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Genome sequence of the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans R1.

The complete genome sequence of the radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans R1 is composed of two chromosomes (2,648,638 and 412,348 base pairs), a megaplasmid (177,466 base pairs), and a small plasmid (45,704 base pairs), yielding a total genome of 3,284, 156 base pairs. Multiple components distributed on the chromosomes and megaplasmid that contribute to the ability of D. radiodurans to survive under conditions of starvation, oxidative stress, and high amounts of DNA damage were identified. Deinococcus radiodurans represents an organism in which all systems for DNA repair, DNA damage export, desiccation and starvation recovery, and genetic redundancy are present in one cell.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Genomic analysis of the histidine kinase family in bacteria and archaea.

Two-component signal transduction systems, consisting of histidine kinase (HK) sensors and DNA-binding response regulators, allow bacteria and archaea to respond to diverse environmental stimuli. HKs possess a conserved domain (H-box region) which contains the site of phosphorylation and an ATP-binding kinase domain. In this study, a genomic approach was taken to analyse the HK family in bacteria and archaea. Based on phylogenetic analysis, differences in the sequence and organization of the H-box and kinase domains, and the predicted secondary structure of the H-box region, five major HK types were identified. Of the 336 HKs analysed, 92% could be assigned to one of the five major HK types. The Type I HKs were found predominantly in bacteria while Type II HKs were not prevalent in bacteria but constituted the major type (13 of 15 HKs) in the archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Type III HKs were generally more prevalent in Gram-positive bacteria and were the major HK type (14 of 15 HKs) in the archaeon Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. Type IV HKs represented a minor type found in bacteria. The fifth HK type was composed of the chemosensor HKs, CheA. Several bacterial genomes contained all five HK types. In contrast, archaeal genomes either contained a specific HK type or lacked HKs altogether. These findings suggest that the different HK types originated in bacteria and that specific HK types were acquired in archaea by horizontal gene transfer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mouse genetic models in alcohol research.

Animal models offer several advantages for the study of complex human disorders such as alcoholism. No animal model replicates all aspects of alcoholism but different components of the disorder can be investigated using various rodent models. In this article, we review a select subset of the most widely used mouse genetic models in alcohol research. Different genetically defined strains and stocks of mice are useful for genetic, physiologic, behavioral and pharmacological studies of this devastating disorder. In the past decade, numerous genomic regions associated with a tendency for various behavioral components of alcoholism have been identified; recent applications of new methods are shedding light on quantitative trait genes. Many of the underlying genes should be identified in the near future.

Alcoholism↗

Identification of a Treponema pallidum laminin-binding protein.

Host extracellular matrix (ECM) components represent ideal microbial adhesion targets that many pathogens use for colonization of tissues and initiation of infection. This study investigated the interaction of the spirochete Treponema pallidum with the ECM component laminin. To identify candidate laminin-binding adhesins, the T. pallidum genome was analyzed to predict open reading frames that encode putative outer membrane proteins, as these proteins interact directly with host ECM components. Subsequent recombinant expression of these proteins and analysis of their laminin-binding potential identified one protein, Tp0751, that demonstrated specific attachment to laminin. Tp0751 attached to laminin in a dose-dependent, saturable manner but did not attach to the ECM component collagen type I or IV or to the negative control proteins fetuin or bovine serum albumin. Sodium metaperiodate treatment of laminin reduced the Tp0751-laminin interaction in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that oligosaccharides play a role in this interaction. In addition, Tp0751-specific antibodies were detected in serum samples collected from both experimental and natural syphilis infections, indicating that Tp0751 is expressed in vivo during the course of infection. Collectively, these experiments identified Tp0751 as a laminin-binding protein that is expressed during infection and may be involved in attachment of T. pallidum to host tissues.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

The PhoP-PhoQ two-component regulatory system of Photorhabdus luminescens is essential for virulence in insects.

Photorhabdus luminescens is a symbiont of entomopathogenic nematodes. Analysis of the genome sequence of this organism revealed a homologue of PhoP-PhoQ, a two-component system associated with virulence in intracellular bacterial pathogens. This organism was shown to respond to the availability of environmental magnesium. A mutant with a knockout mutation in the regulatory component of this system (phoP) had no obvious growth defect. It was, however, more motile and more sensitive to antimicrobial peptides than its wild-type parent. Remarkably, the mutation eliminated virulence in an insect model. No insect mortality was observed after injection of a large number of the phoP bacteria, while very small amounts of parental cells killed insect larvae in less than 48 h. At the molecular level, the PhoPQ system mediated Mg(2+)-dependent modifications in lipopolysaccharides and controlled a locus (pbgPE) required for incorporation of 4-aminoarabinose into lipid A. Mg(2+)-regulated gene expression of pbgP1 was absent in the mutant and was restored when phoPQ was complemented in trans. This finding highlights the essential role played by PhoPQ in the virulence of an entomopathogen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Increased level of oxidative stress in genomically unstable cell clones.

