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C Marck

Publications and source records attributed to C Marck.

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Inactivation of the protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit A results in morphological and transcriptional defects in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have determined that TPD3, a gene previously identified in a screen for mutants defective in tRNA biosynthesis, most likely encodes the A regulatory subunit of the major protein phosphatase 2A species in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The predicted amino acid sequence of the product of TPD3 is highly homologous to the sequence of the mammalian A subunit of protein phosphatase 2A. In addition, antibodies raised against Tpd3p specifically precipitate a significant fraction of the protein phosphatase 2A activity in the cell, and extracts of tpd3 strains yield a different chromatographic profile of protein phosphatase 2A than do extracts of isogenic TPD3 strains. tpd3 deletion strains generally grow poorly and have at least two distinct phenotypes. At reduced temperatures, tpd3 strains appear to be defective in cytokinesis, since most cells become multibudded and multinucleate following a shift to 13 degrees C. This is similar to the phenotype obtained by overexpression of the protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit or by loss of CDC55, a gene that encodes a protein with homology to a second regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2A. At elevated temperatures, tpd3 strains are defective in transcription by RNA polymerase III. Consistent with this in vivo phenotype, extracts of tpd3 strains fail to support in vitro transcription of tRNA genes, a defect that can be reversed by addition of either purified RNA polymerase III or TFIIIB. These results reinforce the notion that protein phosphatase 2A affects a variety of biological processes in the cell and provide an initial identification of critical substrates for this phosphatase.

Amino Acid Sequence

Influence of nucleotide sequence on dA.dT-specific binding of Netropsin to double stranded DNA.

Using CD measurements the complex formation of Netropsin (Nt) with poly(dA-dC).poly(dT-dG) and its stability against high salt concentrations is compared with that of poly(dA).poly(dT) and poly(dA-dT).POLY(DT-dA). It is experimentally shown that the insertion of a dG.dC pair in dA.dT sequences strongly reduces the specific interaction of Nt with DNA duplexes. The specificity of the interaction is strongly increased by two or more consecutive thymine residues as present in thymine isostichs of double stranded DNA's.

Base Sequence

Poly(dG).poly(dC) at neutral and alkaline pH: the formation of triple stranded poly(dG).poly(dG).poly(dC).

Alkaline titrations of different samples of poly(dG).poly(dC) and of the constituent homopolymers poly(dG) and poly(dC) have been performed in 0.15 M NaCl and their CD spectra followed. Sample I contained a slight excess of poly(dC) (52% C: 48% G) and showed a single reversible transition (pK = 11.9) due to the dissociation of double stranded poly(dG).poly(dC). Sample II, containing an excess of poly(dG) (43% C: 57% G), showed two transitions (pK1 = 11.4, PK2 = 11.9) the first one being only partially reversible. Examination of the CD spectra along the alkaline titrations indicated the presence of another hydrogen-bonded complex of higher G content. Mixing curves performed at pH 8 have confirmed the presence of a 2G: 1C complex, besides the double stranded complex. It can be formed in amounts up to 30% by mixing the two homopolymers, alkali treatment and heating. The CD spectra of the two complexes have been computed from the CD data of the mixing curves. This permitted the determination of the concentrations of both complexes and homopolymers in all samples. The ratio of triple to double stranded complex is not only dependent on the G/C ratio of the sample, but also a function of the previous physico-chemical conditions. These results explain the variability of many properties of different poly(dG).poly(dC) samples observed by other workers.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient

Protonated polynucleotides structures - 22.CD study of the acid-base titration of poly(dG).poly(dC).

The acid-base titration (pH 8 --> pH 2.5 --> pH 8) of eleven mixing curve samples of the poly(dG) plus poly(dC) system has been performed in 0.15 M NaCl. Upon protonation, poly(dG).poly(dC) gives rise to an acid complex, in various amounts according to the origin of the sample. We have established that the hysteresis of the acid-base titration is due to the non-reversible formation of an acid complex, and the liberation of the homopolymers at the end of the acid titration and during the base titration: the homopolymer mixtures remain stable up to pH 7. A 1G:1C stoichiometry appears to be the most probable for the acid complex, a 1G:2C stoichiometry, as found in poly(C(+)).poly(I).poly(C) or poly(C(+)).poly(G).poly(C), cannot be rejected. In the course of this study, evidence has been found that the structural consequences of protonation could be similar for both double stranded poly(dG).poly(dC) and G-C rich DNA's: 1) protonation starts near pH 6, dissociation of the acid complex of poly(dG).poly(dC) and of protonated DNA take place at pH 3; 2) the CD spectrum computed for the acid polymer complex displays a positive peak at 255 nm as found in the acid spectra of DNA's; 3) double stranded poly(dG).poly(dC) embedded in triple-stranded poly(dG).poly(dG).poly(dC) should be in the A-form and appears to be prevented from the proton induced conformational change. The neutral triple stranded poly(dG).poly(dG).poly(dC) appears therefore responsible, although indirectly, for the complexity and variability of the acid titration of poly(dG).poly(dC) samples.

Circular Dichroism

Protonated polynucleotides structures - 23. The acid-base hysteresis of poly(dG).poly(dC).

The large hysteresis observed during the acid-base titration of poly(dG). poly (dC) was studied by CD and potentiometric scanning curves. Intermediate scanning loops as well as the equilibrium and metastable branches of the hysteresis loop have been determined. The potentiometric titrations showed, however, that the various complexes were not discrete entities, but were linked in "polycomplexes" as had been already suggested. This prevented a thermodynamic study of the system. The acid-base titration was further investigated as a function of ionic strength and temperature. The pK's showed considerably lower ionic strength dependence than observed for polyribonucleotide complexes. The thermal transitions permitted to establish the relative stabilities of the various complexes between pH 2.5 and pH 12.0.

Circular Dichroism

A simple method for the computation of first neighbour frequencies of DNAs from CD spectra.

A procedure for the computation of the first neighbour frequencies of DNA's is presented. This procedure is based on the first neighbour approximation of Gray and Tinoco. We show that the knowledge of all the ten elementary CD signals attached to the ten double stranded first neighbour configurations is not necessary. One can obtain the ten frequencies of an unknown DNA with the use of eight elementary CD signals corresponding to eight linearly independent polymer sequences. These signals can be extracted very simply from any eight or more CD spectra of double stranded DNA's of known frequencies. The ten frequencies of a DNA are obtained by least square fit of its CD spectrum with these elementary signals. One advantage of this procedure is that it does not necessitate linear programming, it can be used with CD data digitalized using a large number of wavelengths, thus permitting an accurate resolution of the CD spectra. Under favorable case, the ten frequencies of a DNA (not used as input data) can be determined with an average absolute error < 2%. We have also observed that certain satellite DNA's, those of Drosophila virilis and Callinectes sapidus have CD spectra compatible with those of DNA's of quasi random sequence; these satellite DNA's should adopt also the B-form in solution.

Animals