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D T Sullivan

Publications and source records attributed to D T Sullivan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Characterization of the Drosophila ortholog of mouse eIF-3p48/INT-6.

The mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) has been shown to integrate frequently into INT-6 in MMTV-induced mouse mammary tumors. The INT6 gene has been highly conserved through evolution and has recently been shown to encode the p48 component of the eucaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF-3) complex. We report here the isolation of the Drosophila eIF-3p48/INT-6. The gene comprises three exons within 1.8kb of genomic DNA located at cytogenetic position 73C2 in the Drosophila genome. The 1.5kb eIF-3p48/INT-6 RNA species encodes a protein composed of 364 amino-acid residues whose sequence is 71% similar to that of the mouse/human eIF-3/INT-6 amino-acid sequence. eIF-3p48/INT-6 RNA is expressed throughout development in Drosophila and the encoded protein is associated with the microsomal subcellular fraction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An evaluation of the role and practices of the acute-care nurse practitioner.

The advanced practice, professional nurse in the acute-care setting with autonomy, prescriptive authority, and authority to coordinate care delivery is a role currently evolving. Evaluation data from a small number of individuals on a learning curve from students to novice practitioners were collected over a 2.5-year period. The results show that self-efficacy increases with clinical experience, whereas clinical reasoning and technical competency are challenging to beginning practitioners. Attention to consultative and educational role components should take low priority until these areas become comfortable to students and novice practitioners. Even early in their role development however, acute care nurse practitioners are regarded as highly valuable and contributory members of the patient management team.

Acute Disease↗

Germline transformation of Drosophila virilis mediated by the transposable element hobo.

A laboratory strain of Drosophila virilis was genetically transformed with a hobo vector carrying the miniwhite cassette using a helper plasmid with an hsp70-driven hobo transposase-coding sequence. The rate of transformation was 0.5% per fertile GO animal. Three transgenic insertions were cloned and characterized and found to be authentic hobo insertions. These results, together with the known widespread distribution of hobo in diverse insect species, suggest that hobo and related transposable elements may be of considerable utility in the germline transformation of insects other than D. melanogaster.

Animals↗

Subunit interactions in the mariner transposase.

We have studied the Mos1 transposase encoded by the transposable element mariner. This-transposase is a member of the "D,D(35)E" superfamily of proteins exhibiting the motif D,D(34)D. It is not known whether this transposase, or other eukaryote transposases manifesting the D,D(35)E domain, functions in a multimeric form. Evidence for oligomerization was found in the negative complementation of Mos1 by an EMS-induced transposase mutation in the catalytic domain. The transposase produced by this mutation has a glycine-to-arginine replacement at position 292. The G292R mutation strongly interferes with the ability of wild-type transposase to catalyze excision of a target element. Negative complementation was also observed for two other EMS mutations, although the effect was weaker than observed with G292R. Results from the yeast two-hybrid system also imply that Mos1 subunits interact, suggesting the possibility of subunit oligomerization in the transposition reaction. Overproduction of Mos1 subunits through an hsp70 promoter also inhibits excision of the target element, possibly through autoregulatory feedback on transcription or through formation of inactive or less active oligomers. The effects of both negative complementation and overproduction may contribute to the regulation of mariner transposition.

Alleles↗

DNA excision repair and transcription: implications for genome evolution.

The past two years have seen a substantial increase in knowledge regarding the enzymology of DNA excision repair. These data support a growing body of information which suggests that transcribed nucleotide sequences are preferentially subject to excision repair. It is possible that these mechanisms, or related ones, are relevant to the molecular evolution of sequences that appear not to evolve according to models which do not take into account regional sequence differences in the extent of DNA repair.

Animals↗

Structure and expression of the gene encoding phosphofructokinase (PFK) in Drosophila melanogaster.

The gene from Drosophila melanogaster that encodes phosphofructokinase has been isolated and its structure and expression characterized. Southern blots of genomic DNA, comparison of multiple clones, and in situ hybridization to salivary gland chromosomes indicate that the Drosophila genome contains a single copy of the gene which encodes phosphofructokinase (PFK) that is located at cytogenetic position 46D/E on the polytene map. Analysis of the gene structure reveals a single coding region that spans 6.5 kilobase pairs and is composed of eight exons and seven introns. Three developmentally regulated transcripts are generated through the use of alternative polyadenylation sites. Transcription initiation occurs at a single site. The pattern of transcript accumulation during development is similar to other genes of Drosophila which encode enzymes of the glycolytic pathway. Deficiency analysis of the 46D/E region has identified a lethal complementation group associated with reduced PFK activity, thereby establishing the vital role of PFK function in Drosophila.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Unusual molecular evolution of an Adh pseudogene in Drosophila.