Recently, we reported that ultraviolet radiation induces delayed mutations in mammalian cells. At the same level of cell death the oxidative component of sunlight (ultraviolet A radiation) was as potent in inducing this kind of genomic instability as ultraviolet B radiation. Ultraviolet B radiation predominantly harms cells by direct damage to DNA and thus is much more mutagenic than ultraviolet A radiation. From that study, clones with a significantly increased mutation rate in the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase gene were obtained. These genomically unstable clones were also found to have a higher variance in the number of chromosomes than the unirradiated control cells, indicating chromosomal instability. The mechanisms for induction and maintenance of radiation induced genomic instability are not known, but some studies suggest that reactive oxygen species might be involved. In the present study, we have measured the level of potentially mutagenic peroxides in the genomically unstable clones. The levels of intracellular peroxides and lipid peroxides were measured using the probes dihydrorhodamine 123 and diphenyl-1-pyrenyl-phosphine, respectively. The unstable clones had elevated levels of oxidants, supporting the hypothesis that intermediate reactive oxygen species might have a role in the maintenance of genomic instability induced by ultraviolet radiation.

Animals↗

Gene gating: a hypothesis.

It is assumed that the genome of a higher eukaryotic organism is organized into a number of distinct three-dimensional (3-D) structures, each characteristic for a given differentiated state. These discrete 3-D structures are envisioned to develop in a hierarchical and largely irreversible manner from an omnipotent 3-D structure of the zygotic genome. The information for these processes is assumed to reside in the genome. The nuclear pore complexes, the peripheral nuclear lamina, and components of the nuclear core are proposed to be among the topologically most proximal organelles that interpret this information and thereby serve in the maintenance and the alteration of the 3-D structure of the genome during development, differentiation, and the cell cycle. The nuclear pore complexes are envisioned to serve as gene-gating organelles capable on interacting specifically with expanded (transcribable) portions of the genome. Their nonrandom distribution on the nuclear surface would reflect the underlying periodic organization of the genome into expanded and compacted domains, alternating with each other. All transcripts of a given gated gene would leave the nucleus by way of that pore complex to which the gene is gated. Implications for cell asymmetry and polarity are discussed and evolutionary considerations are presented.

Animals↗

Virulence strategies for infecting phagocytes deduced from the in vivo transcriptional program of Legionella pneumophila.

Adaptation to the host environment and exploitation of host cell functions are critical to the success of intracellular pathogens. Here, insight to these virulence mechanisms was obtained for the first time from the transcriptional program of the human pathogen Legionella pneumophila during infection of its natural host, Acanthamoeba castellanii. The biphasic life cycle of L. pneumophila was reflected by a major shift in gene expression from replicative to transmissive phase, concerning nearly half of the genes predicted in the genome. However, three different L. pneumophila strains showed similar in vivo gene expression patterns, indicating that common regulatory mechanisms govern the Legionella life cycle, despite the plasticity of its genome. During the replicative phase, in addition to components of aerobic metabolism and amino acid catabolism, the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, a NADPH producing mechanism used for sugar and/or gluconate assimilation, was expressed, suggesting for the first time that intracellular L. pneumophila may also scavenge host carbohydrates as nutrients and not only proteins. Identification of genes only upregulated in vivo but not in vitro, may explain higher virulence of in vivo grown L. pneumophila. Late in the life cycle, L. pneumophila upregulates genes predicted to promote transmission and manipulation of a new host cell, therewith priming it for the next attack. These including substrates of the Dot/Icm secretion system, other factors associated previously with invasion and virulence, the motility and the type IV pilus machineries, and > 90 proteins not characterized so far. Analysis of a fliA (sigma28) deletion mutant identified genes coregulated with the flagellar regulon, including GGDEF/EAL regulators and factors that promote host cell entry and survival.

Acanthamoeba castellanii↗

Corynebacterium diphtheriae: a PTS view to the genome.

