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A J Flavell

Publications and source records attributed to A J Flavell.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Translation and developmental regulation of RNA encoded by the eukaryotic transposable element copia.

copia-specific RNA was isolated from Drosophila melanogaster tissue culture cells by hybridization of cytoplasmic polyadenylylated RNA to copia DNA immobilized on cellulose. The purified RNA was translated in reticulocyte lysates. One major polypeptide of approximately 51,000 daltons was synthesized in addition to several others between 18,000 and 38,000 daltons. The 51,000-dalton polypeptide and several of the others are encoded by mRNAs of about 2000 nucleotides. The approximate locations on the copia element of the coding sequences for the 51,000-dalton polypeptide and several other proteins were determined by hybrid-arrested translation with copia restriction fragments. The relative abundance of copia-specific RNA was determined at various stages of the Drosophila life cycle. The level of copia-specific RNA is modulated during development of the organism, with the highest level occurring during the larval stages.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Localization of three major cappe 5' ends of polyoma virus late mRNA's within a single tetranucleotide sequence in the viral genome.

The nucleotide sequences at the 5' ends of polyoma virus late mRNA's were determined by direct RNA sequencing of decapped and 5'-(32)P-labeled RNase T1 oligoribonucleotides. Virus-specific polyadenylated cytoplasmic RNA, which was isolated from mouse cells late during productive infection, was enzymatically or chemically treated to specifically remove the cap structure (m(7)Gppp). The unblocked 5' ends of the viral mRNA's were then labeled enzymatically with (32)P, and the RNAs were digested with RNase T1 and fingerprinted. Three oligonucleotides derived from capped termini were isolated, and their sequences were determined to be pGmACAUUUUCUAUUUUAAGp, p(m)AmCAUUUUCUAUUUUAAGp, and p(m)AmUUUUCUAUUUUAAGp. These oligonucleotides comprise a staggered set with members 15, 17, and 18 nucleotides long, which share a common 3' sequence for 15 nucleotides. The sequences correspond exactly to the polyoma virus DNA sequence (Arrand et al., J. Virol. 33:606-618, 1980) from 66.79 to 66.46 map units (between 75 and 92 nucleotides preceding the ATG initiation codon for the capsid protein VP2). Previous results showed that the sequence between 13 and 64 nucleotides preceding the VP2 initiation codon corresponds to oligonucleotides reiterated in the leader sequence which is spliced onto the bodies of the three functionally distinct viral late mRNA's (Flavell et al., Cell 16:357-372, 1979; Legon et al., Cell 16:373-388, 1979). The three capped oligonucleotides we sequenced are derived from the first large predicted T1 oligonucleotide 5' to those detected in the leader sequence. The occurrence of a cap at each purine of a single tetranucleotide sequence reflects micro-heterogeneity either in transcriptional initiation or in processing cleavage involved in cap syntheses.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1979

Multiple 5' terminal cap structures in late polyoma virus RNA.

Nuclear and cytoplasmic polyoma virus-specific RNA extracted from 32P-labeled mouse embryo cells late during productive viral infection was analyzed for the presence of 5' terminal capped structures by complete digestion with RNAases T1, T2 and A, followed by two-dimensional electrophoretic fractionation. Seven major cap I structures (m7 GpppNm1pN2p) were observed in both cases. These termini were further characterized by digestion with penicillium nuclease P1, followed by product analysis in a variety of alternative separate systems. Each structure had an individual combination of N1 and N2 nucleotides, where N1 was always a purine nucleotide but N2 was any nucleotide subject to the single exception that m7GpppGmpCp is found only in low yield. Four different cap II derivatives (m7GpppNm1pNm2pN3p) of four of the cap I structures were also detected in cytoplasmic RNA. None of the termini described derived from contaminating host cell RNA. All of these cap structures mapped on the polyoma viral DNA genome between 66 and 71 map units, a region distant from the 5' end of the bodies of two of the three late polyoma mRNAs. All the polyoma virus-specific cap structures, however, were present in each of the purified 16S, 18S and 19s late mRNAs. These data suggested that families of capped leader sequences of varying sizes are attached to the main body of each late polyoma mRNA species by a splicing mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Amplification in the leader sequence of late polyoma virus mRNAs.

Ribonuclease T1 fingerprints of the three "late" polyoma virus mRNAs show that oligonucleotides of the leader sequence are present in multiple copies in each mRNA. These oligonucleotides, however, appear unimolar in fingerprints of complete, continuous transcripts of the late strand of the viral DNA. Oligonucleotides which are represented only once in the DNA are thus reiterated in the mature mRNAs. Consequently, when mRNA was hybridized to the leader region of immobilized viral DNA, those copies present in excess of their genomic representation failed to hybridize and were released by RNAase treatment. Analysis of the RNAase-resistant hybrids revealed a series of leader species with complex sequence arrangements. We suggest that these complicated reiterated sequences are generated during the processing of a precursor RNA which extends several times around the genome. This RNA would be shortened by a series of splicing reactions which conserve sequences from the leader region and attach them to a suitable coding sequence.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of reverse transcription in the generation of extrachromosomal copia mobile genetic elements.

The Drosophila genetic element copia is one of the best studied eukaryotic transposable sequences. Copia shares structural features with a wide variety of mobile elements in Drosophila, Lepidoptera, yeast and vertebrates, the last class being the retrovirus proviruses. Furthermore, retrovirus-like particles containing copia RNA have been isolated from Drosophila cells and extrachromosomal circular copias with structures closely resembling circular retrovirus proviruses have been isolated and cloned. Therefore, copia-like elements and retroviruses may be members of a class of mobile genetic elements existing throughout the eukaryotic kingdom. Consequently, there has been speculation that retroviruses evolved from transposable elements and, conversely, that copia-like elements transpose as retroviruses or retrovirus-like particles. To date, however, there has been no demonstration that copia RNA is reverse transcribed into copia DNA. The present report describes the isolation of linear extrachromosomal copias whose structure closely resembles the analogous retrovirus provirus linears and whose synthesis is unaffected by inhibitors of the cellular DNA polymerase responsible for chromosomal DNA replication.

Animals↗