Primary structure homology between the product of yeast cell division control gene CDC28 and vertebrate oncogenes

In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, division is controlled in response to nutrient limitation and in preparation for conjugation. Cells deprived of an essential nutrient or responding to mating pheromones cease division and become synchronous in the G1 interval, apparently constrained from completing a critical event. This event has been given the operational designation of 'start'. We have isolated a large number of start mutations which confer on S. cerevisiae cells a conditional inability to complete start (Fig. 1) presumably because they define genes which must be expressed for the start event to be successfully completed. We have described the isolation on plasmids of one of the start genes, CDC28, by genetic complementation and initial characterization of its product. We now describe the DNA sequence of the gene CDC28.     

Protein Subcellular Localization Prediction and Genomic Polymorphism Analysis of the SARS Coronavirus

Introduction In March 2003, a novel coronavirus (CoV) was dis-covered in association with the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)[1-3]. The complete genome sequence of several SARS-CoV isolates was soon determined and characterized[4,5]. Comparison of variant SARS-CoV genome sequences has identified certain genetic signatures that can be used to trace sources of infection[6]. Vaccines are now being devel-oped and molecular modeling has suggested that modi-fied rhinovir…     

Catalysis of guanine nucleotide exchange on the CDC42Hs protein by the dbl oncogene product

THE superfamily of low molecular mass GTP-binding proteins, for which the ras proteins are prototypes, has been implicated in the regulation of diverse biological activities including protein trafficking, secretion, and cell growth and differentiation. One member of this family, CDC42Hs (originally referred to as Gp or G25K), seems to be the human homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell-division-cycle protein, CDC42Sc. A second S. cerevisiae protein, CDC24, which is known from complementation studies to act with CDC42Sc to regulate the development of normal cell shape and the selection of nonrandom budding sites in yeast, contains a region with sequence similarity to the dbl oncogene product. Here we show that dbl specifically catalyses the dissociation of GDP from CDC42Hs and thereby qualifies as a highly selective guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the GTP-binding protein. Although guanine nucleotide exchange activities have been previously described for other members of the Ras-related GTP-binding protein family, this is the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of the involvement of a human oncogenic protein in catalysing exchange activity.     

基于基因表达谱芯片杂交分析Lamprey-PHB2转染前后Chang liver细胞的基因表达差异

选取了10个物种与本课题组前期克隆得到的东北七鳃鳗抗增殖蛋白2(Lm-PHB2)进行氨基酸序列相似性对比,检测PHB2基因进化水平,结果表明各物种的PHB2氨基酸序列在PHB结构域处高度保守,但在N-端和C-端氨基酸序列保守性较低.将重组质粒pEGFP-N1-Lm-PHB2瞬时转染入张氏肝(CHL)细胞后,利用基因表达谱芯片技术分析基因的表达差异.结果显示CHL细胞中共有270条显著差异表达基因,其中显著上调基因共141条,显著下调基因共129条,涉及细胞信号转导、细胞周期调节、细胞增殖、细胞代谢和细胞凋亡等多个方面.通过实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(PCR)对基因表达谱芯片分析结果进行验证,结果显示转染pEGFP-N1-Lm-PHB2质粒后,细胞周期基因CDC25C、氧化应激相关基因(CAT,SOD,GST)和抗细胞凋亡基因HAX1均有显著性差异.     

Cellular immortalization by a cDNA clone encoding the transformation-associated phosphoprotein p53

Malignant transformation of primary cells requires at least two distinct and characteristic alterations in cellular behaviour. The first, cellular immortality, can be induced by chemical carcinogens or by cloned oncogenes such as polyoma large T (ref. 4), adenovirus early region 1A (E1A) or the oncogene from avian (MC29) myelocytomatosis virus, v-myc. Cells whose in vitro life-span has been extended by these procedures can be fully transformed by transfection with oncogenes belonging to a different complementation group, including genes of the ras family, adenovirus E1b and polyoma virus middle T (refs 4, 5). The unstable cellular phosphoprotein p53 is frequently present at elevated levels in transformed cells and is stabilized by the formation of complexes with simian virus 40 (SV40) large T or adenovirus E1b 57K protein. Although several reports have associated p53 with cell proliferation, its role remains obscure. We have cloned complementary DNA sequences encoding murine p53 and report here that transfection of p53 expression constructs into cells of finite lifespan in vitro results in cellular immortality and susceptibility to transformation by a ras oncogene.     

