Rat repetitive sequence: consensus sequence of Taq I-298 base pairs fragment.
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Consensus sequencing of the genome of the ARILVAX live attenuated yellow fever (YF) 17D vaccine was performed directly on reconstituted virus from a vial of the vaccine secondary seed (without plaque-purification or cloning of cDNA). The genome of ARILVAX was identical in organization and size (10,862 nucleotides (nt)) to other published YF 17D sequences. A total of 12 nt heterogeneities were detected indicating that the vaccine is a heterogeneous population. Some of these indicated the presence of quasispecies with residues not reported previously for other sequenced YF 17D strains. A number of nts clearly differed from some YF vaccine strain sequences but coincided with the others, which could be due to the use of consensus sequencing approach in this study. Most (but not all) of the heterogeneities and nt differences were silent (i.e. did not result in an amino acid change). The differences are inconsequential to safety and effectiveness of ARILVAX. Other YF 17D vaccines are undoubtedly also heterogeneous and need to be re-examined using the consensus approach.
Yeast autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) elements are composed of a conserved 11-base-pair (bp) core consensus sequence and a less well defined 3'-flanking region. We have investigated the relationship between the H4 ARS core consensus sequence and its 3'-flanking domain. The minimal sequences necessary and sufficient for function were determined by combining external 3' and 5' deletions to produce a nested set of ARS fragments. Sequences 5' of the core consensus were dispensable for function, but at least 66 bp of 3'-flanking domain DNA was required for full ARS function. The importance of the relative orientation of the core consensus element with respect to the 3'-flanking domain was tested by precisely inverting 14 bp of DNA including the core consensus sequence by oligonucleotide mutagenesis. This core inversion mutant was defective for all ARS function, showing that a fixed relative orientation of the core consensus and 3'-flanking domain is required for function. The 3'-flanking domain of the minimal functional H4 ARS fragment contains three sequences with a 9-of-11-bp match to the core consensus. The role of these near-match sequences was tested by directed mutagenesis. When all near-match sequences with an 8-of-11-bp match or better were simultaneously disrupted by point mutations, the resulting ARS construct retained full replication function. Therefore, multiple copies of a sequence closely related to the core consensus element are not required for H4 ARS function.
A wide variety of proteins have been shown to recognize and bind to specific amino acid sequences on other proteins. These sequences can be readily identified using combinatorial peptide libraries. However, peptides containing these preferred sequences ("consensus sequence peptides") typically display only modest affinities for the consensus sequence-binding site on the intact protein. In this report, we describe a parallel synthesis strategy that transforms consensus sequence peptides into high affinity ligands. The work described herein has focused on the Lck SH2 domain, which binds the consensus peptide acetyl-Tyr(P)-Glu-Glu-Ile-amide with a K(D) of 1.3 micrometer. We employed a strategy that creates a series of spatially focused libraries that challenge specific subsites on the target protein with a diverse array of functionality. The final lead compound identified in this study displayed a 3300-fold higher affinity for the Lck SH2 domain than the starting consensus sequence peptide.
Hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) proteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been reported to react broadly with sera of patients with HCV infection. However, the variability of the broad reactivity of individual HVR1 proteins has not been elucidated. We assessed the reactivity of 25 different HVR1 proteins (genotype 1b) with sera of 81 patients with HCV infection (genotype 1b) by Western blot. HVR1 proteins reacted with 2-60 sera. The number of sera reactive with each HVR1 protein significantly correlated with the number of amino acid residues identical to the consensus sequence defined by Puntoriero et al. (G. Puntoriero, A. Lahm, S. Zucchelli, B. B. Ercole, R. Tafi, M. Penzzanera, M. U. Mondelli, R. Cortese, A. Tramontano, G. Galfre', and A. Nicosia. 1998. EMBO J. 17, 3521-3533. ) (r = 0.561, P < 0.005). The most widely reactive HVR1 protein, 12-22, had a sequence similar to the consensus sequence. The peptide with C-terminal 13-amino-acids sequence of HVR1 protein 12-22 (NH2-CSFTSLFTPGPSQK) was injected into rabbits as an immunogen. The rabbit immune sera reacted with 9 of 25 HVR1 proteins of genotype 1b including HVR1 protein 12-22 and with 3 of 12 proteins of genotype 2a. These results indicate that the HVR1 protein broadly reactive with patients' sera has a sequence similar to the consensus sequence, can induce broadly reactive sera, and could be one of the candidate immunogens in a prophylactic vaccine against HCV.