The Adh locus in Drosophila species which are members of the repleta group contains products of one or two duplication events. In all species examined to date one of the Adh genes is now a pseudogene, since mutations have rendered these genes incapable of being translated into a functional alcohol dehydrogenase. These pseudogenes contain introns in the standard Adh gene position; hence, their origin is not by retrotransposition. Comparison of the sequences of the Adh-psi from representatives of each of the subgroups of the repleta group reveal that the Adh pseudogene is present in each subgroup and that mutations at codon 2 and a deletion in the region immediately 5' to Adh-psi are common to all species. Therefore, it is likely that the translational inactivation event that resulted in a pseudogene occurred before the divergence of the species that make up the repleta group. We have investigated the transcription of Adh-psi of D. hydei and have found that the transcription has a developmental profile dissimilar from any known Adh gene, does not utilize an Adh promoter, and is initiated at a point almost 12 kb upstream. Comparison of sequence divergence of Adh-psi within species of the repleta group reveals that rates of evolution of the exons of Adh-psi are substantially slower than intergenic regions and are only slightly faster than those of exons of functional Adh genes. Second, retention of codon bias is found in the Adh-psi of most species, and substitution at synonymous coding positions substantially exceeds substitution at nonsynonymous coding positions. Comparison of the evolution of other putative pseudogenes with repleta group Adh pseudogenes suggests that at least some pseudogene sequences in Drosophila may be evolving through mechanisms and/or under influences not presently understood.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Structure, expression and duplication of genes which encode phosphoglyceromutase of Drosophila melanogaster.

We report here the isolation and characterization of genes from Drosophila that encode the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglyceromutase (PGLYM). Two genomic regions have been isolated that have potential to encode PGLYM. Their cytogenetic localizations have been determined by in situ hybridization to salivary gland chromosomes. One gene, Pglym78, is found at 78A/B and the other, Pglym87, at 87B4,5 of the Drosophila polytene map. Pglym78 transcription follows a developmental pattern similar to other glycolytic genes in Drosophila, i.e., substantial maternal transcript deposited during oogenesis; a decline in abundance in the first half of embryogenesis; a subsequent increase in the second half of embryogenesis which continues throughout larval life; a decline in pupae and a second increase to a plateau in adults. This transcript has been mapped by cDNA and genomic sequence comparison, RNase protection, and primer extension. Using similar analyses transcripts of Pglym87 could not be detected. Pglym78 has two introns which interrupt the coding region, while the Pglym87 gene lacks introns. This and other features support a model of retrotransposition mediated gene duplication for the origin of Pglym87. The apparent absence of a complete, intact coding frame and transcript suggest that Pglym87 is a pseudogene. However, retention of reading frame and codon bias suggests that Pglym87 may retain coding function, or may have been inactivated recently, substantially after the time of duplication, or that the molecular evolution of Pglym87 is unusual. Similarities of the unusual molecular evolution of Pglym87 and other proposed pseudogenes are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Preparing acute care nurse practitioners at the University of Connecticut.

To meet the pressing demands for enhanced quality of patient care in a time of shrinking resources, a cooperative effort between the School of Nursing and the University Hospital (John Dempsey) Department of Nursing was initiated to educate nurses for a new role. Acute care nurse practitioners are master's prepared nurses in advanced practice who are capable of case management. Major functions include creating an initial data base, ordering diagnostic tests, therapeutics interventions, and medications, and monitoring their results in collaboration with attending physicians. Results show promise for unprecedented interdisciplinary patient management and nurse-to-nurse cooperation.

Curriculum↗

Alternative splicing of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase transcripts in Drosophila melanogaster predicts three isozymes.

