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F Hishinuma

Publications and source records attributed to F Hishinuma.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Hairpin plasmid--a novel linear DNA of perfect hairpin structure.

The terminal structures of deletion derivatives of linear DNA killer plasmid from yeast were analyzed. The yeast Kluyveromyces lactis harbors two unique double-stranded linear DNA killer plasmids, pGKL1 of 8.9 kb and pGKL2 of 13.4 kb. The killer toxin and the resistance to the killer are coded by pGKL1, while pGKL2 is required for the maintenance of pGKL1 in the cell. When the pGKL plasmids from K. lactis were transferred into Saccharomyces cerevisiae by transformation, non-killer transformants harboring pGKL2 and new plasmids, F1 of 7.8 kb and F2 of 3.9 kb, were obtained. F2 was shown to be a linear DNA arising from a 5-kb deletion of the right part of pGKL1. F1 was an inverted dimer of F2. Here we show that F2 has two different terminal structures: one end has a protein attached at the 5' terminus whereas the two strands of duplex are linked together at the other end, thus forming a hairpin structure. This is a novel type of autonomously replicating DNA molecule.

Base Sequence↗

Cloning and nucleotide sequences of the linear DNA killer plasmids from yeast.

The linear DNA killer plasmids (pGKL1 and pGKL2) isolated from a Kluyveromyces lactis killer strain are also maintained and expressed its killer character in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After these killer plasmid DNAs isolated from S. cerevisiae were treated with alkali, four terminal fragments from each plasmid DNAs were cloned separately. Using these and other cloned DNA fragments, the terminal nucleotide sequences of pGKL2 and the complete nucleotide sequence of pGKL1 were determined. The inverted terminal repetitions of 202 bp and 182 bp were found in pGKL1 and pGKL2, respectively. The pGKL1 sequence showed an extremely high A + T content of 73.2% and it contained five large open reading frames. The largest of these open reading frame was suggested to code for a membrane-bound precursor of glycoprotein subunit of the killer toxin.

Base Sequence↗

The yeast linear DNA killer plasmids, pGKL1 and pGKL2, possess terminally attached proteins.

The terminal structures of linear DNA killer plasmids from yeast, pGKL1 and pGKL2, were analyzed. Results obtained by exonuclease treatments of these plasmids show that both pGKL plasmids have free hydroxyl 3'-ends and blocked 5'-ends. Electrophoretic analysis of the terminal restriction fragments treated with proteases revealed that pGKL1 and pGKL2 have proteins bound at 5'termini and that the terminal protein of pGKL1 is distinct from that of pGKL2. This is the first linear DNA-terminal protein association found in yeast.

DNA, Fungal↗

Molecular analysis of the c-myc locus in normal tissue and in avian leukosis virus-induced lymphomas.

We isolated molecular clones of the provirus-host cell junctions (tumor junction fragments) from two avian leukosis virus-induced lymphomas and compared the structures of these clones with a clone of the normal c-myc gene. Restriction mapping and DNA sequencing demonstrated that normal proviral integration events occurred adjacent to c-myc in both tumors, without gross structural alteration of c-myc. The right long terminal repeat of an avian leukosis virus provirus is integrated upstream from the bulk of the c-myc coding sequences and oriented such that transcription can initiate within the long terminal repeat and proceed downstream into c-myc. A comparison of a tumor junction fragment with the v-myc gene showed that there are two regions of v-myc-related sequences (which are probably exons) separated by 1 kilobase of sequences unrelated to v-myc (probably an intron). A DNA sequence analysis of the tumor junction fragments suggested that integration had occurred in exons adjacent to splice donor sites. This suggests that there are additional exons and introns in c-myc. Based on these findings, a model is proposed for the genesis of the tumor-specific RNAs containing viral-5' and c-myc information in avian leukosis virus-induced lymphomas.

Animals↗

Nucleotide sequence analysis of avian retroviruses: structural similarities with transposable elements.

Integrated retroviral genomes are flanked by direct repeats of sequences derived from the termini of the viral RNA genome. These sequences are designated long terminal repeats (LTRs). We have determined and analyzed the nucleotide sequence of the LTRs from several exogenous and endogenous avian retroviruses. These LTRs possess several structural similarities with eukaryotic and prokaryotic transposable elements: 1) inverted complementary repeats at the termini, 2) deletions of sequences adjacent to the LTR, 3) small duplications of host sequences flanking the integrated provirus, and 4) sequence homologies with transposable and other genetic elements. These observations suggest that LTRs function in the integration and perhaps transposition of retrovirus genomes. Evidence exists for the presence of a strong promoter sequence within the LTR. The retroviral LTR also contains a "Hogness box" up-stream of the capping site and a poly(A) signal. These features suggest an additional role for the LTR in the regulation of gene expression.

Animals↗

Nucleotide sequence of acceptor site and termini of integrated avian endogenous provirus ev1: integration creates a 6 bp repeat of host DNA.

The nucleotide sequences at the junctions between host cellular and integrated proviral DNA at the chicken endogenous retrovirus locus ev1 have been determined. These sequences have been compared with that of a DNA fragment presumed to contain the acceptor site for integration of the provirus at this locus. The results show that the integrated ev1 provirus contains a long terminal repeat (LTR) of 273 base pairs (bp). The left and right LTR are identical and contain sequences similar to proposed transcription control signals. In addition, there is a direct repeat of 6 bp of host DNA immediately flanking each provirus terminus. The nucleotide sequence of the fragment that contains the unoccupied acceptor site is identical to that which flanks the ev1 provirus, except that the 6 bp sequence occurs only once. We propose that the repeat was produced during integration by a mechanism similar to that of procaryotic and eucaryotic transposable genetic elements. This and other similarities in structure suggest a common evolution and mode of function for these movable genetic elements.