The regulation of the expression of the operons in the flagella-chemotaxis regulon in Escherichia coli has been shown to be a highly ordered cascade which closely parallels the assembly of the flagellar structure and the chemotaxis machinery (T. Iino, Annu. Rev. Genet. 11:161-182, 1977; Y. Komeda, J. Bacteriol. 168: 1315-1318). The master operon, flbB, has been sequenced, and one of its gene products (FlaI) has been identified. On the basis of the deduced amino acid sequence, the FlbB protein has similarity to an alternate sigma factor which is responsible for expression of flagella in Bacillus subtilis. In addition, we have sequenced the 5' regions of a number of flagellar operons and compared these sequences with the 5' region of flagellar operons directly and indirectly under FlbB and FlaI control. We found both a consensus sequence which has been shown to be in all other flagellar operons (J. D. Helmann and M. J. Chamberlin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:6422-6424) and a derivative consensus sequence, which is found only in the 5' region of operons directly under FlbB and FlaI control.
Consensus sequences are widely used in molecular biology but they have many flaws. As a result, binding sites of proteins and other molecules are missed during studies of genetic sequences and important biological effects cannot be seen. Information theory provides a mathematically robust way to avoid consensus sequences. Instead of using consensus sequences, sequence conservation can be quantitatively presented in bits of information by using sequence logo graphics to represent the average of a set of sites, and sequence walker graphics to represent individual sites.
In our studies of murine coronavirus transcription, we continue to use defective interfering (DI) RNAs of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) in which we insert a transcription consensus sequence in order to mimic subgenomic RNA synthesis from the nondefective genome. Using our subgenomic DI system, we have studied the effects of sequences flanking the MHV transcription consensus sequence on subgenomic RNA transcription. We obtained the following results. (i) Insertion of a 12-nucleotide-long sequence including the UCUAAAC transcription consensus sequence at different locations of the DI RNA resulted in different efficiencies of subgenomic DI RNA synthesis. (ii) Differences in the amount of subgenomic DI RNA were defined by the sequences that flanked the 12-nucleotide-long sequence and were not affected by the location of the 12-nucleotide-long sequence on the DI RNA. (iii) Naturally occurring flanking sequences of intergenic sequences at gene 6-7, but not at genes 1-2 and 2-3, contained a transcription suppressive element(s). (iv) Each of three naturally occurring flanking sequences of an MHV genomic cryptic transcription consensus sequence from MHV gene 1 also contained a transcription suppressive element(s). These data showed that sequences flanking the transcription consensus sequence affected MHV transcription.
Mutation in the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 could affect syncytium formation, virus infectivity and neutralization. To acquire more information of the V3 loop mutation, we analyzed amino acid sequences of the V3 loop of 24504 isolates from most HIV-1 clades (including A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H clades). The consensus sequence of the V3 loop of each subtype with the highest frequency emerging on each position is constituted and the conservation of each amino acid in this region is also calculated. Exploring the restricted mutation of the V3 region could help to understand mechanism of HIV entry and to develop new strategy against HIV-1.
MOTIVATION: A consensus sequence for a family of related sequences is, as the name suggests, a sequence that captures the features common to most members of the family. Consensus sequences are important in various DNA sequencing applications and are a convenient way to characterize a family of molecules. RESULTS: This paper describes a new algorithm for finding a consensus sequence, using the popular optimization method known as simulated annealing. Unlike the conventional approach of finding a consensus sequence by first forming a multiple sequence alignment, this algorithm searches for a sequence that minimises the sum of pairwise distances to each of the input sequences. The resulting consensus sequence can then be used to induce a multiple sequence alignment. The time required by the algorithm scales linearly with the number of input sequences and quadratically with the length of the consensus sequence. We present results demonstrating the high quality of the consensus sequences and alignments produced by the new algorithm. For comparison, we also present similar results obtained using ClustalW. The new algorithm outperforms ClustalW in many cases.