We have surveyed the publicly available genome sequence of Corynebacterium diphtheriae (www.sanger.ac.uk) to identify components of the phosphotransferase system (PTS), which plays a central role in carbon metabolism in many bacteria. Three gene loci were found to contain putative pts genes. These comprise: (i) the genes of the general phosphotransferases enzyme I (ptsI) and HPr (ptsH), a fructose-specific enzyme IIABC permease (fruA), and a fructose 1-phosphate kinase (fruK); (ii) a gene that encodes an enzyme IIAB of the fructose/mannitol family, and a novel HPr-like gene, ptsF, that encodes an HPr domain fused to a domain of unknown function; (iii) and a gene for a glucose-specific enzyme IIBCA (ptsG). A search for genes that may be putative PTS-targets or that may operate in general carbon regulation revealed a possible regulatory gene encoding an antiterminator protein downstream from ptsG. Furthermore, genes were detected encoding glycerol kinase, glucose kinase, and a homologue of the global activator of carbon catabolite repression in Escherichia coli, CAP. The possible significance of these observations in carbon metabolism and the novel features of the detected genes are discussed.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Gene family for an elicitor-induced sesquiterpene cyclase in tobacco.

The initial step in the conversion of the isoprenoid intermediate farnesyl diphosphate to the sesquiterpenoid phytoalexin capsidiol in elicitor-treated tobacco tissues is catalyzed by an inducible sesquiterpene cyclase [5-epi-aristolochene synthase (EAS)]. Two independent cDNA clones (cEAS1 and cEAS2) encoding EAS were isolated from an elicitor-induced tobacco cDNA library by differential hybridization and subsequently were characterized by hybrid selection--in vitro translation. Insertion of cEAS1, a partial cDNA clone encoding 175 C-terminal amino acids, into an Escherichia coli expression vector resulted in accumulation of a fusion protein immunodetectable with EAS-specific polyclonal antibodies. The cDNA clones were used to isolate two full-length EAS genes that mapped 5 kilobases (kb) apart on one 15-kb genomic clone. The nucleotide sequences of the structural gene components were identical from 388 base pairs (bp) upstream of the transcription initiation site to 40 bp downstream of the translation termination codon, suggesting a relatively recent duplication event. The genes consist of 1479-bp open reading frames, each containing five introns and specifying 56,828-Da proteins. The N-terminal amino acid sequence deduced from the genomic clones was identical to the first 16 amino acids of the EAS protein identifiable by Edman degradation. RNA blot hybridization with cEAS1 demonstrated a mRNA induction time course consistent with the induction of the EAS mRNA translational activity with maximum levels 4-6 h after elicitation. EAS mRNA was not detected in control cells. DNA blot-hybridization analysis of genomic DNA revealed a copy number of approximately 12-15 for EAS-like genes in the tetraploid tobacco genome. The conservation of a putative allelic prenyl diphosphate binding motif is also discussed.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

Genomic characterization and regulation of CYP3a13: role of xenobiotics and nuclear receptors.

We report that CYP3a13 gene, located on mouse chromosome 5, spans 27.5 Kb and contains 13 exons. The transcription start site is 35 bp upstream of the coding region and results in a 109 bp 5' untranslated region. CYP3a13 promoter shows putative binding sites for retinoid X receptor, pregnane X receptor, and estrogen receptor. CYP3a13 shows a broad tissue distribution with predominant expression in liver. Although CYP3a13 shares 92% nucleotide identity with the female-specific rat CYP3A9, its expression does not exhibit sexual dimorphism. Ligand activation of peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and retinoid X receptor inhibit expression of CYP3a13 at the transcription level in a tissue-specific manner. Another novel finding is hepatic induction of CYP3a13 by dexamethasone occurring only in pregnane X receptor null mice. We also report that pregnane X receptor is essential to maintain robust in vivo basal levels of CYP3a13 in contrast to CYP3a11. CYP3a13 protein expressed in vitro can metabolize clinically active drugs ethylmorphine and erythromycin, as well as benzphetamine. We conclude that CYP3a13 is regulated differentially by various nuclear receptors. In humans this may lead to altered drug metabolism, as many of the newly synthesized ligands/drugs targeted toward these nuclear receptors could influence CYP3A gene expression.

Animals↗

Evaluation of mutant frequencies of chemically induced tumors and normal tissues in lambda/cII transgenic mice.

