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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

A post-alpha gene function turns off the capacity of a host protein to bind DNA in cells infected with herpes simplex virus 1.

HEp-2 cell proteins electrophoretically separated in denaturing polyacrylamide gels and electrically transferred to nitrocellulose sheets contain a polypeptide which efficiently binds linear native DNA end labeled with 32P but not denatured DNA. The polypeptide has an apparent molecular weight of ca. 130,000. The activity of the protein was stable, and no appreciable turnover was observed after exposure of uninfected cells to inhibitory concentrations of cycloheximide for intervals of up to 24 h. However, the activity was absent from lysates of cells harvested 6 h or later postinfection with wild-type viruses. To identify the viral function involved in the loss of DNA-binding activity, we tested the lysates of cells infected with several mutants. Thus, the DNA-binding activity was unaffected in cells infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant (herpes simplex virus 1 tsLB2) in the alpha 4 gene and was maintained at a nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C). Experiments involving (i) temperature shift-down of cells infected with tsLB2 in the presence of cycloheximide, (ii) withdrawal of cycloheximide in the presence and absence of actinomycin D from cells infected with wild-type virus, (iii) infection of cells at 33 and 39 degrees C with herpes simplex virus 1 tsHA1 carrying a temperature-sensitive lesion in the beta 8 gene, and (iv) infection of cells in the presence of inhibitory concentrations of phosphonoacetate led to the conclusion that the viral functions responsible for the loss of DNA-binding capacity were specified by either beta or gamma genes not dependent on viral DNA synthesis for their expression.

Cycloheximide

Characterization of rat and human tyrosine hydroxylase genes: functional expression of both promoters in neuronal and non-neuronal cell types.

We describe the structure of the promoter and intron 1 of the human and rat tyrosine hydroxylase genes. The 5' flanking region of the two genes are 74% identical (+1 to -380) and contain a completely conserved cAMP response element. Although both genes are single copy, multiple splicing events of the human transcript lead to multiple mRNAs. Based on several lines of evidence alternative forms of mRNA of rat TH analogous to those in the human are not present. Both rat and human promoters direct the transcription of reporter genes when introduced into rat pheochromocytoma and fibroblast cells.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms

Analysis of rev gene function on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in lymphoid cells by using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction method.

Most detailed analyses of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) rev gene product have relied on transfection of subgenomic env constructs into cells in which amplification of the transfected DNA occurs. This was necessitated by difficulties in quantitating low-abundance HIV-1 mRNA species and in distinguishing different RNAs of similar sizes. We have modified the conventional polymerase chain reaction method for general use as an extremely sensitive procedure for quantitative analysis of RNA species. Using this method, we assessed the role of the HIV-1 rev gene in viral replication following mutagenesis of an infectious molecular clone, HIV-1JR-CSF. Following transfection of wild-type and mutant proviral constructs, we can specifically detect unspliced RNA and distinguish between the spliced tat-rev and nef mRNAs, which are not resolved by standard RNA analyses. Our results show that the rev protein of HIV-1JR-CSF simultaneously down regulates the expression of tat-rev and nef RNAs and up regulates the level of unspliced full-length HIV-1 RNA. A cis-acting element(s), located exclusively within the env sequences, is essential to exhibit this regulation. Fractionation of cells shows that the ultimate effect of Rev is to direct the appearance of unspliced or singly spliced RNAs in the cytoplasm. Models are discussed for possible mechanisms of Rev action.

Base Sequence

Drosophila ribosomal RNA genes function as an X-Y pairing site during male meiosis.

In Drosophila melanogaster males, the sex chromosomes pair during meiosis in the centric X heterochromatin and at the base of the short arm of the Y (YS), in the vicinity of the nucleolus organizers. X chromosomes deficient for the pairing region segregate randomly from the Y. In this report we show that a single ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene stimulates X-Y pairing and disjunction when inserted onto a heterochromatically deficient X chromosome by P element-mediated transformation. We also show that insert-containing X chromosomes pair at the site of insertion, that autosomal rDNA inserts do not affect X-Y pairing or disjunction, and that the strength of an X pairing site is proportional to the dose of ectopic rRNA genes. These results demonstrate that rRNA genes can promote X-Y pairing and disjunction and imply that the nucleolus organizers function as X-Y pairing sites in wild-type Drosophila males.