Our previous DNA sequence comparisons of 3' terminal portions from equivalent herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 genes identified a conserved sequence (consensus YGTGTTYY; Y = pyrimidine) located approximately 30bp downstream from the AATAAA signal. We report here that this signal is located downstream from 67% of the mammalian mRNA 3' termini examined. Using constructions with the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene linked to an HSV 'terminator' fragment, we show that deletions in the 'terminator' reduce CAT activities and the levels of CAT mRNA 3' termini. Specifically: (1) deletions of downstream sequences which extend up to the consensus YGTGTTYY signal reduce CAT levels to values 35% of those obtained with undeleted plasmids, (2) a deletion of a further 14bp, which removes the YGTGTTYY consensus but not the poly A site, reduces CAT activities to 1%-4%. The levels of CAT mRNA 3' termini reflect the reductions in CAT activities however, levels of mRNA 5' termini are unaffected by these deletions. The RNA produced in the absence of the YGTGTTYY signal is present in the cytoplasm although no CAT activity is detectable.
We have analyzed the relationship between autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) structure and function for three ARS (ARS605, ARS607 and ARS609) from chromosome VI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by systematic XhoI-linker mutation in the ARS consensus sequence (ACS) and flanking sequences. All mutations that encroached upon the ACS destroyed ARS activity. DNA sequences stimulative for ARS function were identified on either side of the ACS of ARS605 and only on the 3'-side of the ACS of ARS607. In ARS609, however, no such stimulative sequences were observed. Base substitutions complementary to the wild-type sequence of those stimulative regions, in ARS605 and ARS607, that did not change the delta G of unwinding nor affected ARS activity suggests that these regions have, at least, a function as DNA-unwinding elements (DUE). ARS605, ARS607 and ARS609 DNA are of low delta G value and showed hypersensitivity to single-strand-specific nuclease when inserted in negatively supercoiled plasmid. Linker mutations inhibitory for ARS activity (5L11 and 7L14) also caused significant changes in local nucleotide (nt) sensitivity within the ACS and its adjoining regions. Complementary base substitutions, however, did not affect these changes in local nt sensitivity. These results imply that the stimulative regions flanking the ACS are necessary to produce an optimum conformation around the ACS which may be important for full ARS activity.
We identified and produced antibodies to the major proteins that interact with poly(A)+ RNAs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The major proteins which were cross-linked by UV light to poly(A)+ RNA in intact yeast cells had apparent molecular weights of 72,000, 60,000, and 50,000. The poly(A) segment of the RNA was selectively cross-linked to the 72,000-molecular-weight protein (72K protein). Mice immunized with purified UV-cross-linked RNA-protein (RNP) complexes produced antibodies to the three major RNP proteins. A yeast genomic DNA library constructed in the lambda gt11 expression vector was screened with the anti-RNP serum, and recombinant bacteriophage clones were isolated. One recombinant phage, lambda YPA72.1, bearing a 2.5-kilobase insert, produced a large beta-galactosidase-RNP fusion protein. Affinity-selected antibodies from the anti-RNP serum on this fusion protein recognized a single 72K protein which was cross-linked to the poly(A) segment of RNA in the intact cell. Furthermore, the fusion protein of lambda YPA72.1 had specific poly(A)-binding activity. Therefore, lambda YPA72.1 encodes the 72K poly(A)-binding protein. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that this protein was localized in the cytoplasm. Hybrid-selected mRNA translated in vitro produced the 72K poly(A)-binding protein, and mRNA blot analysis detected a single 2.1-kilobase mRNA. DNA blot analysis suggested a single gene for the poly(A)-binding protein. DNA sequence analysis of genomic clones spanning the entire gene revealed a long open reading frame encoding a 64,272-molecular-weight protein with several distinct domains and repeating structural elements. A sequence of 11 to 13 amino acids is repeated three times in this protein. Strikingly, this repeated sequence (RNP consensus sequence) is highly homologous to a sequence that is repeated twice in a major mammalian heterogeneous nuclear RNP protein, A1. The conservation of the repetitive RNP consensus sequence suggests an important function and a common evolutionary origin for messenger RNP and heterogeneous nuclear RNP proteins.
