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D J Gilbert

Publications and source records attributed to D J Gilbert.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The mouse thymosin beta 4 gene: structure, promoter identification, and chromosome localization.

Thymosin beta 4 (T beta 4) is an actin monomer sequestering protein that may have a critical role in modulating the dynamics of actin polymerization and depolymerization in nonmuscle cells. Its regulatory role is consistent with the many examples of transcriptional regulation of T beta 4 and of tissue-specific expression. Furthermore, lymphocytes have a unique T beta 4 transcript relative to the ubiquitous transcript found in many other tissues and cells. To determine how T beta 4 gene expression is regulated and how the alternative transcripts are derived, we cloned the mouse T beta 4 gene. We established that there is a single mouse T beta 4 gene and found that the lymphoid-specific transcript is generated by extending the ubiquitous exon 1 with an alternate downstream splice site. The transcription start site is defined by primer extension analysis, and the 5'-flanking region has many of the characteristics of a promoter. It is pyrimidine-rich and contains typical promoter elements, including a GC box, an initiator site, and consensus transcription factor binding sites. The mouse T beta 4 gene locus (Ptmb4) is located by interspecific backcross mapping to the distal region of the mouse X chromosome, linked to Btk and Gja6.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1996

Cloning and characterization of mouse CCAAT binding factor.

Isolation of cDNA clones for the mouse CCAAT binding factor (mCBF) has revealed the expression of two distinct forms of mCBF that are generated by alternative splicing of a single primary transcript from a gene that maps to chromosome 17. The mCBF1 mRNA encodes a protein of 997 amino acids, whereas the mCBF2 protein is predicted to be only 461 amino acids in length; mCBF1 and human CBF (hCBF) share>80% amino acid sequence identity. Analysis of adult mouse tissue RNAs has revealed that the mCBF1 and mCBF2 mRNAs are ubiquitously expressed, but that mCBF1 mRNA is 5- to 10-fold more abundant than mCBF2 mRNA. Similarly, mCBF mRNA was detected through-out the placenta and in all tissues of the developing embryo from day 8 to day 18 of gestation. Overexpression of the two forms of mCBF in mammalian cells has demonstrated that the mCBF1 and mCBF2 proteins localize to different cellular compartments, with mCBF1 found predominantly in the nucleus and mCBF2 restricted to the cytoplasm. Co-expression of these two forms influences their localization, however, indicating that CBF activity can be regulated by the relative amounts of the two forms expressed in a cell.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1996

Mouse oncostatin M: an immediate early gene induced by multiple cytokines through the JAK-STAT5 pathway.

Oncostatin M (OSM) is a member of the interleukin-6 (IL6)-related cytokine subfamily that includes IL6, IL11, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), ciliary neurotrophic factor and cardiotrophin-1. While human OSM has been characterized and the bovine OSM gene was recently cloned, the murine counterpart had not been identified. Here we describe molecular cloning of murine OSM as an immediate early gene induced by a subset of cytokines including IL2, IL3 and erythropoietin (EPO) in myeloid and lymphoid cell lines. The induction kinetics of OSM are rapid and transient, reaching a maximal level within 30-60 min and decreasing thereafter. Induction of OSM depends on the signals generated by the membrane-proximal region of the EPO receptor as well as that of the beta chain of the IL3/GM-CSF receptor, which activate JAK2 and STAT5. About 100 bases upstream of the transcription initiation site of the OSM gene contains a possible STAT5 binding site which is essential for IL2, IL3 and EPO-dependent promoter activity of the OSM gene. Expression of STAT5 and the EPO receptor in COS cells conferred EPO-dependent activation of the OSM promoter. Moreover, the mutant IL2 receptor lacking the ability to activate STAT5 induced c-myc but failed to induce OSM. Thus OSM is one of the common targets of a subset of cytokines that activate STAT5. The murine OSM gene is located near to the LIF gene, expressed at high levels in bone marrow and possesses similar biological activity to human OSM. Identification of murine OSM as a cytokine-inducible immediate early gene provides a new insight into the physiological function of this unique cytokine.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

A large family of putative transmembrane receptors homologous to the product of the Drosophila tissue polarity gene frizzled.

