Mobilities of modified ribonucleotides on two-dimensional cellulose thin-layer chromatography.
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Chromatography, Thin Layer↗
Biomedical subjects
G Keith
Publications and source records attributed to G Keith.
Postlabeling: a sensitive method for studying DNA adducts and their role in carcinogenesis.
The covalent binding of xenobiotics to DNA is an important trigger of the multistage process that leads to carcinogenesis. 32P-postlabeling represents a highly sensitive method for biomonitoring exposure to genotoxic agents and for cancer risk assessment; it is capable of detecting less than one DNA adduct per human genome. Recent improvements to the technique have shown that the resistance of adducted DNA to enzyme digestion may lead to an overestimation of the number of different adducts present in a sample.
Animals↗
Structural specificity of nuclease from wheat chloroplasts stroma.
A single-strand-specific nuclease from wheat chloroplasts (ChS nuclease) was tested as a tool for RNA secondary and tertiary structure investigations, using yeast tRNA(Phe) and yeast tRNA(Asp) as models. In tRNA(Phe) the nuclease introduced main primary cleavages at positions U33, A35 and A36 in the anticodon-loop and G18 and G19 in the D-loop. In tRNA(Asp) the main primary cleavages occurred at positions U33, G34 and U35 in the anticodon-loop and the lower one at position C20:1 in the D-loop. No primary cleavages were observed within the double-stranded stems. Because ChS nuclease has (i) a low molecular weight, (ii) a wide pH range of action (5.0 to 7.5) (iii) no divalent cation requirement in the reaction mixture and (iv) can be obtained as a pure protein in rather large quantities it appeared to be a very good tool for secondary and tertiary structural studies of RNAs.
Base Sequence↗
Yeast Ty1 retrotransposon: the minus-strand primer binding site and a cis-acting domain of the Ty1 RNA are both important for packaging of primer tRNA inside virus-like particles.
Reverse transcription of the yeast retrotransposon Ty1 is primed by the cytoplasmic initiator methionine tRNA (tRNA(iMet)). The primer tRNA(iMet) is packaged inside virus-like particles (VLPs) and binds to a 10 nucleotides minus-strand primer binding site, the (-)PBS, complementary to its 3' acceptor stem. We have found that three short sequences of the Ty1 RNA (box 1, box 2.1 and box 2.2) located 3' to the (-)PBS are complementary to other regions of the primer tRNA(iMet) (T psi C and DHU stems and loops). Reconstitution of reverse transcription in vitro with T7 transcribed Ty1 RNA species and tRNA(iMet) purified from yeast cells shows that the boxes do not affect the efficiency of reverse transcription. Thus the role of the boxes on packaging of the primer tRNA(iMet) into the VLPs was investigated by analysing the level of tRNA(iMet) packaged into mutant VLPs. Specific nucleotide changes in the (-)PBS or in the boxes that do not change the protein coding sequence but disrupt the complementarity with the primer tRNA(iMet) within the VLPs. We propose that base pairing between the primer tRNA(iMet) and the Ty1 RNA is of major importance for tRNA(iMet) packaging into the VLPs. Moreover the intactness of the boxes is essential for retrotransposition as shown by the transposition defect of a Ty1 element harboring an intact (-)PBS and mutated boxes.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Intron-dependent formation of pseudouridines in the anticodon of Saccharomyces cerevisiae minor tRNA(Ile).
We have isolated and sequenced the minor species of tRNA(Ile) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This tRNA contains two unusual pseudouridines (psi s) in the first and third positions of the anticodon. As shown earlier by others, this tRNA derives from two genes having an identical 60 nt intron. We used in vitro procedures to study the structural requirements for the conversion of the anticodon uridines to psi 34 and psi 36. We show here that psi 34/psi 36 modifications require the presence of the pre-tRNA(Ile) intron but are not dependent upon the particular base at any single position of the anticodon. The conversion of U34 to psi 34 occurs independently from psi 36 synthesis and vice versa. However, psi 34 is not formed when the middle and the third anticodon bases of pre-tRNA(Ile) are both substituted to yield ochre anticodon UUA. This ochre pre-tRNA(Ile) mutant has the central anticodon uridine modified to psi 35 as is the case for S.cerevisiae SUP6 tyrosine-inserting ochre suppressor tRNA. In contrast, neither the first nor the third anticodon pseudouridine is formed, when the ochre (UUA) anticodon in the pre-tRNA(Tyr) is substituted with the isoleucine UAU anticodon. A synthetic mini-substrate consisting of the anticodon stem and loop and the wild-type intron of pre-tRNA(Ile) is sufficient to fully modify the anticodon U34 and U36 into psi s. This is the first example of the tRNA intron sequence, rather than the whole tRNA or pre-tRNA domain, being the main determinant of nucleoside modification.