We constructed a library of synthetic promoters for Lactococcus lactis in which the known consensus sequences were kept constant while the sequences of the separating spacers were randomized. The library consists of 38 promoters which differ in strength from 0.3 up to more than 2,000 relative units, the latter among the strongest promoters known for this organism. The ranking of the promoter activities was somewhat different when assayed in Escherichia coli, but the promoters are efficient for modulating gene expression in this bacterium as well. DNA sequencing revealed that the weaker promoters (which had activities below 5 relative units) all had changes either in the consensus sequences or in the length of the spacer between the -35 and -10 sequences. The promoters in which those features were conserved had activities from 5 to 2,050 U, which shows that by randomizing the spacers, at least a 400-fold change in activity can be obtained. Interestingly, the entire range of promoter activities is covered in small steps of activity increase, which makes these promoters very suitable for quantitative physiological studies and for fine-tuning of gene expression in industrial bioreactors and cell factories.
We constructed a library of synthetic stationary-phase promoters for Escherichia coli. For designing the promoters, the known -10 consensus sequence, as well as the extended -10 region, and an A/T-rich region downstream of the -10 region were kept constant, whereas sequences from -37 to -14 were partially or completely randomised. For detection and selection of stationary-phase promoters, green fluorescent protein (GFP) with enhanced fluorescence was used. To establish the library, 33 promoters were selected, which differ in strength from 670 to more than 13,000 specific fluorescence units, indicating that the strength of promoters can be modulated by the sequence upstream of the -10 region. DNA sequencing revealed a preferential insertion of nucleotides depending on the position. By expressing the promoters in an rpoS-deficient strain, a special group of stationary-phase promoters was identified, which were expressed exclusively or preferentially by RNA polymerase holoenzyme Esigma(s). The DNA sequence of these promoters differed significantly in the region from -25 to -16. Furthermore, it was shown that the DNA curvature of the promoter region had no effect on promoter strength. The broad range of promoter activities make these promoters very suitable for fine-tuning of gene expression and for cost-effective large-scale applications in industrial bioprocesses.
During a systematic screening of Algerian thalassemics by determining the DNA polymorphism haplotypes in the beta globin gene cluster, a novel haplotype was identified. The DNA of a homozygous individual was cloned and sequenced. The mutation, a G----A change, at position 5 of the small intervening sequence, probably interferes with normal splicing events, and, moreover, creates a new Eco RV restriction site that provides a useful diagnostic tool for detecting this condition.
During the past several years, the use of computer programs in the analysis of protein and DNA sequences has become commonplace. In all but the simplest procedures, the ability to critically review the results obtained with computer methods requires a basic knowledge of the algorithms employed (and the assumptions upon which they are based), an awareness of the capabilities and limitations of the particular program that implements an algorithm, and some familiarity with probability and statistics. We describe a number of computer methods that have been applied to the analysis of apolipoprotein sequences. We discuss the suitability of these methods for particular problems, how the choice of initial "parameters" can affect the results, and what the results can tell us about protein or gene sequences. We also identify some outstanding problems of apolipoprotein sequence analysis where further work is needed.
Several repetitive DNA families were identified in Entamoeba histolytica DNA digested with Sau3AI. Characterisation of one of these repetitive DNA families showed the presence of multiple copies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) core consensus sequences. The E. histolytica ARS consensus sequences allowed a yeast-integrating plasmid, YIP5, to replicate autonomously in S. cerevisiae. A 'bent DNA' fragment was located in one member of this E. histolytica repetitive DNA family.