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Immunocytochemistry, autoradiography, in situ hybridization, selective stains: complementary tools for ultrastructural study of structure-function relationships in the nucleus. Applications to adenovirus-infected cells.

A significant amount of new information on structure-function relationships in nuclei of adenovirus-infected cells has accumulated during the last decade as a result of the combined use of several new cytochemical techniques. Localization of viral DNA on ultrathin sections of infected cells has been investigated at the ultrastructural level by using specific DNA staining and immunocytochemistry with monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies. Both techniques, however, concomitantly visualize cellular and viral DNA. The specific stain for DNA reveals the configuration of the DNA molecules in the different nuclear substructures, whatever their synthetic activities. The immunodetection of DNA reveals that specific antibodies strongly bind to DNA of condensed host chromatin and to both encapsidated and nonencapsidated inactive viral genomes. However, the observation of an abnormally low level of labeling over the substructures in which synthetic activities of viral genomes are known to be intense demonstrates a serious limitation of this technique for the detection of active DNA. Postembedding in situ hybridization is the most useful method for identifying with certainty the structures containing defined nucleic acid sequences. By using a biotinylated viral DNA probe, in situ hybridization provides specific identification of structures containing either viral DNA or viral RNA molecules. In addition, with appropriate pretreatment of the sections, it is possible to reveal either all the viral DNA--that is, both double- and single-stranded DNA molecules (dsDNA, ssDNA)--or more specific species such as only ssDNA or only dsDNA molecules. The replicative and transcriptional activities of viral genomes are determined by high-resolution autoradiography. Autoradiography after a short pulse incorporation of appropriate radioactive precursors by infected cells reveals the sites of cellular and viral DNA replication or transcription. A short pulse followed by chase periods of different durations reveals the progressive migration of the cellular and viral synthesized products. The in situ distribution of the viral 72 kDa DNA-binding protein, a highly phosphorylated protein which protects the viral ssDNA, is revealed either by immunocytochemistry with specific antibodies or by the bismuth staining method which stains all highly phosphorylated proteins, including both cellular and viral proteins. The combined results of all these cytochemical procedures reveal the composition and functions of some of the structures induced by adenovirus infection. They demonstrate that viral genomes engaged in replication lead to the formation of the replicative foci in which two compartments rapidly develop, one of which results from the aggregation of single strands of viral DNA and their accompanying 72 kDa protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Organization of loach ribosomal genes (Misgurnus fossilis L.).

The organization of ribosomal genes in the genome and amplified nucleoli of loach (Misgurnus fossilis L.), a teleost fish, was studied. Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was isolated by density gradient centrifugation, digested by EcoRI endonuclease and mapped with 18S and 28S rRNAs. The transcription unit of ribosomal genes in oocyte nucleoli was investigated by an electron-microscopic visualization technique. The repeat unit of loach rDNA was shown to be split by EcoRI into two fragments: a constant fragment (3 . 10(6) daltons) and heterogeneous one (11-13 . 10(6) daltons, major type, and 7-8 . 10(6) daltons, minor type). The average size of the transcription units was found to be 2.5 +/- 0.2 microm. The lengths of nontranscribed spacers varied from 2.4 to 2.9 microm; however, shorter ones of 1.2-1.4 microm were also noticed. The data indicate that loach rDNA is organized as tandem repeat units of two types: a major fraction of 20-25 kb (14-17 . 10(6) daltons) and a minor one 15-16 kb (10-11 . 10(6) daltons). The heterogeneous length of the repeat units was predetermined by the heterogeneity of nontranscribed spacers.

Animals↗

Chromosome reshuffling in birds of prey: the karyotype of the world's largest eagle (Harpy eagle, Harpia harpyja) compared to that of the chicken (Gallus gallus).

Like various other diurnal birds of prey, the world's largest eagle, the Harpy (Harpia harpyja), presents an atypical bird karyotype with 2n=58 chromosomes. There is little knowledge about the dramatic changes in the genomic reorganization of these species compared to other birds. Since recently, the chicken provides a "default map" for various birds including the first genomic DNA sequence of a bird species. Obviously, the gross division of the chicken genome into relatively gene-poor macrochromosomes and predominantly gene-rich microchromosomes has been conserved for more than 150 million years in most bird species. Here, we present classical features of the Harpy eagle karyotype but also chromosomal homologies between H. harpyja and the chicken by chromosome painting and comparison to the chicken genome map. We used two different sets of painting probes: (1) chicken chromosomes were divided into three size categories: (a) macrochromosomes 1-5 and Z, (b) medium-sized chromosomes 6-10, and (c) 19 microchromosomes; (2) combinatorially labeled chicken chromosome paints 1-6 and Z. Both probe sets were visualized on H. harpyja chromosomes by multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Our data show how the organization into micro- and macrochromosomes has been lost in the Harpy eagle, seemingly without any preference or constraints.