The genes that encode fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase of Drosophila melanogaster have been isolated and characterized. These genes exist in a single copy 8-kilobase pair locus in the Drosophila genome which is located at cytogenetic position 97A-B. The nucleotide sequence and transcript mapping suggest that three overlapping protein isozyme genes may be encoded at this locus. These isozyme genes all share a single promoter, a 5'-untranslated first exon, and two other protein coding exons. The isozyme-specific carboxyl-terminal amino acids are encoded by one of three alternatively utilized fourth exons: 4A, 4B, or 4C by alternative splicing. The transcript containing exon 4C, whose sequence has been reported previously, is abundant throughout development and has a developmental profile similar to other glycolytic gene transcripts; however, it shows developmental specificity in the alternative use of two polyadenylation signals which result in a 2.4-kilobase and a 1.9-kilobase transcript. The transcript containing exon 4B is 1.6 kilobases in size and is most abundant during the larval stages and during the time of eclosion. The transcript containing exon 4A is in low abundance and found only during the adult stage. Sequence comparisons of the alternative fourth exons indicate that the duplication leading to the multiple exons is quite old and preceded the origin of the genus Drosophila.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure and expression of the phosphoglycerate kinase (Pgk) gene of Drosophila melanogaster.

The gene that encodes phosphoglycerate kinase in Drosophila melanogaster (Pgk) has been isolated and characterized. There is a single copy of Pgk in the Drosophila genome located at cytogenetic position 23A1-2. Transcripts of Pgk are 1.6 kb long and are found during development with a profile similar to the expression pattern of other genes of the glycolytic pathway. There are substantial amounts of maternal transcript in early embryos which decline in abundance until mid-embryogenesis when transcript levels increase; levels remain high, during larval stages, fall during pupariation and rise again at emergence. The nucleotide sequence of the Pgk gene reveals two small introns, one of which is at a position identical to the site of an intron found in Pgk genes from other organisms. The Pgk gene has no TATA box in the region of transcription initiation and has multiple transcription initiation sites that are closely spaced within 110 nucleotides of the translation start site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Delineation of cis-acting sequences required for expression of Drosophila mojavensis Adh-1.

The control of expression of the Adh-1 gene of Drosophila mojavensis has been analyzed by transforming ADH null Drosophila melanogaster hosts with P element constructs which contain D. mojavensis Adh-1 having deletions of different extent in the 5' and 3' ends. Adh-1 expression in the D. melanogaster hosts is qualitatively similar to expression in D. mojavensis, although expression is quantitatively lower in transformants. Deletions of the 5' end indicate that information required for normal temporal and tissue expression in larvae is contained within 70 bp of the transcription start site. However, deletion constructs to -70 are deficient in ovarian nurse cell expression, whereas the additional upstream sequences present in constructs containing deletions to -257 do support expression in the ovary. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence in the -257 to -70 region of Adh-1 of four species: D. mojavensis and Drosophila arizona, which express Adh-1 in the ovary, and Drosophila mulleri and Drosophila navojoa, which do not, has led to the identification of regions of sequence similarity that correlate with ovary expression. One of these bears a striking similarity to a conserved sequence located upstream of the three heat shock genes that have constitutive ovarian expression and may be an ovarian control element. We have identified an aberrant aspect of Adh-1 expression. In transformants which carry an Adh-1 gene without a functional upstream Adh-2 gene Adh-1 expression continues into the adult stage instead of ceasing at the onset of metamorphosis. In transformants with a functional Adh-2 gene, Adh-1 expression ceases in the third larval instar stage and aberrant expression in the adult stage does not occur.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

The evolution of duplicate glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase genes in Drosophila.

In Drosophila melanogaster there are two genes which encode the enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), Gapdh-43E and Gapdh-13F. We have shown that Gapdh-43E codes for the GAPDH subunit with an apparently larger molecular weight while Gapdh-13F encodes the GAPDH subunit having an apparently smaller molecular weight. Immunoblots of sodium dodecyl sulfate gels were used to survey species from throughout the genus and results indicated that two classes of GAPDH subunits are present only in Drosophila species of the melanogaster and takahashi subgroups of the melanogaster group. Only the smaller subunit is found in species of the obscura group while all other species have only a large subunit. Drosophila hydei was analyzed at the DNA level as a representative species of the subgenus Drosophila. The genome of this species has a single Gapdh gene which is localized at a cytogenetic position likely to be homologous to Gapdh-43 E of D. melanogaster. Comparison of its sequence with the sequence of the D. melanogaster Gapdh genes indicates that the two genes of D. melanogaster are more similar to one another than either is to the gene from D. hydei. The Gapdh gene from D. hydei contains an intron following codon 29. Neither Gapdh gene of D. melanogaster has an intron within the coding region. Southern blots of genomic DNA were used to determine which species have duplicate Gapdh genomic sequences. Gene amplification was used to determine which species have a Gapdh gene that is interrupted by an intron. Species of the subgenus Drosophila have a single Gapdh gene with an intron. Species of the willistoni and saltans groups have a single Gapdh gene that does not contain an intron.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure and expression of the triose phosphate isomerase (Tpi) gene of Drosophila melanogaster.