模式生物基因序列的识别

真核生物的全基因组序列可分为三种:外显子、内含子和基因间序列.基于剪切位点附近序列的保守性,序列的组分特征和编码序列阅读框存在三周期性,三种序列的标准离散源由序列上64个三联体的概率和5′端与3′尾剪切位点附近(共30位点)上4个碱基的概率,共184个参数构成.某条序列的类型就可以由该序列的离散量与上面三个标准离散源的离散量之间的离散增量最小值决定.当标准离散源具有184个信息参数时预测率比64参数预测的成功率至少提高4.61%,前者的预测成功率依次如下:线虫88.37%,酵母菌90.72%,拟南芥91.08%,果蝇92.28%,大肠杆菌92.88%.对预测成功的和错误的两类序列进行比较,发现这些预测错误序列的184个参数值与其预测结果所属的那类序列本身的参数值十分类似.     

Molecular cloning of a full-length cDNA for ECBP21 from Angelica dahurica

ECBP21 is an extracellular calmodulin-binding protein which was first detected and purified from extracellular extracts of suspension-cultured cells of Angelica dahurica. The purified protein was electroblotted onto PVDF membrane and the amino acid sequences from 1 to 20 were determined. Using degenerate oligonucleotides of the sequence, a full-length cDNA coding for ECBP21 was isolated by a combination of RT-PCR and 5′-RACE cloning. The cDNA contains 947 nucleotides and codes for a precursor protein of 216 amino acids. The N-terminal 1-25 amino acid sequence is a predicted signal peptide and the other 26-216 amino acid sequence is a mature peptide. The 26-45 amino acid sequence shows identity with the N-terminal amino acid sequence of purified ECBP21 from Angelica dahurica. The fragment of encoding the mature protein was cloned into pET-28b(+) and transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). A protein with relative molecular mass 21 ku was expressed in E. coli. Using a biotinylated-CaM gel overlay technique, the expression protein was tested for its ability to bind CaM. The results indicated that the expression protein is a Ca2+- dependent CaM-binding protein. Thus, these results further defined the cDNA clone for ECBP21. This work laid a foundation for elucidating biological functions of ECBP21 by using molecular biological means.     

Chromosomal localization of the human proto-oncogene c-ets

E26 is an acute leukaemia avian retrovirus which induces myeloblastosis and erythroblastosis in vivo and transforms erythroblasts and myeloblasts in vitro. It contains the oncogene v-myb (ref. 4), first described for avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV), as well as a second specific nucleotide sequence, v-ets located 3' to v-myb (refs 5,6). We have reported that v-ets has a cellular counterpart (c-ets) in chicken and human DNA. Now, using two independent methods--hybridization with human c-ets probe of sorted chromosomes and in situ hybridization--we report the localization of the ets locus on human chromosome 11 at bands q23-q24. This finding may be important, as specific breakpoints around this position have been reported for human malignancies such as acute monocytic leukaemia and Ewing's sarcoma.     

Tobacco floral homeotic gene homologues: partial sequence and expression pattern

Using PCR approach, three cDNA sequences, NTSQUA4, NTSQUA12 and NTSQUA15, were amplified from first_strand cDNAs of wild tobacco flower buds and identified as homologues for floral homeotic genes. All the three clones contained domains that a floral homeotic gene generally had, i.e. I domain, K domain and C_terminal domain except MADS_ box since the PCR primers were designed beyond this region. In addition, the amino acid sequences of them showed 50%-60% identity (70%-80% similarity) with the known floral organ identity class A gene AP1 and SQUA, possibly indicating that they are class A_like genes. NTSQUA4 and NTSQUA412 shared 95% identity in their amino acid sequence, while NTSQUA415 exhibited only 47% identity as compared with NTSQUA4 and NTSQUA12. Within tobacco flower, NTSQUA4 was expressed in sepals, petals and carpels, but not in stamens, while NTSQUA15 was expressed in every whorl of the flower. The possible functions of these genes are discussed.     

Identification of pathways regulating cell size and cell-cycle progression by RNAi

Many high-throughput loss-of-function analyses of the eukaryotic cell cycle have relied on the unicellular yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In multicellular organisms, however, additional control mechanisms regulate the cell cycle to specify the size of the organism and its constituent organs. To identify such genes, here we analysed the effect of the loss of function of 70% of Drosophila genes (including 90% of genes conserved in human) on cell-cycle progression of S2 cells using flow cytometry. To address redundancy, we also targeted genes involved in protein phosphorylation simultaneously with their homologues. We identify genes that control cell size, cytokinesis, cell death and/or apoptosis, and the G1 and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. Classification of the genes into pathways by unsupervised hierarchical clustering on the basis of these phenotypes shows that, in addition to classical regulatory mechanisms such as Myc/Max, Cyclin/Cdk and E2F, cell-cycle progression in S2 cells is controlled by vesicular and nuclear transport proteins, COP9 signalosome activity and four extracellular-signal-regulated pathways (Wnt, p38betaMAPK, FRAP/TOR and JAK/STAT). In addition, by simultaneously analysing several phenotypes, we identify a translational regulator, eIF-3p66, that specifically affects the Cyclin/Cdk pathway activity.     