Animals↗

Molecular studies of HHV-6.

Methods for the purification of enveloped HHV-6 virions and the viral DNA are presented. The viral genome is estimated to be 170,000 base pairs in size and does not appear to contain inversions due to absence of submolar bands by restriction enzyme analyses. The genomes of two independent HHV-6 isolates, HHV-6GS and HHV-6Z29, showed restriction enzyme site pleomorphism. Large scale purification of enveloped HHV-6 was achieved by continuous flow centrifugation utilizing sucrose gradients, DNAse 1 treatment and banding on 10-30% Dextran T10 gradients. The viral proteins were visualized on high resolution two dimensional polyacrylamide gels and the proteins recognized by serum antibody from patient GS were detected by HR2D Western blot analysis and radioimmunoprecipitation assay. The major antigenic proteins were 200, 120, 80, 72, 30 and 19 kDa.

Blotting, Western↗

Localization of the gene for interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein to mouse chromosome 14 near Np-1.

Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) is a large glycoprotein known to bind retinoids and found primarily in the interphotoreceptor matrix of the retina between the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptor cells. It is thought to transport retinoids between the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptors, a critical role in the visual process. We have used a 900-bp bovine IRBP cDNA fragment to map the corresponding gene, Rbp-3, to mouse chromosome 14 with somatic cell hybrids and have positioned the gene near Np-1 (nucleoside phosphorylase-1) by analysis of the progeny of an intersubspecific backcross. In the human genome, NP maps to human chromosome 14 and RBP3 to human chromosome 10. Thus, these two genes span the putative site of a chromosomal translocation which contributed to divergent karyotype evolution of man and mouse.

Animals↗

The Drosophila ebony gene is closely related to microbial peptide synthetases and shows specific cuticle and nervous system expression.

The previously detected ebony (e) locus (Caizzi et al., 1987) consists of a complex gene structure that is divided into seven exons. An open reading frame encoding the putative Ebony protein of 98.5 kDa exhibits homology to a family of peptide synthetases (Stachelhaus and Marahiel, 1995), in good correlation with the proposed function as beta-alanyl-dopamine synthetase. Multiple ebony transcripts are detected throughout development. P-factor mediated transformation of genomic DNA rescues the cuticle, electrophysiological and behavioural phenotypes. Fusion of the ebony reading frame with that of beta-galactosidase of E. coli reveals expression in cuticle and nervous system. Strong staining in the first and, to a lesser extent, in the second optic neuropile may reflect the pronounced visual defect observed in ebony mutants. In addition, weak central brain and thoracic ganglion expression is detected in flies. Conservation of a multidomain protein structure known from peptide synthetases should have functional implications on the putative reaction mechanism of peptide bond formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rapid genotyping of mutant mice using dried blood spots for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.

