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Usage of the three termination codons in a single eukaryotic cell, the Xenopus laevis oocyte.

Oocytes from Xenopus laevis were injected with purified amber (UAG), ochre (UAA), and opal (UGA) suppressor tRNAs from yeasts. The radioactively labeled proteins translated from the endogenous mRNAs were then separated on two-dimensional gels. All three termination codons are used in a single cell, the Xenopus laevis oocyte. But a surprisingly low number of readthrough polypeptides were observed from the 600 mRNAs studied in comparison to uninjected oocytes. The experimental data are compared with the conclusions obtained from the compilation of all available termination sequences on eukaryotic and prokaryotic mRNAs. This comparison indicates that the apparent resistance of natural termination codons against readthrough, as observed by the microinjection experiments, cannot be explained by tandem or very close second stop codons. Instead it suggests that specific context sequences around the termination codons may play a role in the efficiency of translation termination.

Animals↗

The function of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae iso-1-cytochrome c gene is independent of the codon at invariant residue Phe82 when the gene is present on a low-copy-number vector.

Phe82 is the most studied invariant residue of cytochrome c. However, the physiological relevance of amino acid substitutions at this position is unclear because previous studies were either performed in vitro (i.e. using purified protein) or in yeast where the gene for the protein is present on a multi-copy vector. Multi-copy vectors yield a level of cytochrome c in yeast that is greater than the wild-type level. Oligodeoxyribonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was used to change the codon for Phe82 to that of the other 19 naturally occurring amino acids as well as the amber stop codon. The alleles are present on a yeast shuttle phagemid containing the CEN6 gene which ensures a vector copy number of one to two in yeast. All the missense alleles support growth under conditions requiring a functional iso-1-cytochrome c. However the F82C, F82P, and F82R variants grow at a significantly lower rate. After selection for function, phagemids were rescued from the transformants and the identity of the mutation verified. It is concluded that all 20 amino acids are capable of supporting function. Reasons for the evolutionary invariance of Phe82 are discussed.

Alleles↗

The extracellular portion of HLA-DR alpha chain is composed of two compactly folded domains.

A truncated form of the class II antigen DR alpha chain of the human major histocompatibility complex was produced in bacteria. A cDNA clone encoding the intact chain was modified so that the segment encoding the signal sequence was replaced by an ATG codon and the 3' region downstream to the part corresponding to the third exon was replaced by a stop codon. The new construct was put under the control of the Tac promoter in a bacterial expression vector. The distance between the Shine-Delgarno sequence and the initiation codon was randomized so that clones with optimal expression of the truncated DR alpha chain could be obtained after induced expression and immunoscreening. The truncated DR alpha chain was subjected to limited proteolysis with chymotrypsin, and the resulting cleavage products were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two fragments were visualized by western blotting. Electrophoresis in the absence and presence of reducing agents suggested that one of the proteolytic fragments contained a disulphide bridge. It is concluded that the extracellular portion of the DR alpha chain is composed of two compactly folded domains connected by an extended stretch of the polypeptide chain.

Base Sequence↗

Nucleotide sequence of a complete mouse intracisternal A-particle genome: relationship to known aspects of particle assembly and function.

The 7,095-nucleotide sequence of a mouse genomic intracisternal A-particle (IAP) element, MIA14, is reported. MIA14 is known to be colinear with IAP 35S RNA and to contain functional long terminal repeats. Its internal genetic organization was determined by comparisons with a homologous Syrian hamster element and the related retroviruses simian retrovirus 1 (simian type D) and Rous sarcoma virus (avian type C). MIA14 contains a gag-protease open reading frame of 827 codons and a pol region of 867 codons entered by a frame shift of -1. The env region of 1,100 base pairs has multiple stop codons in all reading frames, consistent with the failure thus far to detect IAP-related glycosylated envelope components. RNA transcribed in vitro from a cDNA clone containing a closely homologous gag-protease open reading frame was translated in a cell-free system. The main product was a 73-kilodalton polypeptide immunoprecipitable with antiserum against the authentic IAP gag-related structural protein p73. Rather than ending at the gag-protease boundary, p73 appears to contain 7 to 8 kilodaltons of peptide encoded by the protease domain, a peculiarity possibly related to the observed impairment of normal protein processing in IAPs. The N-terminal 217 codons of gag are unique to murine IAPs and may have been contributed by recombination with a cellular gene. The mouse-specific region of gag encodes a hydrophobic signal peptide with an atypical cleavage site. Delayed cleavage of this peptide could result in anchoring of newly synthesized p73 to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and restriction of particle assembly to this site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