Animals

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to minor H-43a alloantigen in H-43b mice. Privileged H-2Kb restriction to the response is not due to immunodominance or epistatic effect but due to Ir gene function of H-2Kb itself.

Previous study demonstrated that anti-H-43a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response of H-43b CWB (H-2b) stain carrying non-major histocompatability complex (MHC) genes of C3H and F1 strains raised by crossing CWB with various H-43b strains was restricted exclusively by self H-2Kb (Kb). In the present study, newly produced C3W strain (H-2k, H-43b), which is H-43-congenic to C3H/HeN (H-2k, H-43a), was used as H-43b mice, and possibility of immunodominance of Kb was examined. No anti-H-43a CTL response could be induced in C3W strain and F1 strains raised by crossing C3W with other H-43b strains not carrying Kb. Thus, the possibility of immunodominance of Kb over the other MHC class I alleles could not be supported. We also examined possibility of epistatic effect of I region genes and non-MHC genes on the Kb restriction. (C3W x C57BL/6)F1(I-Ak/b) and (C3W x B6.CH-2bm12)F1(I-Ak/bm12)mice showed equally anti-H-43a CTL response restricted exclusively by self Kb, and (C3W x B10.MBR)F1(Ik/k) mice also showed anti-H-43a CTL response restricted solely by self Kb. Cold target competition experiments demonstrated that H-43b C57BL/10 or A.BY mice, which do not have non-MHC genes of C3H mounted anti-H-43a CTL response restricted solely by self Kb. Thus, no relation of I region genes or non-MHC genes to the Kb restriction was shown. All the results indicate that H-43b mouse strains, including F1, can not achieve anti-H-43a CTL response unless they carry Kb allele. Notably, (C3W x C57BL/6)F1 mice mounted self Kb-restricted anti-H-43a CTL response, whereas (C3W x B6.CH-2bm1)F1 mice carrying mutated Kb could not mount anti-H-43a CTL response at all. These findings indicate strongly that Kb itself is classical Ir gene of anti-H-43a CTL response and directs self Kb restriction of the response.

Animals

Analysis of Ir gene function using monoclonal antibodies: independent regulation of GAT and GLPhe T cell responses by I-A and I-E subregion products on a single accessory cell population.

T cell proliferative responses to the synthetic polypeptides GAT and GLPhe are under Ir gene control. GAT responses are regulated by gene(s) in the I-A subregion, and GLPhe responses are controlled by a pair of complementing genes mapping to the I-A and I-E subregions. We demonstrate that monoclonal antibody to the I-A gene product inhibits GAT proliferation but not the GLPhe response, whereas a monoclonal antibody to the I-E associated Ia-7 determinant inhibits GLPhe but not GAT proliferation, which indicates independent involvement of each Ia determinant in antigen presentation for the T cell response to these antigens. Use of the same subregion-specific monoclonal antibodies in complement-dependent lysis demonstrates that the antigen-presenting cells for GAT and GLPhe express both I-A and I-E products. The possibility that an Ia subregion-specific "self-receptor" functions on the reactive T cells as a regulatory element is discussed.

Allergy and Immunology

Control of gene function in baceriophage T4. II. Synthes of messenger ribonucleiccid and proei after interrupting deoxyribonucleic acid replication and glucosylation.

Replication of T4 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is known to be required for the onset of transcription of late T4 genes. Once late gene transcription has been initiated, DNA replication is no longer required for maintaining synthesis of late or early T4 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). Late phage proteins (lysozyme and tail fibers) continue to be produced at constant rates after interrupting T4 DNA synthesis. The ability of the host cell to glucosylate the T4 progeny DNA has no demonstrable influence on the rates at which T4 mRNA and late proteins are synthesized after the interruption of DNA synthesis. To explain the requirement of T4 DNA replication for the onset of late gene transcription, we suggest that T4 DNA in a nascent state is mandatory for the initial late gene transcription, or perhaps for late gene transcription throughout the lytic cycle. T4 DNA in a nascent state could be segregated from the bulk of the replicating DNA, used only as template for RNA synthesis, and prevented from being modified by methylation, glucosylation, or maturation processes. The fact that no, or very little, nonglucosylated T4 DNA is extractable from T4LB3-infected CR63 after arresting DNA synthesis does not rule out this possibility.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient