Sequence-based characterization of structural variation in the mouse genome

Structural variation is widespread in mammalian genomes and is an important cause of disease, but just how abundant and important structural variants (SVs) are in shaping phenotypic variation remains unclear. Without knowing how many SVs there are, and how they arise, it is difficult to discover what they do. Combining experimental with automated analyses, we identified 711,920 SVs at 281,243 sites in the genomes of thirteen classical and four wild-derived inbred mouse strains. The majority of SVs are less than 1?kilobase in size and 98% are deletions or insertions. The breakpoints of 160,000 SVs were mapped to base pair resolution, allowing us to infer that insertion of retrotransposons causes more than half of SVs. Yet, despite their prevalence, SVs are less likely than other sequence variants to cause gene expression or quantitative phenotypic variation. We identified 24 SVs that disrupt coding exons, acting as rare variants of large effect on gene function. One-third of the genes so affected have immunological functions.     

Designing the lipid raft marker protein for synaptic vesicles

Lipid rafts are cholesterol-enriched microdomains and implicated in many essential physiological activities such as the neurotransmitter release. Many studies have been carried out on the function of rafts in the plasma membranes, whereas little is known about the information of such microdomains in subcellular compartments especially synaptic vesicles (SVs). In the well-studied plasma membranes, several proteins have been recognized as raft markers, which are used to label or trace rafts. But the raft marker protein on SVs has not been identified yet. Although some SV proteins, including VAMP and CPE, have been found in raft fractions, they cannot be used as markers due to their low abundance in rafts. In this work, we designed several chimera proteins and tested their characteristics for using as SV raft makers. First, we detected whether they located in SVs, and then the chimeras exhibiting the better localization in SVs were further examined for their enrichment in raft using detergent treatment and gradient density floatation analysis. Our results indicate that one of the chimeric proteins is primarily located in SVs and distributed in raft microdomains, which strongly suggests that it could be served as a raft marker for SVs.     

Mapping and sequencing of structural variation from eight human genomes

Genetic variation among individual humans occurs on many different scales, ranging from gross alterations in the human karyotype to single nucleotide changes. Here we explore variation on an intermediate scale--particularly insertions, deletions and inversions affecting from a few thousand to a few million base pairs. We employed a clone-based method to interrogate this intermediate structural variation in eight individuals of diverse geographic ancestry. Our analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the normal pattern of structural variation present in these genomes, refining the location of 1,695 structural variants. We find that 50% were seen in more than one individual and that nearly half lay outside regions of the genome previously described as structurally variant. We discover 525 new insertion sequences that are not present in the human reference genome and show that many of these are variable in copy number between individuals. Complete sequencing of 261 structural variants reveals considerable locus complexity and provides insights into the different mutational processes that have shaped the human genome. These data provide the first high-resolution sequence map of human structural variation--a standard for genotyping platforms and a prelude to future individual genome sequencing projects.     

SV40LT 基因过表达慢病毒载体的构建与包装

摘要: 目的构建SV40LT 基因过表达慢病毒载体,并对其进行慢病毒包装,为建立永生化的uncv 小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞奠定基础。方法从293T 细胞中获得SV40LT 基因,将其克隆到pLenti-GFP 质粒中,构建重组穿梭质粒pLenti-GFP-SV40LT,测序鉴定后分别将鉴定的阳性pLenti-GFP-SV40LT 和包装质粒pMD2. 0G 和psPAX2 共转染293T 细胞,包装产生慢病毒。结果SV40LT 基因过表达慢病毒载体的构建与包装成功。结论SV40LT 基因过表达慢病毒载体构建与包装的成功为uncv 小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞的永生化提供了工具。     

Simian virus 40 replication in adenovirus-transformed human cells antagonizes gene expression

Simian virus 40 (SV40) replicates efficiently in monkey kidney cells. However, we have now found that SV40-based vectors transfected into most human cells replicate poorly, if at all. In contrast, strong SV40 replication is observed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells transformed with the adenovirus early region, but not in untransformed HEK cells. Vector replication in adenovirus-transformed cells is dependent on the presence of the SV40 origin of replication and large-T antigen. However, vigorous replication occurs at levels of large-T antigen that are undetectable by immunofluorescence. These data suggest that the adenovirus oncogenes create a replication-permissive environment to which the SV40 replicon responds. Furthermore, replication and gene expression seem to be antagonistic on our vectors. High levels of large-T antigen are observed only when vector replication is blocked by mutations in the gene for large-T antigen or the origin of replication, or by direct inhibition of DNA polymerase with aphidicolin.     

Lipid Rafts Identified on Synaptic Vesicles from Rat Brain

Introduction Lipid rafts are membrane microdomains rich in satu-rated phospholipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol, and as-sociated proteins. They are of great importance in nu-merous biological processes, such as cell signaling, protein sorting,lipid transp…     

Construction of fine SNP haplotypes and haplotype blocks in 5 genes in the centromere of chromosome 15 in Chinese Han subjects

Recent advances have shown that the majorityof the nucleotide variation in human genome is single nucleo-tide polymorphisms (SNPs). Using SNPs each chromosomecan be divided into different haplotype blocks, and there arelimited common haplotypes in each block. This provides apowerful approach for whole genome scan for disease-asso-ciated genes/variants. However, most data available todayare based on the large-scale genomic analyses, data concern-ing individual genes for fine mapping with high density SNPsare relatively lacking. We have sequenced 7 genes and theirflanking regions, identified 34 novel SNPs, constructed highdensity SNP haplotypes and haplotype blocks in 5 genes inthe centromeric region of chromosome 15 in I00 ChineseHart subjects. Our results show that there is a great hetero-geneity in the haplotypes and haplotype block structureswithin and between these genes, which are in close physicalproximity. Data obtained in this study provide a useful toolfor candidate gene approach at the fine scale for identifyingdisease contributing variants in the genes/regions.     

An SNP map of human chromosome 22

The human genome sequence will provide a reference for measuring DNA sequence variation in human populations. Sequence variants are responsible for the genetic component of individuality, including complex characteristics such as disease susceptibility and drug response. Most sequence variants are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), where two alternate bases occur at one position. Comparison of any two genomes reveals around 1 SNP per kilobase. A sufficiently dense map of SNPs would allow the detection of sequence variants responsible for particular characteristics on the basis that they are associated with a specific SNP allele. Here we have evaluated large-scale sequencing approaches to obtaining SNPs, and have constructed a map of 2,730 SNPs on human chromosome 22. Most of the SNPs are within 25 kilobases of a transcribed exon, and are valuable for association studies. We have scaled up the process, detecting over 65,000 SNPs in the genome as part of The SNP Consortium programme, which is on target to build a map of 1 SNP every 5 kilobases that is integrated with the human genome sequence and that is freely available in the public domain.     

猕猴肉瘤病毒SV40 T-ag-C 基因克隆及序列分析

摘要: 目的对来源于一株自然感染猕猴肉瘤病毒SV40 的猴肾细胞培养物进行大T 抗原C-羧基端( T-ag-C) 基因 克隆及核苷酸序列分析。方法采用PCR 法分别从一株自然感染SV40 病毒的猴肾细胞培养物和SV40776 标准 株接种的vero 细胞培养物提取的总DNA 中扩增出441bp 的SV40 大T 抗原C-羧基端( T-ag-C) 基因片段,分别将其 克隆到PMD18-T 载体中,转化至JM109 感受态大肠杆菌细胞后,挑取阳性克隆进行测序鉴定,并对获得的目的基 因核苷酸序列进行序列分析及同源性分析。结果来源于猴肾细胞培养物的SV40 大T 抗原片段与本实验室来源 于云南野生猴群的猕猴外周血所得到的SV40 大T 抗原片段同源性为97. 31% ,与GenBank 中登录号为NC _ 001669. 1 序列进行比对,同源性为96. 33% ; 与SV40-776 标准株接种的vero 细胞培养物所扩增的大T 抗原片段同 源性为97. 55% 。结论对大T 抗原基因克隆和序列分析是了解和掌握SV40 病毒分子流行病学及其变异趋势的 重要手段。     

A nucleotide regulatory site for somatostatin inhibition of adenylate cyclase in S49 lymphoma cells

The cyc- variants of S49 lymphoma cells have served as powerful tools for studying the components and mechanisms of hormone-induced adenylate cyclase stimulation, as these cells are deficient in the guanine nucleotide regulatory site (Ns) mediating hormone, guanine nucleotide, cholera toxin and fluoride-induced stimulations of the enzyme. Because of this deficiency, membranes of these cells have been used for reconstitution of the system by inserting the coupling component derived from other cell types. The hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase is not only stimulated by hormones but can also be inhibited by a wide variety of hormones and neurotransmitters, and there is some evidence that hormonal inhibition may be mediated by a distinct guanine nucleotide regulatory site. Studies in cyc- cells lacking a functional Ns may therefore answer this unresolved, important question. We have recently observed that stable GTP analogues can inhibit cyc- adenylate cyclase stimulated by purified, preactivated Ns or forskolin, which can activate adenylate cyclase even in the absence of a functional Ns (ref. 10). The data indicated that these Ns-deficient cells contain an inhibitory guanine nucleotide site, Ni. To strengthen this concept, we investigated whether the cyc- adenylate cyclase can be inhibited by a hormone. We report here that somatostatin decreases cyclic AMP levels in cyc- cells, inhibits the forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase and causes a concomitant increase in a high affinity GTPase activity in cyc- membranes. The data strongly suggest that both the hormone- and guanine nucleotide-induced adenylate cyclase inhibitions in cyc- cells are mediated by Ni and that the mechanisms of activation and inactivation of Ni are similar to those established for Ns.     

Conserved organization of the human and murine T-cell receptor beta-gene families

Generation of an immune response depends on the interaction of haematopoietic cell types, among which T cells and their receptors are of central importance. The T-cell receptor is a heterodimer consisting of disulphide-linked alpha and beta-chains, each chain divided into variable (V) and constant (C) regions. The beta-chain is encoded by the rearrangement of separate variable (V beta), diversity (D beta) and joining (J beta) gene segments during T-cell differentiation. To examine the mechanisms of somatic DNA rearrangement and evolution of the beta-gene segments, we have constructed a physical map of the human T-cell receptor beta-chain family containing 40 V beta gene segments as well as both C beta gene clusters. A comparison of the published nucleotide sequences of human and murine V beta gene segments reveals 12 examples of gene segments sharing 65% or more interspecies homology. The relative order of these human and murine V beta gene segment homologues is also conserved along the chromosome, apart from more extensive human gene duplication, presumably as a consequence of constraints imposed on evolutionary mechanisms operating to diversify these gene families or of selective pressures operating to maintain order.     

Somatic variants of murine immunoglobulin lambda light chains

Studies of the murine lambda light chains produced by myeloma cells provided the first evidence for somatic point mutation of germ-line variable (V) region genes. An examination of the variable regions of 19 lambda 1 chains revealed seven which differed from a common sequence by one to three amino acid substitutions. Subsequently, one of these presumed somatic variants of the single lambda 1 V gene was characterized by DNA sequence analysis of the rearranged functional gene. The predicted DNA sequence alteration was observed and no silent mutation was evident. These studies of lambda chain variants suggested that the hypervariable, complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) ht be a preferred site of somatic mutation because all seven characterized variants contained substitutions only in these regions. By contrast, comparisons of closely related kappa chain variable region amino acid sequences, and more recently VK and VH genes, have suggested that somatic mutation probably occurs in codons for both framework and CDR residues. To examine this apparent discrepancy between the sites of somatic mutations in lambda and kappa genes, we have determined the nucleotide sequence of two lambda 1 gene from hybridomas and a lambda 2 gene from a myeloma. These sequences demonstrate that somatic mutation in lambda genes can occur in both the framework and CDR residues.     

A map of human genome variation from population-scale sequencing

The 1000 Genomes Project aims to provide a deep characterization of human genome sequence variation as a foundation for investigating the relationship between genotype and phenotype. Here we present results of the pilot phase of the project, designed to develop and compare different strategies for genome-wide sequencing with high-throughput platforms. We undertook three projects: low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of 179 individuals from four populations; high-coverage sequencing of two mother-father-child trios; and exon-targeted sequencing of 697 individuals from seven populations. We describe the location, allele frequency and local haplotype structure of approximately 15 million single nucleotide polymorphisms, 1 million short insertions and deletions, and 20,000 structural variants, most of which were previously undescribed. We show that, because we have catalogued the vast majority of common variation, over 95% of the currently accessible variants found in any individual are present in this data set. On average, each person is found to carry approximately 250 to 300 loss-of-function variants in annotated genes and 50 to 100 variants previously implicated in inherited disorders. We demonstrate how these results can be used to inform association and functional studies. From the two trios, we directly estimate the rate of de novo germline base substitution mutations to be approximately 10(-8) per base pair per generation. We explore the data with regard to signatures of natural selection, and identify a marked reduction of genetic variation in the neighbourhood of genes, due to selection at linked sites. These methods and public data will support the next phase of human genetic research.     

A region of SV40 large T antigen can substitute for a transforming domain of the adenovirus E1A products

SV40 large T antigen contains a small region of amino acid sequence, conserved among the papovaviruses, that shows considerable similarity to conserved domain 2 of the adenovirus E1A oncogene, a domain which plays an important role in the E1A transforming functions. To learn whether the analogous SV40 T antigen sequences could substitute functionally for E1A domain 2, a chimaeric gene was constructed, coding for T antigen amino acid residues 101 to 118 in place of E1A domain 2. The resulting product showed much of the activity of the wild-type E1A products. It induced proliferation of primary BRK cells and cooperated with the ras oncogene to transform these cells fully. In addition, the chimaeric protein coprecipitated two cellular proteins whose specific binding to the E1A products depends on the presence of domain 2. The activity of the chimaeric product suggests that a similar functional unit exists in the transforming proteins of both SV40 and adenovirus, and that these proteins may exert their cell growth regulating effects through similar mechanisms.