Spontaneous neurologic mutations in the mouse provide powerful tools for the study of mammalian central nervous system development. The study of mouse neurologic mutants has led to a better understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in the development of the nervous system. Because few of these mutations have been identified, molecular probes distinguishing heterozygotes from homozygotes are generally unavailable. Further, most neurologic mouse mutants breed poorly as homozygotes, making it necessary to breed heterozygotes and select homozygous mutant progeny based on phenotype. The requirement for heterozygous breeding and the lack of molecular markers specific for the mutation have hampered developmental studies because the underlying neurologic perturbations occur before the mutant mice can be identified by phenotype. The recent identification and chromosomal assignment of simple sequence repeats (SSRs), repetitive sequences of DNA found at a high density throughout the mouse genome, provide the tools for mapping mutations in the mouse and for subsequent genotyping of potential mutants prior to phenotype onset. The SSRs are useful because these markers are polymorphic (for review see Weber, J.L., Human DNA polymorphisms based on length variations in simple-sequence tandem repeats. In: K.E. Davies and S.M. Tilghman (Eds.), Genetic and Physical Mapping. Genome Analysis, Vol. I, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, NY, 1990, pp. 159-181 [16]), that is, the size of the individual SSRs differs among strains of mice. Following polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of an SSR and separation of PCR products by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, one can easily visualize differences in the size of the PCR product between mouse strains. Many mutations in the mouse arose spontaneously on inbred strains and were subsequently backcrossed onto a different strain. After many generations of congenic backcrosses, the only DNA retained from the original mutant strain is composed of the mutant gene and closely linked regions. Thus, it is possible to cross the mutant strain to a different mouse strain and map the mutation by correlating mutant phenotype to SSRs the same size as the original mutant strain. We have mapped the tottering (tg), Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd), and nervous (nr) mutations using SSRs in backcrossed mouse strains. The SSRs distinguishing mutant from normal strains can then be used to genotype potential mutant pups before the onset of the mutant phenotype. The protocol described below can be adapted to almost any mutation congenically inbred for genotyping. Here we describe a method for selecting primers appropriate for genotyping potential mouse mutants and a rapid protocol for genotype screening. Even with SSRs distinguishing mutant from normal mice, genotyping several mice simultaneously can be a daunting task. This is primarily because the protocols available for preparing DNA for PCR amplification are time-consuming, requiring several purification steps including phenol extractions. Although kits are commercially available for DNA preparation without organic extractions, these kits tend to be expensive. The protocol described is a rapid, inexpensive method of determining the genotype of mice using PCR analysis of dried blood spots. The protocol only requires PCR primers distinguishing among alleles and is therefore ideal for the rapid identification of potential mutants for those mouse mutations which have been mapped using microsatellite markers. The DNA preparation protocol may also be used in rapid screening of potential transgenic mice.

Animals↗

Centromere sequences localize to the nuclear halo of human spermatozoa.

Chromatin is organized into a series of discrete nuclear matrix-associated and non-nuclear matrix-associated domains. The non-matrix-associated domains consist of loops of DNA that are attached to the proteinaceous nuclear matrix by matrix-associated regions (MARs). Although this organization is well characterized in somatic cells, comparatively little is known of this mode of organizing the genome in the human sperm nucleus. To define this relationship, the interaction of human sperm chromatin with the nuclear matrix was assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization using specific alpha satellite probes directed to the centromeric regions of chromosomes 13 plus 21 and 18. Hybridization of the centromeric sequences was visualized as segmented, bundled structures that extended from the nuclear core into the halo.

Cell Nucleus↗

Loop structures in hybrids of early RNA and the separated strands of adenovirus DNA.

Separated strands of adenovirus DNA were annealed with early cytoplasmic RNA and visualized in the electron microscope. DNA-RNA duplex regions within the DNA filaments could be recognized by their heavy contour. This contour was often interrupted at distinct locations by loops of displaced, single-stranded DNA. Loops have been observed and mapped in all four early regions of the genome. The structures appear to signal hitherto unknown mechanisms of eukaryotic gene expression.

Adenoviridae↗

Migration of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein to the nucleus of infected cells.

A new means of direct visualization of the early events of viral infection by selective fluorescence labeling of viral proteins coupled with digital imaging microscopy is reported. The early phases of viral infection have great importance for understanding viral replication and pathogenesis. Vesicular stomatitis virus, the best-studied rhabdovirus, is composed of an RNA genome of negative sense, five viral proteins, and membrane lipids derived from the host cell. The glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus was labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate, and the labeled virus was incubated with baby hamster kidney cells. After initiation of infection, the fluorescence of the labeled glycoprotein was first seen inside the cells in endocytic vesicles. The fluorescence progressively migrated to the nucleus of infected cells. After 1 h of infection, the virus glycoprotein was concentrated in the nucleus and could be recovered intact in a preparation of purified nuclei. These results suggest that uncoating of the viral RNA occurs close to the nuclear membrane, which would precede transcription of the leader RNA that enters the nucleus to shut off cellular RNA synthesis and DNA replication.

Animals↗

A suite of algorithms for the comprehensive analysis of complex protein mixtures using high-resolution LC-MS.