RPC82 encodes the highly conserved, third-largest subunit of RNA polymerase C (III) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

RNA polymerase C (III) promotes the transcription of tRNA and 5S RNA genes. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the enzyme is composed of 15 subunits, ranging from 160 to about 10 kDa. Here we report the cloning of the gene encoding the 82-kDa subunit, RPC82. It maps as a single-copy gene on chromosome XVI. The UCR2 gene was found in the opposite orientation only 340 bp upstream of the RPC82 start codon, and the end of the SKI3 coding sequence was found only 117 bp downstream of the RPC82 stop codon. The RPC82 gene encodes a protein with a predicted M(r) of 73,984, having no strong sequence similarity to other known proteins. Disruption of the RPC82 gene was lethal. An rpc82 temperature-sensitive mutant, constructed by in vitro mutagenesis of the gene, showed a deficient rate of tRNA relative to rRNA synthesis. Of eight RNA polymerase C genes tested, only the RPC31 gene on a multicopy plasmid was capable of suppressing the rpc82(Ts) defect, suggesting an interaction between the polymerase C 82-kDa and 31-kDa subunits. A group of RNA polymerase C-specific subunits are proposed to form a substructure of the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Somatic mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene in gastroduodenal tumors from patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

We analyzed somatic mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), p53, and K-ras genes in gastroduodenal polyps and normal gastroduodenal mucosa from 21 familial adenomatous polyposis patients, using PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing methods. Seventy-five polyps were obtained from these patients endoscopically or surgically, and they were histopathologically diagnosed as mild adenoma, moderate adenoma, severe adenoma, adenocarcinoma, and fundic gland polyp. Examining the APC-coding region where somatic mutations in colorectal tumors are known to be clustered, we detected 47 somatic mutations. The frequency of mutation detected was 6 of 9 (67%) in ampullary adenomas, 1 of 2 (50%) in ampullary adenocarcinoma, 11 of 24 (46%) in non-ampullary adenomas, 26 of 29 (90%) in gastric adenomas, and 3 of 11 (27%) in gastric fundic gland polyps. These mutations frequently occurred at codons 1450, 1462-1465, and 1554-1556, the third being a newly found hot spot. All mutations formed stop codons that resulted in truncated APC proteins. K-ras mutation was detected only in an ampullary adenocarcinoma, and p53 mutation was not detected in any of the tumors analyzed. There was no somatic mutation detected in samples of flat mucosa that were diagnosed as normal mucosa both endoscopically and histopathologically. Frequent APC mutations in mild and small adenomas, similar to the findings in severe and large adenomas, suggested that the genetic change in the APC gene occurs in an early stage of forming gastroduodenal adenomas. Moreover, the presence of somatic APC mutations in fundic gland polyps suggests that inactivation of the APC gene plays a role not only in forming adenomas but also in forming hyperplastic polyps in fundic gland mucosa, and there may be some additional steps to the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of a seed-expressed acyl carrier protein (ACP) gene from Brassica campestris (Agrani).

We describe here the nucleotide sequence of the Brassica campestris ACPSF1 gene which encodes a seed-expressed acyl carrier protein (ACP). The 3600 bp sequence consists of 1740 bp upstream of the translation start codon, 828 bp spanning the coding region which is interrupted by three introns and 1032 bp downstream of the stop codon. Using a ACPSF1 gene-specific probe, transcripts could be detected in developing seeds, but not in leaves. The gene is now the only known member that represents group I seed-expressed ACP multigene family of Brassica species. The 5' flanking sequence of the ACPSF1 gene was examined for putative transcriptional regulatory elements. A sequence alignment of the 5' flanking regions of the available seed-expressed ACP genes of Brassica species showed some conserved regions which might have some common regulatory significance.

