Nucleotide sequence of the rat skeletal muscle actin gene

The actins constitute a family of highly conserved proteins found in all eukaryotic cells. Their conservation through a very wide range of taxonomic groups and the existence of tissue-specific isoforms make the actin genes very interesting for the study of the evolution of genes and their controlling elements. On the basis of amino acid sequence data, at least six different mammalian actins have been identified (skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, two smooth muscle actins and the cytoplasmic beta- and gamma-actins). Rat spleen DNA digested by the EcoRI restriction enzyme contains at least 12 different fragments with actin-like sequences but only one which hybridized, in very stringent conditions, with the skeletal muscle cloned cDNA probe. Here we describe the sequence of the actin gene in that fragment. The nucleotide sequence codes for two amino acids, Met-Cys, preceding the known N-terminal Asp of the mature protein. There are five small introns in the coding region and a large intron in the 5'-untranslated region. Comparison of the structure of the rat skeletal muscle actin gene with available data on actin genes from other organisms shows that while the sequenced actin genes from Drosophila and yeast have introns at different locations, introns located at codons specifying amino acids 41, 121, 204 and 267 have been preserved at least from the echinoderm to the vertebrates. A similar analysis has been done by Davidson. An intron at codon 150 is common to a plant actin gene and the skeletal muscle acting gene.     

An intronless gene encoding a potential member of the family of receptors coupled to guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins

Plasma membrane receptors for hormones, drugs, neurotransmitters and sensory stimuli are coupled to guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins. Recent cloning of the genes and/or cDNAs for several of these receptors including the visual pigment rhodopsin, the adenylate-cyclase stimulatory beta-adrenergic receptor and two subtypes of muscarinic cholinergic receptors has suggested that these are homologous proteins with several conserved structural and functional features. Whereas the rhodopsin gene consists of five exons interrupted by four introns, surprisingly the human and hamster beta-adrenergic receptor genes contain no introns in either their coding or untranslated sequences. We have cloned and sequenced a DNA fragment in the human genome which cross-hybridizes with a full-length beta 2-adrenergic receptor probe at reduced stringency. Like the beta 2-adrenergic receptor this gene appears to be intronless, containing an uninterrupted long open reading frame which encodes a putative protein with all the expected structural features of a G-protein-coupled receptor.     

厚叶悬蒴苣苔 BcWRKY1 转录因子基因的克隆及初步的功能分析

通过RT-PCR程序,从经过SA诱导的厚叶悬蒴苣苔中获得含WRKY家族保守序列的一条cDNA片段。运用RACE(Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends)技术获得全长1 803bp的cDNA克隆,名之为 BcWRKY1 。序列分析表明: BcWRKY1 与甘薯SPF1 ［D30038］相似性最高,保守区同源性达到84％。初步的Northern杂交分析表明：干旱、低温、高盐等逆境胁迫和外加SA、MeJA、JA、ABA等信号分子的诱导均能提高 BcWRKY1 基因的表达。但是表达情况各不相同。150 mmol/L NaCl对 BcWRKY1 的诱导作用尤为明显和迅速。2 168 bp的 BcWRKY1 的基因组DNA克隆亦已获得,序列分析表明它含有4个内含子。     

A unique set of polypeptides is induced by gamma interferon in addition to those induced in common with alpha and beta interferons

Human immune interferon (IFN-gamma) differs from leukocyte interferon (IFN-alpha) and fibroblast interferon (IFN-beta) in cell origin, inducing agents, physical and biological properties and amino acid sequence. These differences have led to interest in possible differences in the biological properties of IFN-gamma compared with IFN-alpha and IFN-beta. IFN-gamma has the same broad range of biochemical and biological actions as do IFN-alpha and IFN-beta, although relative potencies vary depending on the cell type and function investigated. There has so far been no direct evidence that IFN-gamma alters normal cell functions differently from other interferons. We report here striking qualitative and quantitative differences in the intracellular response of human fibroblasts to IFN-gamma compared with IFN-alpha and IFN-beta. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis demonstrates, in addition to the induction of a common group of polypeptides, the existence of a set of polypeptides whose synthesis is uniquely induced by IFN-gamma.     