MOTIVATION: Comparing two or more complex protein mixtures using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) requires multiple analysis steps to locate and quantitate natural peptides within a single experiment and to align and normalize findings across multiple experiments. RESULTS: We describe msInspect, an open-source application comprising algorithms and visualization tools for the analysis of multiple LC-MS experimental measurements. The platform integrates novel algorithms for detecting signatures of natural peptides within a single LC-MS measurement and combines multiple experimental measurements into a peptide array, which may then be mined using analysis tools traditionally applied to genomic array analysis. The platform supports quantitation by both label-free and isotopic labeling approaches. The software implementation has been designed so that many key components may be easily replaced, making it useful as a workbench for integrating other novel algorithms developed by a growing research community. AVAILABILITY: The msInspect software is distributed freely under an Apache 2.0 license. The software as well as a Zip file with all peptide feature files and scripts needed to generate the tables and figures in this article are available at http://proteomics.fhcrc.org/.

Algorithms↗

PoweREST: Statistical power estimation for spatial transcriptomics experiments to detect differentially expressed genes between two conditions.

Recent advancements in spatial transcriptomics (ST) have significantly enhanced biological research in various domains. However, the high cost for current ST data generation techniques restricts the large-scale application of ST. Consequently, maximization of the use of available resources to achieve robust statistical power for ST data is a pressing need. One fundamental question in ST analysis is detection of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under different conditions using ST data. Such DEG analyses are performed frequently, but their power calculations are rarely discussed in the literature. To address this gap, we developed PoweREST, a power estimation tool designed to support the power calculation for DEG detection with 10X Genomics Visium data. PoweREST enables power estimation both before any ST experiments and after preliminary data are collected, making it suitable for a wide variety of power analyses in ST studies. We also provide a user-friendly, program-free web application that allows users to interactively calculate and visualize study power along with relevant parameters.

Gene Expression Profiling↗

The peptidomics concept.

Peptides are a paramount example of how nature diversifies from one single gene to release multiple, regulated functionalities at the desired sites and time. To achieve this, peptides are sequentially generated by a complex network of more than 500 proteases, acting at intracellular sites, upon secretion, in extracellular environments, and, finally, serving (regulated) degradation. This cycle of maturation, activation, and degradation points out that the peptidome is mechanistically linked to the proteome: the distribution between both is regulated by proteases and counter-regulated by protease inhibitors. Given the high diversity of peptides in living systems and their involvement in key regulatory processes, a need for improved peptide discovery, ideally combining peptide sequence identification with peptide profiling, has emerged. Standard proteomic approaches are not suitable for a systematic peptide analysis, since they do not cover the low molecular mass window. The new direction in proteomic research to analyse this "terra incognita" is peptidomics. This novel concept aims at the comprehensive visualization and analysis of small polypeptides, thus covering the mass range between proteomics and metabonomics. The pacemakers for the development of peptidomics technologies are modern mass spectrometry and bioinformatics. They are ideally suited for sensitive and comprehensive peptide analysis, especially in combination with the massive information content of today's genomic and transcriptomic databases. Given the high diversity of native peptides in living systems, clinical chemistry and modern medicine are the prime application areas. The discovery of relevant peptide biomarkers and drug targets will strongly benefit from peptidomics.

Animals↗

Direct detection of dystrophin gene rearrangements by analysis of dystrophin mRNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Using 10 overlapping nested sets of primers and using peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) total RNA as template, we have developed a system, based on PCR, which allows the rapid production of double-stranded cDNA corresponding to the entire coding sequence of the dystrophin gene. The product can be visualized on native minigels by ethidium staining and directly sequenced after gel purification. We have used this system to analyze the structures of PBL dystrophin mRNA in 26 Duchenne, Becker, or intermediate muscular dystrophy patients who have gross rearrangements of the dystrophin gene. In each case, the effect that the genomic rearrangement has on the structure of the transcript--and, by inference, on the dystrophin protein--has been determined, and the results confirm the frameshift hypothesis. The study also identifies a series of alternatively spliced transcripts which are specific to the rearranged genotypes and which seem therefore to arise following the alteration in the context of the splice signal. The system has been used for unambiguous identification of carrier females. Furthermore, the rapid production of microgram quantities of dystrophin cDNA from a readily accessible tissue makes point-mutation screening a practical proposition.

Base Sequence↗

[Diurnal rhythm of sensitivity of nerve cell genome activity to changed motor regime].