Anticodon↗
Deficiency of queuine, a highly modified purine base, in transfer RNAs from primary and metastatic ovarian malignant tumors in women.
The tRNAs from rapidly growing tissues, particularly from neoplasia, often exhibit queuine deficiency. In order to check whether different kinds of ovarian tumors display queuine deficiencies we have analyzed tRNA samples from 16 ovarian malignancies. The tRNAs from histologically normal myometrium (4 samples) and myoma (6 samples) were taken as healthy tissue and benign tumor references. Queuine deficiency was determined by an exchange assay using [8-3H]guanine and tRNA:guanine transglycosylase from Escherichia coli. The mean values of queuine deficiencies in tRNAs were: 10.95 +/- 2.21 (SD) pmol/A260 in gonadal and germ cell tumors (5 cases); 23.75 +/- 7.89 pmol/A260 in primary epithelial tumors (9 cases); and 34.58 +/- 7.18 pmol/A260 in metastatic tumors (2 cases). These values displayed statistically significant differences (P = 0.0003, Kruskal-Wallis test). The queuine deficiencies in tRNAs significantly increased when moving from well-differentiated through moderately differentiated to poorly differentiated tumors, with the highest values found in poorly differentiated metastatic tumors (P = 0.0002, Kruskal-Wallis test). Queuine deficiency determination in tRNAs is proposed as a factor for clinical outcome prognosis of ovarian malignancies.
Adolescent↗
Yeast serine isoacceptor tRNAs: variations of their content as a function of growth conditions and primary structure of the minor tRNA(Ser)GCU.
The primary structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae tRNA(Ser)GCU is presented (EMBL database accession No. X74268 S. cerevisiae tRNA-Ser). In addition, quantitation of the relative amounts of serine isoaccepting tRNAs in yeast grown on different media showed that the minor tRNA(Ser)GCU decreased while the major tRNA(Ser)AGA increased as the growth rate and the cellular protein content increased. The minor species, tRNA(Ser)CGA and tRNA(Ser)UGA, were not separated by our gel system, however, taken together they appeared to vary in the same way as tRNA(Ser)GCU. These data suggest a growth rate dependence of yeast tRNAs similar to that previously described for E. coli tRNAs.
Anticodon↗
Base modification pattern at the wobble position of Xenopus selenocysteine tRNA(Sec).
We examined the base modification pattern of Xenopus tRNA(Sec) using microinjection into Xenopus oocytes, with particular focus on the wobble base U34 at the first position of the anticodon. We found that U34 becomes modified to mcm5U34 (5-methylcarboxymethyluridine) in the oocyte cytoplasm in a rather complex manner. When the tRNA(Sec) gene is injected into Xenopus oocyte nuclei, psi 55 and m1A58 are readily obtained, but not mcm5U34. This will appear only upon cytoplasmic injection of the gene product arising from the first nuclear injection. In contrast, tRNA(Sec) produced by in vitro transcription with T7 RNA polymerase readily acquires i6A37, psi 55, m1A58, and mcm5U34. The latter is obtained after direct nuclear or cytoplasmic injections. It has been reported by others that mcm5Um, a 2'-O-methylated derivative of mcm5U34, also exists in rat and bovine tRNA(Sec). With both the gene product and the in vitro transcript, and using the sensitive RNase T2 assay, we were unable to detect under our conditions the presence of a dinucleotide carrying mcm5Um and that would be therefore refractory to hydrolysis. We showed that the unusual mcm5U acquisition pathway does not result from impairment of nucleocytoplasmic transport. Rather, these data can be interpreted to mean that the modification is performed by a tRNA(Sec) specific enzyme, limiting in the oocyte cytoplasm.
Animals↗
Transfer RNA profiling: a new method for the identification of pathogenic Candida species.