In Drosophila melanogaster, the frizzled gene plays an essential role in the development of tissue polarity as assessed by the orientation of cuticular structures. Through a combination of random cDNA sequencing, degenerate polymerase chain reaction amplification, and low stringency hybridization we have identified six novel frizzled homologues from mammals, at least 11 from zebrafish, several from chicken and sea urchin, and one from Caenorhabditis elegans. The complete deduced amino acid sequences of the mammalian and nematode homologues share with the Drosophila frizzled protein a conserved amino-terminal cysteine-rich domain and seven putative transmembrane segments. Each of the mammalian homologues is expressed in a distinctive set of tissues in the adult, and at least three are expressed during embryogenesis. As hypothesized for the Drosophila frizzled protein, the frizzled homologues are likely to act as transmembrane receptors for as yet unidentified ligands. These observations predict the existence of a family of signal transduction pathways that are homologous to the pathway that determines tissue polarity in Drosophila.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Sequence analysis, chromosomal location, and developmental expression of the mouse preproendothelin-1 gene.

Recent studies have designated endothelins (ETs) as morphogenetic factors in embryonic development. In the present study, we cloned and characterized the mouse preproendothelin-1 (preproET-1) gene (Edn1) and examined its expression in reference to development. Edn1 comprises five exons, and the open reading frame encodes the 202-amino-acid preproET-1. The sequences and structural organization of Edn1 are highly homologous to those of other species, especially in the terminal 200-bp sequence of the 3'-noncoding region. Interspecific backcross mapping located Edn1 in the central region of chromosomal 13, where a mouse mutation, congenital hydrocephalus (ch), is also mapped. The highest expression of Edn1 mRNA is detected in the lung in adult mice, whereas Edn1 is predominantly expressed in the epithelium and mesenchyme of the pharyngeal arches and in the endothelium of the large arteries. Edn1 expression and ET-1 peptide levels in the lung progressively increased during the perinatal stage, whereas the expression of Edn3, a gene encoding ET-3, reciprocally decreases. These results suggest that Edn1 expression is developmentally regulated in different tissues and organs in mice in a spatial- and temporal-specific manner.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

The gene for calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand (CAMLG) is located on human chromosome 5q23 and a syntenic region of mouse chromosome 13.

The CAMLG gene encodes a novel cyclophilin B-binding protein called calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand, which appears to be involved in the regulation of calcium signaling in T lymphocytes and other cells. The murine homolog, Caml, was localized by interspecific backcross analysis to the middle of chromosome 13. By fluorescence in situ hybridization, this gene was localized to human chromosome 5 in a region (q23) known to be syntenic to mouse chromosome 13. These results provide further evidence supporting the extensive homology between human chromosome 5q and mouse chromosome 13. In addition, the results will provide a basis for further evaluation of cytogenetic anomalies that may contribute to inherited defects in calcium signaling or immune system function.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1996

The gene encoding p120cas, a novel catenin, localizes on human chromosome 11q11 (CTNND) and mouse chromosome 2 (Catns).

The p120cas gene encodes a protein tyrosine kinase substrate that associates with the cell-cell adhesion protein complex containing E-cadherin and its cytoplasmic cofactors alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, and plakoglobin. Like other components of the cadherin/catenin complex, defects in p120cas may contribute to cell malignancy. We have determined the chromosomal location of the p120cas gene in human and mouse using fluorescence in situ hybridization and interspecific backcross analysis, respectively. The human p120cas gene (CTNND) is localized immediately adjacent to the centromere on the long arm of chromosome 11 in band 11q11. The murine p120cas gene (Catns) was assigned to the middle of chromosome 2. Neither locus is currently known to be associated with disease or malignancy.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Chromosomal location of fifteen unique mouse KRAB-containing zinc finger loci.

The mammalian genome contains hundreds if not thousands of zinc finger protein (Zfp) genes. While the function of most of these genes remains to be determined, it is clear that a few of them play important roles in gene regulation and development. In studies described here, we have used an interspecific mouse backcross mapping panel to determine the chromosomal location of 15 KRAB-containing zinc finger loci. These loci map to nine different mouse autosomes and the X Chromosome (Chr). Two Chrs, 7 and 9, contain cosegregating pairs of KRAB-containing Zfp genes, indicating that the KRAB-containing Zfp genes have evolved through processes involving regional as well as genome-wide duplication events.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Functional characterization of the human interleukin-15 receptor alpha chain and close linkage of IL15RA and IL2RA genes.