Diurnal variations in the incorporation of labelled precursors of RNA and proteins into the spinal, stem, and cerebral cell populations of the rat nervous system were studied on surviving brain slices under standard conditions and during exercise by swimming. Cosinor analysis of the relative level of 3H-uridine incorporation into spinal ganglia L5, superior cervical ganglia, spinal cord L5, hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei and cerebellar cortex revealed that the arrangement of the calculated acrophases of these organs in the dark period of a day. The acrophases of visual and somatosensory cortical cells were observed in the light period of a day. The calculated maximum values of the rate of 3H-leucine incorporation into nerve cell proteins (the internal acrophases ranged from 3 to 9 hours) were seen at certain intervals. Thus, the processes providing the function of a protein-synthesizing apparatus of nerve cells are characterized by a definite time organization and these processes vary significantly in their activity during a diurnal cycle. Depending on the time of a day when exercise was performed, there were differences in the changing activity of genetic and protein-synthesizing apparatuses during nerve cell reactions. This is associated with the different time of the onset of a reaction, passage of its some stages, with the rate of processes, and with the periods of normalization. The curves of a phasic response are discussed.

Animals↗

Structure and dynamics of human interphase chromosome territories in vivo.

A new approach is presented which allows the in vivo visualization of individual chromosome territories in the nuclei of living human cells. The fluorescent thymidine analog Cy3-AP3-dUTP was microinjected into the nuclei of cultured human cells, such as human diploid fibroblasts, HeLa cells and neuroblastoma cells. The fluorescent analog was incorporated during S-phase into the replicating genomic DNA. Labelled cells were further cultivated for several cell cycles in normal medium. This well-known scheme yielded sister chromatid labelling. Random segregation of labelled and unlabelled chromatids into daughter nuclei resulted in nuclei exhibiting individual in vivo detectable chromatid territories. The territories were composed of subcompartments with diameters ranging between approximately 400 and 800 nm which we refer to as subchromosomal foci. Time-resolved in vivo studies demonstrated changes of positioning and shape of territories and subchromosomal foci. The hypothesis that subchromosomal foci persist as functionally distinct entities was supported by double labelling of chromatin with CldU and IdU, respectively, at early and late S-phase and subsequent cultivation of corresponding cells for 5-10 cell cycles before fixation and immunocytochemical detection. This scheme yielded segregated chromatid territories with distinctly separated subchromosomal foci composed of either early- or late-replicating chromatin. The size range of subchromosomal foci was similar after shorter (2 h) and longer (16 h) labelling periods and was observed in nuclei of both living and fixed cells, suggesting their structural identity. A possible functional relevance of chromosome territory compartmentalization into subchromosomal foci is discussed in the context of present models of interphase chromosome and nuclear architecture.

Bromodeoxyuridine↗

Vectors for the genetic manipulation of African swine fever virus.

Plasmid vectors designed to facilitate the genetic manipulation of African swine fever virus (ASFV) are described. Our results demonstrate that the beta-glucuronidase enzyme (GUS) can be used to follow gene expression in ASFV-infected cells. Infectious plaques formed by ASFV expressing GUS are visually detectable, thus providing a simple and highly sensitive method for the selection of ASFV recombinants. These and previous results have allowed us to construct two chimeric gene cassettes that constitute the basic tools for the generation of vectors to carry out the deletion of multiple target sequences from the ASFV genome. These cassettes, formed by: (a) a virus promoter; (b) the coding sequence of a reporter gene, either Lac Z or gusA; and (c) a strong signal for the 3' end formation of ASFV mRNAs, can be easily isolated by endonuclease restriction from their corresponding plasmid vectors. A general insertion/coexpression plasmid vector, pEPV2, has also been constructed. pEPV2 facilitates the insertion of foreign genes, together with the Lac Z reporter, into the thymidine kinase locus of ASFV. The functionality of pEPV2 has been tested by generating a recombinant ASFV expressing the luciferase gene. The vectors presented in this report constitute the first reported set of tools for the genetic manipulation of ASFV.

African Swine Fever Virus↗

Testing of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique as a tool for molecular epidemiology of Trichinella nativa.

A total of nine Trichinella nativa isolates were compared by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Four hundred nanograms of genomic DNA from a pool of 10--20 larvae were digested using HindIII and MseI restriction endonucleases. Of the 16 primer combinations initially tested, Hind-C and Mse-C primers showed rich polymorphism with approximately 40--90 bands in the range of 30--270 bp. Genetic similarities were estimated visually. AFLP provided discriminatory banding patterns and may therefore be used as a method for detecting variation in T. nativa populations. However, the heterogeneous patterns obtained from pooled samples emphasize the need for further development of the sampling and numerical analysis of the patterns for epidemiological and taxonomical interpretation.

Animals↗