Sequence organization and genomic complexity of primate theta 1 globin gene, a novel alpha-globin-like gene

The alpha-like and beta-like globin genes have provided a paradigm for the study of molecular evolution and regulation of multigene families in eukaryotes. The human alpha-globin gene cluster, which is on chromosome 16 (ref. 1), consists of six genes arranged in the order 5'-zeta(embryonic)-psi zeta-psi alpha 2-psi alpha 1-alpha 2(adult)-alpha 1(adult)-3'. DNA sequencing data have demonstrated that zeta (ref. 6) and alpha 2 (or alpha 1, refs 7-9) are the embryonic and adult genes, respectively, while psi zeta (ref. 6), psi alpha 2 (ref. 5) psi alpha 1 (ref. 10) are all inactive pseudogenes. Restriction mapping analysis has shown that the structure of this locus in several anthropoid primates is nearly identical to that of the human. Recently, we have isolated the adult alpha-globin gene region from orang-utan, olive baboon and rhesus macaque by molecular cloning. We report here the complete nucleotide sequence of a gene located immediately downstream from the adult alpha 1-globin gene of the orang-utan, along with its flanking DNA. We designate this gene as theta 1, and show that it contains the essential sequence elements required for an expressive gene. The putative polypeptide is 141 amino acids long, identical to that of the alpha- or zeta-globin, but its predicted amino-acid sequence is nearly as different from the orang-utan alpha-globin (55 differences) as the human zeta-globin is from the human alpha-globin (59 differences), suggesting an ancient history for the theta 1-globin gene. Results of blot hybridization experiments using the cloned orang-utan theta 1 gene sequence as probe demonstrate a similar alpha 2-alpha 1-theta 1 linkage map existing in the human genome. Furthermore, multiple copies of sequences homologous to the theta 1 gene are detected in both human and orang-utan. These results cast a new light on the primate alpha-globin gene family, and have intriguing implications for the existence of previously unreported, functional globin-like gene(s) in the primate genomes.     

猪Klf4、Klf5和Egr2基因内含子的克隆及进化分析

从猪肝脏提取基因组作为模板,分别扩增了Klf4、Klf5和Egr2的第3、第2和第1内含子,长度分别为916、1027和1342bp,并通过其两端连接的部分外显子序列与Genbank序列比对加以确认,并和人相应基因内含子作长度和序列同源性比较。结果表明,由内含子比对得出的这些基因在人和猪间的保守程度与这些基因在氨基酸水平上比对得出的保守程度相一致。     

Production of human alpha-interferon in silkworm using a baculovirus vector

Microorganisms are generally used for mass production of foreign gene products, but multicellular organisms such as plants have been proposed as an economical alternative. The silkworm may be useful in this context as it can be cultured easily and at low cost. We have therefore developed a virus vector to introduce foreign genes, for example, the gene for human alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha), into silkworms. We used the baculovirus Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) which has a large (greater than 100 kilobases, kb) double-stranded circular DNA genome within its rod-shaped capsid. Baculoviruses have been used previously as vectors for expression of beta-interferon and beta-galactosidase in established cell lines. Although BmNPV has not been used previously as an expression vector, it has an advantage over the baculovirus Autographa californica NPV in that it has a narrower host range and will not grow in wild insect pests in the field. In the present study, the polyhedrin gene encoding the major inclusion body protein of BmNPV was identified by hybridization with complementary DNA and cloned in a plasmid. For insertion of foreign genes, we constructed a recombinant plasmid carrying a polylinker linked to the promoter of the polyhedrin gene, and inserted the IFN-alpha gene into this plasmid. The resulting plasmid and the BmNPV genomic DNA were co-transfected into BM-N cells, and stable recombinant viruses isolated by plaque assay on BM-N cells. The recombinant virus replicated in silkworm larvae, which synthesized as much as 5 X 10(7) units (approximately 50 micrograms) of interferon in their haemolymph.     

人转铁蛋白基因的克隆及序列分析

目的:克隆人转铁蛋白基因并对其编码序列进行分析.方法:以人胎肝cDNA为模板,利用PCR方法克隆人转铁蛋白基因;通过与基因组序列对比分析基因组结构;通过TargetP 1.1和SignalP 3.0预测信号肽;通过Clustal X(1.81)进行蛋白序列联配.结果:PCR扩增了一个长2 160 bp的基因片断,序列分析表明其覆盖了完整编码框,编码由698个氨基酸组成的人转铁蛋白.进一步分析发现人转铁蛋白基因有19个外显子和18个内含子,编码人转铁蛋白N端具有19个氨基酸组成的信号肽序列.人转铁蛋白与猩猩、猴子、兔子和老鼠的转铁蛋白氨基酸相似率分别为94%、91%、78%、73%.生物信息分析表明,人转铁蛋白含有高度保守的参与蛋白二硫键形成的半胱氨酸以及铁离子结合位点,有两个序列较同源的结构域.结论:成功克隆人转铁蛋白基因,人转铁蛋白与其它物种转铁蛋白同源.     