Animals↗

Addition of mononucleotides to oligoribonucleotide acceptors with T4 RNA ligase.

RNA ligase induced by bacteriophage T4 catalyzed the addition of nucleoside 5',3'-diphosphates to oligoribonucleotide acceptors in the presence of ATP. The reactions proceeded in equimolar concentrations of donors and acceptors. Several oligonucleotides of defined sequence were synthesized by this method in yields of 28-68%. The enzyme required the phosphate ester at the 3' position of the donor molecule, nucleoside 5',2'-diphosphates being unable to serve as donors. Thymidine 5',3'-diphosphate was active as a donor for the enzyme. The ligation product, (Ap)2ApCp, was also obtained from the reaction of (Ap)2A and 5'-adenylylated cytidine 5',3'-diphosphate (A5'pp5'Cp) with RNA ligase in the absence of ATP. These results show that the minimal substrate for RNA ligase is a nucleoside 5',3'-diphosphate.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Isolation of extrachromosomal deoxyribonucleic acids from extremely thermophilic bacteria.

Eight strains of thermophilic bacteria were examined for the presence of covalently closed circular deoxyribonucleic acid molecules by caesium chloride-ethidium bromide density gradient centrifugation. Four of the eight strains tested, Thermus flavus BS1, AT61, AT62 and Thermus thermophilus HB8 carried covalently closed circular DNA molecules. Thermus flavus BS1 haboured two species of plasmids with molecular weights of 6.1 X 10(6) and 17.0 X 10(6) as determined by electron microscopy. Thermus thermophilus HB8, T. flavus AT61 and T. flavus AT62 carried plasmids with molecular weights of 6.2 X 10(6), 6.6 X 10(6) and 6.6 X 10(6), respectively. Plasmids from T. flavus AT61 and AT62 were indistinguishable in their electrophoretic patterns in agarose or acrylamide gel after digestion with various restriction endonucleases. This is the first evidence for the presence of plasmids in extremely thermophilic bacteria, though their functions are unknown.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗

Thermophilic polynucleotide phosphorylase from Thermus thermophilus. Purification and properties of an altered form of enzyme which lacks phosphorolytic activity to polynycleotide.

A thermophilic polynucleotide phosphorylase lacking polynucleotide phosphoryltic activity was purified from Thermus thermophilus HB-8 strain. The enzyme is an altered form of the native polynucleotide phosphorylase, probably attacked by the proteinase(s) of this extreme thermophile during the purification process. This modified enzyme lacks phosphorolytic activity to poly(A) while retaining weak activity to phosphorolyse tetranucleotides or hexanucleotides. The purified enzyme was shown to be homogenous by electrophoretic analysis in polyacrylamide gel. This enzyme had a molecular weight of 190 000 as calculated both from electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel and from the Stoke's radius derived from the gel filtration pattern and the sedimentation coefficient. The enzyme was separated into three polypeptide chains by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulphate; their molecular weights were calculated to be 92000, 73000 and 35000. The enzyme was thermophilic and thermotolerant, exhibiting its maximal activity at 70 degrees C. The four ribonucleoside diphosphates (ADP, GDP, UDP and CDP) were polymerized to the extent of 7-S size.

Drug Stability↗

An efficient synthesis of polyguanylic acid by a thermophilic polynucleotide phosphorylase.

Polyguanylic acid (poly(G)) was synthesized from GDP in a yield of 60-75% by Thermus thermophilus polynucleotide phosphorylase (polyribonucleotide: orthophosphate nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.8) at 70 degrees C, pH 8.5 in the presence of Mg2+. The yield was dependent on the ratio of GDP to Mg2+, but was independent of the concentrations of enzyme or substrate. The maximal rate of GDP polymerization was obtained when the ratio of GDP to Mg2+ was 3:1. However, by prolonged incubation, the higher initial ratio of over 4:1 was preferred because of the rapid consumption of GDP in the reaction mixture. Poly(G) prepared by 1 h incubation was heterogeneous in size from 5 S to over 23 S, but by prolonged incubation of 19 h the size of product converged to 9 S as judged by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Its chain length was determined by terminal nucleoside analysis to be 200 nucleotides long.

Bacteria↗

Control of tryptophan synthetase amplified by varying the numbers of composite plasmids in Escherichia coli cells.

Using pSC101, RSF1010, RSF2124 and RP4 plasmids as vectors and bacteriophage lambdatrpD-A60-3 DNA as a source of the Escherichia coli whole tryptophan operon, composite plasmids of pSC101-trp, RSF1010-trp, RSF2124-trp and RP4-trp were constructed in vitro with EcoRI restriction endonuclease and DNA ligase. Each composite plasmid could be maintained stably in E. coli cells. The copy number of pSC101-trp, RSF1010-trp, RSF2124-trp and RP4-trp were 4.2, 11.2, 11.9 and 1.6 per chromosome respectively. The tryptophan synthetase activities in cells containing pSC101-trp, RSF1010-trp, RSF2124-trp aand RP4-trp plasmid were found to be 2.1, 6.0, 5.0 and 2.5 times compared with the level in chromosomal trp+ cells when they were grown in a minimal medium. By partial derepression with indolylacrylic acid, the enzyme levels were elevated to 10.1, 16.3, 15.3, 12.3 times, respectively, that of the control cells. The tryptophan synthetase activities did not increase in proportion to the copy number of the plasmids, but were strongly affected by the repression system of host cells.

DNA Replication↗