Isolation, characterization and functional analysis of a cdc48 homologue from tobacco BY-2 cells

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe was used to identify genes from tobacco BY-2 cells that may play roles in cell cycle regulation. A cDNA encoding a protein homologous to the yeast CDC48 was isolated and the gene was designated as NtCDC48 . The cDNA contains an open reading frame coding for a predicted protein of 808 amino acids which comprises of two typical ATPase modules (aa 245-374 and aa 518-646) . Overexpression of NtCDC48 in tobacco BY-2 cells led to an increase in the mitotic index as well as to the formation of diffused mitotic spindles. NtCDC48-GFP fusion proteins are distributed ubiquitously through Gl to M phases, yet their subcellular localization varied regularly along with the cell cycle progression. These results indicate that NtCDC48 may play an important role in the regulation of cell cycle in BY-2 cells.     

醇酒酵母反义snoRNA一级结构的分析

对酿酒酵母Saccharomyces cerevisiae基因组中发现和鉴定的41个反义snoRNA进行一级结构的分析表明：酿酒酵母snoRNA基因富含AT：41个反义snoRNA全都有boxC'和boxD'结构元素；根据反义snoRNA保守结构元素及反义序列的数目和位置的特点，将反义snoRNA分为5种结构类型，认为snoRNA具有两个主要的功能区；在snR57、snR59、snR71和snR75不具有指导甲基化反义序列的功能区中，发现有一段长10－12个核苷酸的序列与rRNA互补，为进一步研究反义snoRNA的结构与功能提供了重要线索。     

A suppressor of a yeast splicing mutation (prp8-1) encodes a putative ATP-dependent RNA helicase

Five small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) are required for nuclear pre-messenger RNA splicing: U1, U2, U4, U5 and U6. The yeast U1 and U2 snRNAs base-pair to the 5' splice site and branch-point sequences of introns respectively. The role of the U5 and U4/U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) in splicing is not clear, though a catalytic role for the U6 snRNA has been proposed. Less is known about yeast splicing factors, but the availability of genetic techniques in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has led to the identification of mutants deficient in nuclear pre-mRNA splicing (prp2-prp27). Several PRP genes have now been cloned and their protein products characterized. The PRP8 protein is a component of the U5 snRNP and associates with the U4/U6 snRNAs/snRNP to form a multi-snRNP particle believed to be important for spliceosome assembly. We have isolated extragenic suppressors of the prp8-1 mutation of S. cerevisiae and present here the preliminary characterization of one of these suppressors, spp81. The predicted amino-acid sequence of the SPP81 protein shows extensive similarity to a recently identified family of proteins thought to possess ATP-dependent RNA helicase activity. The possible role of this putative helicase in nuclear pre-mRNA splicing is discussed.     

Cloning of cDNAs for cellular proteins that bind to the retinoblastoma gene product

The E7 transforming protein of human papilloma virus-16 binds to the retinoblastoma gene product (pRb) through a nine-amino-acid segment of E7 (21-29). This segment of E7 is homologous to the pRb-binding domains of the simian virus 40 large T and adenovirus E1A transforming proteins. Each of these viral transforming proteins bind to the same region of pRb. To isolate cellular proteins that interact with this viral protein-binding domain on pRb, we used recombinant pRb to screen a human complementary DNA expression library. Two cDNAs were isolated that encode retinoblastoma binding proteins (RBP-1 and RBP-2). We report here that these RBP genes exist in separate loci and produce discrete messenger RNAs. The predicted amino-acid sequence of these genes showed no homology to known proteins, but both RBPs contain the pRb binding motif conserved between E7, large T and E1A14. In vitro expression of the RBP cDNAs yielded proteins that specifically bound to pRb. Recombinant E7 protein, the E7 21-29 peptide and the homologous RBP-1 peptide inhibited RBP-pRb binding. Mutations introduced into the putative pRb-binding segment in RBP-1 impaired its binding activity. These studies indicate that the cellular RBP-1, RBP-2 and viral E7 proteins interact with pRb through similar domains.     

Specific interaction between HPV-16 E1-E4 and cytokeratins results in collapse of the epithelial cell intermediate filament network.

The human papillomaviruses (HPV) are associated specifically with epithelial lesions, ranging from benign warts to invasive carcinoma. The virus encodes three late proteins, which are produced only in terminally differentiating keratinocytes, two of which are structural components of the virion. The third, E1-E4, is derived primarily from the E4 open reading frame, which represents a region of maximal divergence between different HPV types. E1-E4 does not seem to be a component of the virus particle or to be needed for transformation in vitro, but accumulates in the cytoplasm, where in certain benign lesions it can comprise 20-30% of total cell protein. We show here that expression of the HPV-16 E1-E4 protein in human keratinocytes (the natural host cell for HPV infection) results in the total collapse of the cytokeratin matrix. Tubulin and actin networks are unaffected by E1-E4, as are the nuclear lamins.