Genomic instability has been implicated as an important component in tumor progression. Evaluation of mutant frequencies (MFs) in tumors of transgenic mice containing nontranscribed marker genes should be useful for quantitating mutation rates in tumors as the physiologically inactive transgene provides neither a positive nor a negative selective pressure on the tumor. We have conducted long-term carcinogenicity studies in lambda/cII transgenic B6C3F1 mice using a variety of genotoxic and nongenotoxic test agents and have evaluated the mutant frequencies in both tumors and normal tissues from these animals. Mice were administered diethylnitrosamine (DEN) as three intraperitoneal injections of 15 mg/kg; phenobarbital (PB) or oxazepam (OXP) provided ad libitum at 0.1% or 0.25% in the diet, respectively; DEN initiation plus PB in the diet; or urethane (UTH) provided ad libitum at 0.2% in the drinking water. Normal tissues and tumors were isolated at various times over a 2-year period and half of each tissue/tumor was evaluated histopathologically and the other half was evaluated for MF in the cII transgene. Approximately 20 mutants from each of 166 individual tissues (tumor and nontumor) were sequenced to determine whether increases in MF represented unique mutations or were due to clonal expansion. UTH produced significant increases in MF in normal liver and lung. DEN either with or without PB promotion produced significant increases in MF in liver and correction of MF for clonality produced little change in the overall MF in these groups. PB produced a twofold increase in liver MF over controls after 27 weeks of treatment, but a similar increase was not observed with longer dosing times; at later time points, the MF in the PB groups was lower than that of the control group, suggesting that PB is not producing direct DNA damage in the liver. OXP failed to produce an increase in MF over controls, even after 78 weeks of treatment. Selected cases of genomic instability were observed in tumors from all treatments except OXP, with individual liver tumors showing very high MF values even after clonal correction. One rare and interesting finding was noted in a single mouse treated with UTH, where a mammary metastasis had an MF approximately 10-fold greater than the parent tumor, with 75% of the mutations independent, providing strong evidence of genomic instability. There was no clear correlation between tumor phenotype and MF except that pulmonary adenomas generally had higher MFs than normal lung in both genotoxic and nongenotoxic treatment groups. Likewise, there was no correlation between tumor size and MF after correction for clonality. The results presented here demonstrate that individual tumors can show significant genomic instability, with very significant increases in MF that are not attributed to clonal expansion of a single mutant cell.

Animals↗

Genomic structure of swine taste receptor family 1 member 3, TAS1R3, and its expression in tissues.

Taste receptor family 1 member 3, TAS1R3, is shown to be involved in sweet and umami tastes in mouse, and the nucleotide sequence of the gene has been reported in rat, gorilla, and human. Pigs are frequently used as models for human diseases, and are also considered to be source animals for xenotransplantation to humans due to their anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. Therefore, in the present study, the genomic structure of the swine TAS1R3 gene was determined, and TAS1R3 expression was studied in various swine tissues. The gene was shown to reside on swine chromosome 6q22-->q23, from which three types of mRNAs were generated: 3,752 bp derived from six exons in tongue, 3,704 bp from six exons and 3,630 bp from seven exons in testis. The 6 exons/5 introns were structurally similar to those of humans and mice, but the 7 exons/6 introns structure of TAS1R3 was first observed in swine. High expressions of TAS1R3 were revealed in tongue, kidney, and testis by real-time PCR. The expression profile of the tissues except for kidney was similar to that of mouse. When in situ hybridization using an RNA probe for TAS1R3 was performed on swine tongue and testis tissues, TAS1R3 expressions were revealed in tongue circumvallate papillae, fungiform papillae, mucosal epithelium, follicular B lymphocytes, lymphocytes in submucosal tissues of lingual tonsil, and spermatogenic cells. Using peripheral mature B lymphocytes, the expression of TAS1R3 in B lymphocytes was further confirmed by real-time PCR and sequencing of the real-time PCR product.

Animals↗

Long-range conserved non-coding SHOX sequences regulate expression in developing chicken limb and are associated with short stature phenotypes in human patients.

Defects in long-range regulatory elements have recently emerged as previously underestimated factors in the genesis of human congenital disorders. Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis is a dominant skeletal malformation syndrome caused by mutations in the short stature homeobox gene SHOX. We have analysed four families with Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis with deletions in the pseudoautosomal region but still with an intact SHOX coding region. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization and single nucleotide polymorphism studies, we identified an interval of approximately 200 kb that was deleted in all tested affected family members but retained in the unaffected members and in 100 control individuals. Comparative genomic analysis of this interval revealed eight highly conserved non-genic elements between 48 and 215 kb downstream of the SHOX gene. As mice do not have a Shox gene, we analysed the enhancer potential in chicken embryos using a green fluorescent protein reporter construct driven by the beta-globin promoter, by in ovo electroporation of the limb bud. We observed cis-regulatory activity in three of the eight non-genic elements in the developing limbs arguing for an extensive control region of this gene. These findings are consistent with the idea that the deleted region in the affected families contains several distinct elements that regulate Shox expression in the developing limb. Furthermore, the deletion of these elements in humans generates a phenotype apparently undistinguishable to those patients identified with mutations in the SHOX coding region and, for the first time, demonstrates the potential of an in vivo assay in chicken to monitor putative enhancer activity in relation to human disease.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein N (gpUL73-gN) genomic variants: identification of a novel subgroup, geographical distribution and evidence of positive selective pressure.

