from the kappa locus at 2p11-p12 (cos 106) hybridized to the assumed homologous chromosome bands in the chimpanzees Pan troglodytes (PTR) and P. paniscus (PPA), the Gorilla gorilla (GGO), and the orangutan Pongo pygmaeus (PPY). Human and both chimpanzees differed from gorilla and orangutan by the mapping of cos 170, a clone derived from chromosome 2cen-q11.2; the transposition of this orphon to the other side of the centromere can, therefore, be dated after the human/chimpanzee and gorilla divergence. Hybridization to homologous bands was also found with a cosmid clone containing a V kappa I orphon located on chromosome 1 (cos 115, main signal at 1q31-q32), although the probe is not fully unique. Also, a clone derived from the orphon V kappa region on chromosome 22q11 (cos 121) hybridized to the homologous bands in the great apes. This indicates that the orphons on human chromosomes 1 and 22 had been translocated early in primate evolution.

Animals↗

22 genes from chromosome 17q21: cloning, sequencing, and characterization of mutations in breast cancer families and tumors.

In our effort to identify BRCA1, 22 genes were cloned from a 1-Mb region of chromosome 17q21 defined by meiotic recombinants in families with inherited breast and/or ovarian cancer. Subsequent discovery of another meiotic recombinant narrowed the region to approximately 650 kb. Genes were cloned from fibroblast and ovarian cDNA libraries by direct screening with YACs and cosmids. The more than 400 cDNA clones so identified were mapped to cosmids, YACs, and P1 clones and to a chromosome 17 somatic panel informative for the BRCA1 region. Clones that mapped back to the region were hybridized to each other and consolidated into clusters reflecting 22 genes. Ten genes were known human genes, 5 were human homologs of known genes, and 7 were novel. Each gene was sequenced, compared to genes in the databases to find homologies, and analyzed for mutations in BRCA1-linked families and tumors. Eight mutations were found in tumors or families and not in controls. In the gene encoding alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase, approximately 100 kb proximal to the 650-kb linked region, somatic nonsense, missense, and splice junction mutations occurred in 3 breast tumors, but not in these patients' germline DNA nor in controls. In an ets-related oncogene in the linked region, a missense mutation cosegregated with breast cancer in one family and was not observed in controls. In a human homolog of a yeast pre-mRNA splicing factor, 3 different mutations cosegregated with breast cancer in 3 families and were not observed in controls. In these and the other genes in the region, 36 polymorphic variants were observed in both cases and controls.

BRCA1 Protein↗

Human ribosomal RNA gene cluster: identification of the proximal end containing a novel tandem repeat sequence.

Human ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) are arranged as tandem repeat clusters on the short arms of five pairs of acrocentric chromosomes. We have demonstrated that a majority of the rDNA clusters are detected as 3-Mb DNA fragments when released from human genomic DNA by EcoRV digestion. This indicated the absence of the EcoRV restriction site within the rDNA clusters. We then screened for rDNA-positive cosmid clones using a chromosome 22-specific cosmid library that was constructed from MboI partial digests of the flow-sorted chromosomes. Three hundred twenty rDNA-positive clones negative for the previously reported distal flanking sequence (pACR1) were chosen and subjected to EcoRV digestion. Seven clones susceptible to EcoRV were further characterized as candidate clones that might have been derived from the junctions of the 3-Mb rDNA cluster. We identified one clone containing part of the rDNA unit sequence and a novel flanking sequence. Detailed analysis of this unique clone revealed that the coding region of the last rRNA gene located at the proximal end of the cluster is interrupted with a novel sequence of approximately 147 bp that is tandemly repeated and is connected with an intervening 68-bp unique sequence. This junction sequence was readily amplified from chromosomes 21 and 15 as well as 22 using the polymerase chain reaction. Fluorescence in situ hybridization further indicated that the approximately 147-bp sequence repeat is commonly distributed among all the acrocentric short arms.

Animals↗

The putative elaiophylin biosynthetic gene cluster in Streptomyces sp. DSM4137 is adjacent to genes encoding adenosylcobalamin-dependent methylmalonyl CoA mutase and to genes for synthesis of cobalamin.

A type I PKS gene probe obtained from RAPB of the rapamycin producer Streptomyces hygroscopicus, strongly hybridised to 92 out of 1120 cosmids from a genomic library of the elaiophylin-producing strain Streptomyces sp. DSM4137. Partial cosmid sequencing suggested the presence of 10 separate sequences encoding type I PKS genes. One entire DNA sequence was obtained and found exactly to match the gene organisation expected for the biosynthesis of the unusual macrodiolide polyketide elaiophylin. The putative elaiophylin gene cluster contains five large open-reading frames encoding typical modular polyketide synthases, which together catalyse the synthesis of the octaketide monomer of elaiophylin. Other genes were identified that would be required for provision of the ethylmalonate extender unit, for the synthesis and attachment of 2-deoxy-L-fucose and in regulation, or in export of the product. Immediately adjacent to the putative elaiophylin biosynthetic gene cluster is a 30-kbp region containing the gene for adenosylcobalamin-dependent methylmalonyl CoA mutase and also genes involved in the biosynthesis of the cobalamin cofactor. Analysis of the latter gene set confirms the view that cbiD of the anaerobic pathway and cobF in the aerobic pathway catalyse the same methylation of precorrin-5. The proximity of these genes to the putative elaiophylin gene cluster can best be rationalised if in this organism succinyl-CoA is a significant source of the methylmalonate units for complex polyketide biosynthesis.

Carbohydrates↗

Shotgun optical mapping of the entire Leishmania major Friedlin genome.

Leishmania is a group of protozoan parasites which causes a broad spectrum of diseases resulting in widespread human suffering and death, as well as economic loss from the infection of some domestic animals and wildlife. To further understand the fundamental genomic architecture of this parasite, and to accelerate the on-going sequencing project, a whole-genome XbaI restriction map was constructed using the optical mapping system. This map supplemented traditional physical maps that were generated by fingerprinting and hybridization of cosmid and P1 clone libraries. Thirty-six optical map contigs were constructed for the corresponding known 36 chromosomes of the Leishmania major Friedlin genome. The chromosome sizes ranged from 326.9 to 2821.3 kb, with a total genome size of 34.7 Mb; the average XbaI restriction fragment was 25.3 kb, and ranged from 15.7 to 77.8 kb on a per chromosomes basis. Comparison between the optical maps and the in silico maps of sequence drawn from completed, nearly finished, or large sequence contigs showed that optical maps served several useful functions within the path to create finished sequence by: guiding aspects of the sequence assembly, identifying misassemblies, detection of cosmid or PAC clones misplacements to chromosomes, and validation of sequence stemming from varying degrees of finishing. Our results also showed the potential use of optical maps as a means to detect and characterize map segmental duplication within genomes.

Animals↗