Interleukins-2 and -15 (IL-2 and IL-15) are cytokines with overlapping but distinct biological effects. Their receptors share two subunits (the IL-2R beta and -gamma chains) that are essential for signal transduction. The IL-2 receptor requires an additional IL-2-specific alpha subunit for high affinity IL-2 binding. Recently, a murine IL-15-specific alpha subunit was identified, cloned, and shown to be structurally related to IL-2R alpha. However, the murine IL-15R alpha alone bound IL-15 with a 1000-fold higher affinity than that seen with IL-2R alpha and IL-2. We now extend these studies into the human system with the isolation of three differentially spliced human IL-15R alpha variants that are all capable of high affinity binding of IL-15. The cytoplasmic domain of IL-15R alpha, like that of IL-2R alpha, is dispensable for mitogenic signaling, suggesting that the primary role of the alpha chains is to confer high affinity binding. At high concentrations, IL-15, like IL-2, is able to signal through a complex of IL-2R beta and -gamma in the absence of the alpha subunit. Furthermore, the IL15RA and IL2RA genes have a similar intron-exon organization and are closely linked in both human and murine genomes. However, the distribution of expression of the IL-15R alpha is much wider than that of the IL-2R alpha, suggesting a broader range of cellular targets for IL-15.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a novel member of the C-C chemokine family.

Chemokines play an important role in immune and inflammatory responses by inducing migration and adhesion of leukocytes. We have isolated a novel chemokine cDNA, designated CCF18, from a cDNA library of an IL-3-dependent murine pro-B cell line, Ba/F3. The cDNA encodes a protein structurally related to the C-C chemokine members. Among this family, C10 shows the highest homology to CCF18, and MIP-1 alpha also has a significant homology but to a lesser extent. CCF18 produced from COS cells induced chemotaxis and Ca2+ flux in CD4+ T cell clones. Moreover, prior administration of MIP-1 alpha desensitized the cells to CCF18. The CCF18 gene (Scya10) was mapped to a middle region of murine chromosome 11, where other genes for several C-C chemokine members are localized. These results clearly indicate that CCF18 is a new member of the C-C chemokine family. Since a high level of CCF18 mRNA is constitutively expressed in macrophage and myeloid cell lines, CCF18 may play a role in inflammatory processes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Mapping the mouse genome: current status and future prospects.

The mouse is the best model system for the study of mammalian genetics and physiology. Because of the feasibility and importance of studying genetic crosses, the mouse genetic map has received tremendous attention in recent years. It currently contains over 14,000 genetically mapped markers, including 700 mutant loci, 3500 genes, and 6500 simple sequence length polymorphisms (SSLPs). The mutant loci and genes allow insights and correlations concerning physiology and development. The SSLPs provide highly polymorphic anchor points that allow inheritance to be traced in any cross and provide a scaffold for assembling physical maps. Adequate physical mapping resources--notably large-insert yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) libraries--are available to support positional cloning projects based on the genetic map, but a comprehensive physical map is still a few years away. Large-scale sequencing efforts have not yet begun in mouse, but comparative sequence analysis between mouse and human is likely to provide tremendous information about gene structure and regulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The mouse aquaporin-1 gene.

Members of the aquaporin family of molecular water transporters are expressed in diverse epithelia and in complex developmental patterns. Using a cDNA for mouse Aqp1, the structural gene was isolated and a restriction map was constructed. The 13-kb Aqp1 gene contains four exons with intronic boundaries corresponding to other known aquaporin genes. Transcription begins 67 bp 5' to the translation initiation site and 20 bp 3' from a TATAA consensus sequence. Aqp1 was localized by interspecific mouse backcross mapping to the central region of mouse chromosome 6 syntenic with human chromosome 7p14, where AQP1 had previously been localized. These studies have revealed marked structural similarities between the mouse Aqp1 and the human AQP1 genes, suggesting that further comparative studies may provide molecular insight into genetic regulatory features shared by both species.

Animals↗