Human cytomegalvirus (HCMV) ORF UL73 is a polymorphic locus, encoding the viral glycoprotein gpUL73-gN, a component of the gC-II envelope complex. The previously identified gN genomic variants, denoted gN-1, gN-2, gN-3 and gN-4, were further investigated in this work by analysing a large panel of HCMV clinical isolates collected from all over the world (223 samples). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the existence of the four gN genotypes, but also allowed the identification of a novel subgroup belonging to the gN-3 genotype, which was designated gN-3b. The number of non-synonymous (d(N)) and synonymous (d(S)) nucleotide substitutions and their ratio (d(N)/d(S)) were estimated among the gN genotypes to evaluate the possibility of positive selection. Results showed that the four variants evolved by neutral (random) selection, but that the gN-3 and gN-4 genotypes are maintained by positive selective pressure. The 223 HCMV clinical isolates were subdivided according to their geographical origin, and four main regions of gN prevalence were identified: Europe, China, Australia and Northern America. The gN variants were found to be widespread and represented within the regions analysed without any significant difference, and no new genotype was detected. Finally, for clinical and epidemiological purposes, a rapid and low-cost method for genetic grouping of the HCMV clinical isolates was developed based on the RFLP revealed by SacI, ScaI and SalI digestion of the PCR-amplified UL73 sequence. This technique enabled us to distinguish all four gN genomic variants and also their subtypes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Mouse Genome Database (MGD): updates and enhancements.

The Mouse Genome Database (MGD) integrates genetic and genomic data for the mouse in order to facilitate the use of the mouse as a model system for understanding human biology and disease processes. A core component of the MGD effort is the acquisition and integration of genomic, genetic, functional and phenotypic information about mouse genes and gene products. MGD works within the broader bioinformatics community to define referential and semantic standards to facilitate data exchange between resources including the incorporation of information from the biomedical literature. MGD is also a platform for computational assessment of integrated biological data with the goal of identifying candidate genes associated with complex phenotypes. MGD is web accessible at http://www.informatics.jax.org. Recent improvements in MGD described here include the incorporation of an interactive genome browser, the enhancement of phenotype resources and the further development of functional annotation resources.

Animals↗

Genomic and proteomic evidence for a second family of dense core granule cargo proteins in Tetrahymena thermophila.

In addition to a family of structurally related proteins encoded by the Granule lattice (GRL) genes, the dense core granules in Tetrahymena thermophila contain a second, more heterogeneous family of proteins that can be defined by the presence of a domain homologous to beta/gamma-crystallins. The founding members of the family, Induced during Granule Regeneration 1 (IGR1) and Granule Tip 1 (GRT1), were identified in previous screens for granule components. Analysis of the recently sequenced T. thermophila macronuclear genome has now uncovered 11 additional related genes. All family members have a single beta/gamma-crystallin domain, but the overall predicted organization of family members is highly variable, and includes three other motifs that are conserved between subsets of family members. To demonstrate that these proteins are present within granules, polypeptides from a subcellular fraction enriched in granules were analyzed by mass spectrometry. This positively identified four of the predicted novel beta/gamma-crystallin domain proteins. Both the functional evidence for IGR1 and GRT1 and the variability in the overall structure of this new protein family suggest that its members play roles that are distinct from those of the GRL family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Experimental evolution of conflict mediation between genomes.

Transitions to new levels of biological complexity often require cooperation among component individuals, but individual selection among those components may favor a selfishness that thwarts the evolution of cooperation. Biological systems with elements of cooperation and conflict are especially challenging to understand because the very direction of evolution is indeterminate and cannot be predicted without knowing which types of selfish mutations and interactions can arise. Here, we investigated the evolution of two bacteriophages (f1 and IKe) experimentally forced to obey a life cycle with elements of cooperation and conflict, whose outcome could have ranged from extinction of the population (due to selection of selfish elements) to extreme cooperation. Our results show the de novo evolution of a conflict mediation system that facilitates cooperation. Specifically, the two phages evolved to copackage their genomes into one protein coat, ensuring cotransmission with each other and virtually eliminating conflict. Thereafter, IKe evolved such extreme genome reduction that it lost the ability to make its own virions independent of f1. Our results parallel a variety of conflict mediation mechanisms existing in nature: evolution of reduced genomes in symbionts, cotransmission of partners, and obligate coexistence between cooperating species.

Bacteriophages↗