菊花‘千手观音’LEAFY基因转录区基因组克隆和结构分析

LEAFY(LFY)基因在植物花发育过程中具有重要作用,不仅控制着花序分生组织向花分生组织的转变,而且控制着开花时间.通过基因组PCR扩增,获得了菊花‘千手观音’LFY同源基因序列.序列分析表明该基因包括2个内含子和3个外显子.其内含子1的2个序列长短不同,差异明显.2个内含子与甘菊的LFY同源基因DFL相比都表现出了丰富的变异性.其外显子推测的氨基酸序列与甘菊DFL的氨基酸序列相似性达99%.系统进化分析表明‘千手观音’的LFY同源基因与所有的菊属植物的LFY基因在树的同一枝上,且距双子叶植物的距离近于单子叶或裸子植物.Southern杂交表明,‘千手观音’基因组中LFY同源基因以两个拷贝形式存在.     

Clustered arrangement of immunoglobulin lambda constant region genes in man

The immunoglobulin lambda light chain locus of man contains six lambda-like genes arranged tandemly on a 50-kilobase segment of chromosomal DNA. THe sequences of three of these genes correspond to three known non-allelic lambda chain isotypes: Mcg, Ke-Oz- and Ke-Oz+. They surround a highly polymorphic and evidently unstable region that is repeatedly deleted when cloned in Escherichia coli. Three additional, but as yet unlinked, lambda-like sequences have also been cloned, suggesting that the lambda genes form an unexpectedly large family within the human genome.     

A general method for site-directed mutagenesis in prokaryotes

The genetic analysis of genes from prokaryotic species for which experimental genetic systems have not yet been developed is often limited by the difficulty of producing mutations in those genes. We report here a general technique applicable to Gram-negative prokaryotes for site-directed mutagenesis of cloned DNA fragments which we have applied to the study of the symbiotic nitrogen fixation genes of Rhizobium meliloti. In particular, we mutagenized cloned R. meliloti restriction fragments in Escherichia coli with transposon Tn5 and then replaced the wild-type parental DNA sequences with the mutant DNA sequences in the R. meliloti genome. Using this method we show that an R. meliloti DNA restriction fragment, cloned previously on the basis of homology to Klebsiella pneumoniae nif genes, contains gene(s) essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In addition, we use this method to construct a physical genetic map of a subset of the R. meliloti nif genes.     

王锦蛇(Elaphe carinata)Sox基因保守区的克隆及测序

参照人SRY基因HMG-box保守区序列设计一对兼并引物,PCR扩增了王锦蛇的Sox基因,采用SSCP技术筛选阳性克隆,并对其进行了测序.结果在雌雄个体中共筛选出4个Sox基因,其中一个为雌性独有,显示出性别差异性;4个Sox基因DNA序列及编码的氨基酸序列与人相应SOX基因的相似性分别为91%、91%、92%、91%和96%、98%、96%、96%,显示出高度的保守性.实验结果为王锦蛇的性别决定机制研究提供了分子资料.     

小鼠胚胎脑特异表达的新基因bsg3的克隆及初步研究

通过消减差异筛选的方法克隆到一个在小鼠胚胎脑特异表达的基因bsg3(brain specific gene 3).它编码的蛋白与人的KIAA0961具有80.3%的同源性.bsg3基因包含一个1644bp的完整阅读框,编码一个含548个氨基酸,具有1个KRAB结构域(kruppel-associated box)和13个C2H2型锌指结构域的蛋白.该基因定位在小鼠第7号染色体上,包含5个外显子,4个内含子.以bsg3基因全长编码区为探针的原位杂交结果显示,bsg3在小鼠胚胎脑及鸡胚脑特异表达.半定量反转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)的结果表明,在成体小鼠的组织中,bsg3基因脑中表达也较强.这提示bsg3基因可能在小鼠脑发育中起着重要的作用.对bsg3基因时间和空间的表达模式的分析将有助于进一步揭示它在脑发育及功能维持中的作用.     

Gene structure and extracellular secretion of Neisseria gonorrhoeae IgA protease

Several human bacterial pathogens, including the Gram-negative diplococcus Neisseria gonorrhoeae, produce extracellular proteases that are specific for human immunoglobulin IgA1. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) proteases have been studied extensively and the genes of some species cloned in Escherichia coli, but their role in pathogenesis remains unclear. Recently we derived a DNA fragment of 5 kilobases (kb) from N. gonorrhoeae MS11 directing extracellular active enzyme in E. coli. Although the mature enzyme of strain MS11 was shown to have a relative molecular mass of 106,000 (Mr 106K) in gels, the DNA sequence of this cloned fragment reveals a single gene coding for a 169K precursor of IgA protease. The precursor contains three functional domains, the amino-terminal leader which is assumed to initiate the inner membrane transport of the precursor, the protease, and a carboxyl-terminal 'helper' domain apparently required for extracellular secretion (excretion). Based on the structural features of the precursor, we propose a model in which the helper serves as a pore for excretion of the protease domain through the outer membrane. IgA protease acquires an active conformation as its extracellular transport proceeds and is released as a proform from the membrane-bound helper by autoproteolysis. The soluble proform further matures into the 106 K IgA protease and a small stable alpha-protein.