Acyl Carrier Protein↗

Mechanism of replication of bacteriophage phi X174. XXII. Site-specific mutagenesis of the A* gene reveals that A* protein is not essential for phi X174 DNA replication.

The A and A* proteins of phage phi X174 are encoded in the same reading frame in the viral genome; the smaller A protein is the result of a translational start signal with the A gene. To differentiate their respective functions, oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis was used to change the ATG start codon of the phi X 174 A* gene, previously cloned into pCQV2 under lambda repressor control, into a TAG stop codon. The altered A gene was then inserted back into phi X replicative form DNA to produce an amber mutant, phi XamA*. Two different Escherichia coli amber suppressor strains infected with this mutant produced viable progeny phage with only a slight reduction in yield. In Su+ cells infected with phi XamA*, phi X gene A protein, altered at one amino acid, was synthesized at normal levels; A* protein was not detectable. These observations indicate that the A* protein increases the replicative efficiency of the phage, perhaps by shutting down host DNA replication, but is not required for replication of phi X174 DNA or the packaging of the viral strand under the conditions tested.

Bacteriophage phi X 174↗

Evolutionary changes in the genetic code.

1. The genetic code was thought to be identical ("universal") in all biological systems until 1981, when it was discovered that the coding system in mammalian mitochondria differed from the universal code in the use of codons AUA, UGA, AGA and AGG. 2. Many other differences have since been discovered, some in mitochondria of various phyla, others in bacteria, ciliated protozoa, algae and yeasts. 3. The original thesis that the code was universal and "frozen" depended on the precept that any mutational change in the code would be lethal, because it would produce widespread alterations in the amino acid sequences of proteins. Such changes would destroy protein function, and hence would be intolerable. 4. The objection was "by-passed" by nature. It is possible for a codon to disappear from mRNA molecules, often as a result of directional mutation pressure in DNA: thus all UGA stop codons can be replaced by UAA. 5. The missing UGA codon can then reappear when some UGG tryptophan codons mutate to UGA. The new UGA codons will be translated as tryptophan, as is the case in non-plant mitochondria and Mycoplasma. Therefore, no changes have taken place in the amino acid sequences of proteins. 6. Variations of this procedure have occurred, affecting various codons, and discoveries are still being made. The findings illustrate the evolutionary interplay between tRNA, release factors and codon-anticodon pairing.

Animals↗

Chediak-Higashi syndrome associated with maternal uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 1.

Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder (incidence around 1 in 106 births), characterised by a complex immunologic defects, reduced pigmentation, and presence of giant granules in many different cell types. It most likely results from defective organellar trafficking or protein sorting. The causative gene (LYST) has recently been identified and shown to be homologous to the beige locus in the mouse. CHS has always been reported associated with premature-termination-codon mutations in both alleles of LYST. We report a unique patient with CHS, who was homozygous for a stop codon in the LYST gene on chromosome 1 and who had a normal 46,XY karyotype. The mother was found to be a carrier of the mutation, whereas the father had two normal LYST alleles. Non-paternity was excluded by the analysis of microsatellite markers from different chromosomes. The results of 13 informative microsatellite markers spanning the entire chromosome 1 revealed that the proband had a maternal isodisomy of chromosome 1 encompassing the LYST mutation. The proband's clinical presentation also confirms the absence of imprinted genes on chromosome 1.

Alleles↗

Mutations in the PAX6 gene in patients with hereditary aniridia.

The 14 exons of the PAX6 gene have been analysed exon-by-exon using SSCP in 6 aniridia families. In each family band shifts were observed on the SSCP gels for only one exon and direct PCR-sequencing revealed mutations in each case. Two mutations involved C-->T transitions in CGAarg codons in exons 9 and 11. Another C-->T transition converted a CAG-glutamine to a TAG-stop in exon 7. Small insertions created frameshifts which produced downstream stop codons in another two patients and an A-->T mutation disrupted the splice donor site of exon 5 in the remaining family. Thus, complete inactivation of the PAX6 gene is predicted in all cases. Analysis of other affected members of the families showed that, in each case, all affected individuals carried the same family-specific mutation. One polymorphism was found in exon 7. This data strongly supports the candidature of PAX6 as the gene responsible for hereditary aniridia.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Detection of two novel mutations (nt2762, exon 2, CAG to TAG, and nt2483 or 2484, exon 2, +A) in individuals with congenital type I antithrombin deficiencies.