We report the isolation of the genomic sequence that encodes the enzyme triose phosphate isomerase of Drosophila melanogaster. There is a single copy of the Tpi sequence in the genome of Drosophila, as judged by Southern blots and in situ hybridization to salivary gland chromosomes. The sequence of 3414 nucleotides from the Tpi region was determined. The gene has an intron in the 5' untranslated region of the transcript and a second intron in the coding region at an evolutionarily conserved position. Transcripts initiate at a single site which does not have a TATA box in the usual position. Northern blot analysis of RNA prepared from different developmental stages revealed that Tpi mRNA is present in substantial amounts in oocytes, declines in abundance in early embryos, and begins to increase during mid-embryogenesis. Transcript abundance follows a pattern typical of enzymes involved in intermediate metabolism. A peak is found during third instar followed by a decline during pupal stages and then a second rise near the time of eclosion.

Animals↗

Characterization of the structure and evolution of the Adh region of Drosophila hydei.

Drosophila of the repleta group have a duplication of the gene which encodes alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). We report the nucleotide sequence of an 8.4-kb region of genomic DNA of Drosophila hydei which includes the entire Adh region. Analysis of this sequence reveals similarity in organization to the Adh region of Drosophila mojavensis and Drosophila mulleri of the mulleri subgroup, with three genes ordered 5' to 3', Adh-psi, Adh-2, Adh-1. Deletion of a nucleotide in the second codon of each pseudogene suggests that the first Adh duplication occurred before the divergence of the hydei and mulleri subgroups. However, Adh-1 and Adh-2 of D. hydei are significantly more alike than Adh-1 and Adh-2 of D. mojavensis. Models to account for the difference in similarity between the coding genes were tested by orthologous and paralogous comparisons of the extent of sequence divergence. A model which proposes that independent duplication events generated Adh-1 and Adh-2 in the two lineages is supported by these data. The D. hydei pseudogene is transcribed and the transcript is processed in a complex manner. An intron of greater than 6.2 kb exists between the first "coding" exon and an upstream exon which is approximately 250 nucleotides in length.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

The structure of the Adh locus of Drosophila mettleri: an intermediate in the evolution of the Adh locus in the repleta group of Drosophila.

Members of species of the mulleri and hydei subgroups of the repleta group of Drosophila have duplicate Adh genes. The Adh regions of D. mojavensis, D. mulleri, and D. hydei contain three genes--a pseudogene, Adh-2, and Adh-1--arranged 5' to 3'. To understand the evolution of the triplicate Adh structure, we have cloned and sequenced the Adh locus of D. mettleri. This region consists of a 5' pseudogene and a 3' functional Adh gene. On the basis of the structure and nucleotide sequence comparisons of Adh genes of D. mettleri and other species, we propose that an initial duplication of the ancestral Adh gene generated two Adh genes arranged in tandem. The more 5' Adh gene became a pseudogene, while the more 3' gene remained functional through all the developmental stages. A second duplication of this 3' gene resulted in Adh regions with three genes--a pseudogene, Adh-2, and Adh-1.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Effect of dietary carbohydrates and ethanol on expression of genes encoding sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase, and phosphoglycerate kinase in Drosophila larvae.

The genes encoding glycolytic enzymes in Drosophila form a group of functionally related genes that may be coordinately regulated and thus controlled by common factors. We have examined the effect of dietary carbohydrates and ethanol on expression of the genes encoding glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), aldolase (ALD), and phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) in D. melanogaster larvae. GPDH activity and transcript abundance increased in response to ethanol and additional amounts of several different carbohydrates. In addition, the levels of two alternatively processed Gpdh transcripts were differentially regulated by the treatments. The nutritional conditions tested had little or no effect on the activities and transcript levels of ALD and PGK. These results indicate that changes in dietary conditions affect expression of specific genes and do not evoke a general response from genes involved in cellular metabolism. The observation that dietary carbohydrates and ethanol increase Gpdh expression without affecting expression of Ald and Pgk reinforces previous suggestions that dietary carbon can be diverted by GPDH from glycolytic catabolism into lipid biosynthesis.

Animals↗