Genetic analyses were performed on two Japanese kindreds with congenital type I antithrombin deficiency causing recurrent thrombosis. The seven exons and flanking intron regions of the antithrombin gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction followed by direct nucleotide sequencing. In case 1, one novel nonsense mutation, CAG to TAG at codon 100, nucleotide 2762, in exon 2, was detected. In case 2, one novel minor insertion, AT to AAT at codon 7, nucleotide 2483 or 2484, in exon 2, was detected, leading to a frameshift which resulted in a stop codon TGA at codon 32.

Adolescent↗

Nucleotide sequence at the junction between the nonstructural and the structural genes of the semliki forest virus genome.

The nucleotide sequence at the junction between the nonstructural and the structural genes of the Semliki Forest virus 42S RNA genome has been determined from cloned cDNA. With the aid of S1-mapping, we have located the 5' end of the viral 26S RNA on this sequence. The 26S RNA is homologous to the 3' end of the 42S RNA and is used as a messenger for the structural proteins of the virus. The nucleotide sequence in the noncoding 5' region of the 26S RNA (51 bases) was thus established, completing the primary structure of the 26S RNA molecule (for earlier sequence work, see Garoff et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77:6376-6380, 1980, and Garoff et al., Nature (London) 288:236-241, 1980). An examination of the nucleotide sequences upstream from the initiator codon for the structural proteins on the 42S RNA genome shows that all reading frames are effectively blocked by stop codons, which means that the nonstructural genes in the 5' end of the 42S RNA molecule do not overlap with the structural ones at the 3' end of the molecule.

Base Sequence↗

Complete nucleotide sequence of a milk-transmitted mouse mammary tumor virus: two frameshift suppression events are required for translation of gag and pol.

We sequenced two recombinant DNA clones constituting a single provirus of the milk-transmitted mouse mammary tumor virus characteristic of BR6 mice. The complete provirus is 9,901 base pairs long, flanked by 6 base-pair duplications of cellular DNA at the site of integration. Five extensive blocks of open reading frame corresponding to the gag gene, the presumed protease, the pol and env genes, and the open reading frame orf within the long terminal repeat of the provirus were readily discernible. Translation of gag, protease, and pol involved three different translational reading frames to produce the three overlapping polyprotein precursors Pr77, Pr110, and Pr160 found in virus-infected cells. Synthesis of the reverse transcriptase and endonuclease therefore required two separate frameshifts to suppress the termination codons at the ends of the Pr77 and Pr110 domains. Direct evidence is presented for translational readthrough of both stop codons in an in vitro protein synthesis system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of the E9/E2C cDNA and functional characterization of the gene product reveal a new repressor of transcription and replication in cottontail rabbit papillomavirus.

Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) genomes mutated in the trans-activation domain of the E2 protein, which stimulates both viral DNA replication and transcription, are severely impaired in their ability to induce tumors in New Zealand White rabbits. A number of papillomaviruses encode, in addition to full-length E2, a shortened E2 protein or an E2 protein fused to a short stretch of amino acids derived from the small E8 open reading frame that counteract the activities of E2. We identified and cloned the novel cDNA E9/E2C of CRPV from papillomas of New Zealand White and cottontail rabbits and characterized the functions of the encoded gene product. E9/E2C was shown to be a bona fide repressor of minimal viral promoters, with the E9 domain being essential for this activity, and to repress E1/E2-dependent replication of a CRPV origin construct. In addition, E9/E2C counteracted the transactivation effect of the full-length E2 on minimal promoters containing several E2 binding sites. To investigate the role of E9/E2C in tumorigenesis, we constructed two CRPV genomes mutated in E9/E2C. One, designated CRPV-E9atgmut-pLAII, contained a mutation in the unique start codon in the E9 open reading frame, and the second E9/E2C mutant was constructed by the introduction of a stop codon close to the splice donor site at nucleotide 3714 that additionally prevented the correct splicing of the transcript. When we infected New Zealand White rabbits with these constructs, we surprisingly noted no differences in tumor induction efficiency, viral genome copy number, and viral transcription in comparison to wild-type CRPV.

Animals↗

Protein tagging at rare codons is caused by tmRNA action at the 3' end of nonstop mRNA generated in response to ribosome stalling.

It has been believed that protein tagging caused by consecutive rare codons involves tmRNA action at the internal mRNA site. We demonstrated previously that ribosome stalling either at sense or stop codons caused by certain arrest sequences could induce mRNA cleavage near the arrest site, resulting in nonstop mRNAs that are recognized by tmRNA. These findings prompted us to re-examine the mechanism of tmRNA tagging at a run of rare codons. We report here that either AGG or CGA but not AGA arginine rare-codon clusters inserted into a model crp mRNA encoding cAMP receptor protein (CRP) could cause an efficient protein tagging. We demonstrate that more than three consecutive AGG codons are needed to induce an efficient ribosome stalling therefore tmRNA tagging in our system. The tmRNA tagging was eliminated by overproduction of tRNAs corresponding to rare codons, indicating that a scarcity of the corresponding tRNA caused by the rare-codon cluster is an important factor for tmRNA tagging. Mass spectrometry analyses of proteins generated in cells lacking or possessing tmRNA encoding a protease-resistant tag sequence indicated that the truncation and tmRNA tagging occur within the cluster of rare codons. Northern and S1 analyses demonstrated that nonstop mRNAs truncated within the rare-codon clusters are detected in cells lacking tmRNA but not in cells expressing tmRNA. We conclude that a ribosome stalled by the rare codon induces mRNA cleavage, resulting in nonstop mRNAs that are recognized by tmRNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and sequence analysis of Gpdh in Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae).

The Sn-Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH: NAD+ 2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.8) gene of C. chinensis was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was analyzed. The gene was obtained by screening a genomic library with Drosophila melanogaster Gpdh and PCR amplification. The 5,126 bp gene obtained is comprised of one 5' untranslated region, eight exons, seven introns, and three 3' untranslated regions. Comparison of Gpdh of D. melanogaster with that of C. chinensis showed a 89.9% identity in the coding region, 70% in the intron, 79% in the entire nucleotide sequence, and 83.2% in the deduced amino acid sequence. The transcription initiation site is located 33 nucleotides upstream of the initiation codon, and the sequence analysis of the promoter region showed TATA and CAAT boxes at the 5' end. The stop codon (TAA) and polyadenylation signal (AATAAA) are located at the 3' end of each of the exons 6 to 8. These findings show that GPDH isozymes in C. chinensis are produced by the alternative processing of 3' exons. The occurrence of the three transcripts was proven by RT-PCR using synthetic oligonucleotides complementary to the predicted unique 3' regions. Compared to the D. melanogaster GPDH isozymes, GPDH-1, -2, and -3, C. chinensis GPDH showed 83.6%, 83%, and 84% identities, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of the amino acid sequence of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa galactophilic PA-I lectin.

Based on the NH2-terminal 30-amino acid sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa galactophilic PA-I lectin, two degenerate primer oligonucleotides were synthesized and used in polymerase chain reaction with the bacterial chromosomal DNA as a template. A predominant DNA fragment of the appropriate size was radiolabeled and used as a probe for screening a P. aeruginosa genomic lambda gt11 library. One positive clone carrying an insert of about 630 base pairs encompassing the entire PA-I lectin gene was isolated and found to contain a 369-base pair open reading frame between an initiation codon (19 base pairs downstream from the insertion site, subsequent to a Shine-Dalgarno sequence) and two consecutive stop codons, followed by an oligo (seven) A sequence, in a partial dyad symmetry. The deduced amino acid sequence shows excellent agreement with the quantitative amino acid analysis and a perfect match with the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified lectin. It reveals that the PA-I lectin subunit contains 121 amino acids (M(r) 12,754; pI 4.94) with a predominant central hydrophilic core between two hydrophobic domains. Secondary structure algorithms predict that it is rich in beta sheets and contains several highly antigenic epitopes, but no signal peptide. In the carboxyl region a potential glycosylation site (Asn-Asn-Ser) was identified. Comparative analyses of this lectin sequence with those of lectins from other sources, reported in the protein and gene data banks, did not reveal any extensive homology.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