A new molecular taxonomic method applicable to the identification of medically important Candida species and other yeast species has been developed. It is based on the electrophoretic pattern of total tRNA samples (a 'tRNA profile') isolated from Candida species and generated using high-resolution semi-denaturing urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and methylene blue staining. Species-specific tRNA profiles for the species C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. guilliermondii, C. glabrata and Pichia guilliermondii were obtained. Detailed studies with the major human pathogen of the Candida genus, C. albicans, demonstrated that the tRNA profile for a given species was both reproducible and strain-independent; seven different C. albicans strains generated identical tRNA profiles. Minor strain-specific heterogeneities in the tRNA profiles of C. guilliermondii and C. parapsilosis were detected, but in neither case did they significantly alter the species-specific diagnostic tRNA profile. The potential of this method in clarifying taxonomic anomalies was demonstrated by the finding that Type I and Type II strains of C. stellatoidea generate very different tRNA profiles, with that of a Type II strain being identical to the C. albicans tRNA profile. This method offers a number of advantages over current electrophoretic karyotype methods for species identification, both within the Candida genus and with yeast species in general.
Candida↗
Modified nucleotides of tRNA(3Lys) modulate primer/template loop-loop interaction in the initiation complex of HIV-1 reverse transcription.
In all retroviruses, reverse transcription is primed by a tRNA whose 3' end 18 nucleotides are complementary to the so called viral primer binding site. Previous work showed that reverse transcription of HIV-1 RNA is initiated by tRNA(3Lys). Using a variety of chemical and enzymatic structural probes, we investigated the interactions between HIV-1 RNA and its natural primer tRNA(3Lys). In addition to the predictable contacts between the viral primer binding site and the 3' end of tRNA(3Lys), a specific interaction takes place between an A-rich loop located upstream of the primer binding site region and the anticodon loop of tRNA(3Lys). This AAAA/Umcm5s2UUU loop-loop interaction is not observed when the natural primer is replaced by an in vitro synthesized tRNA(3Lys) transcript. Furthermore, dethiolation of the modified nucleotide mcm5s2U at position 34 of tRNA(3Lys) strongly destabilizes this interaction. Sequence and structure comparisons indicate that the primer/template loop-loop interaction is conserved in all HIV-1 isolates, and possibly also in HIV-2 and SIV.
Anticodon↗
Sequence of tRNA(Asp) from Thermus thermophilus HB8.
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Base Sequence↗
The primary structure of cytoplasmic initiator tRNA(Met) from Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
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Base Sequence↗
Nuclease footprinting of human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase/tRNA(Lys-3) complexes.
Nuclease footprinting has been used to probe features of binary complexes of type 1 human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) with both natural and synthetic preparations of its cognate replication primer, tRNA(Lys-3). In addition to heterodimeric RT (p66/p51), ribonucleoprotein complexes containing either the p66 or p51 subunit were analyzed. Footprinting experiments employed both structure- and sequence-specific nucleases. Our results indicate a similar mode of interaction for the three RT preparations tested, suggesting contact with each loop of the tRNA primer (D, anticodon, and T psi C), as well as minor perturbation of the anticodon stem. Although there is little evidence for extensive disruption of the 3'-acceptor stem. RNase A footprinting data with natural and synthetic tRNA suggests that potential base pairing between the T psi C and D loops is disrupted in the presence of RT.
Anticodon↗
A very poorly expressed tRNA(Ser) is highly concentrated together with replication primer initiator tRNA(Met) in the yeast Ty1 virus-like particles.
The analysis of the tRNAs associated to the virus-like particles produced by the Ty1 element revealed the specific packaging of three major tRNA species, in about equal amounts: the replication primer initiator tRNA(Met), the tRNA(Ser)AGA and a tRNA undetected until now as an expressed species in yeast. The latter tRNA is coded by the already described tDNA(Ser)GCT. This tRNA is enriched more than 150 fold in the particles as compared to its content in total cellular tRNA where it represents less than 0.1% (initiator tRNA(Met) and tRNA(Ser)AGA being 11 and 4 fold enriched respectively). This tRNA is the only species coded by the tDNA(Ser)GCT gene which is found in three copies per genome since no other corresponding expressed tRNA could be detected. This gene is thus very poorly expressed. The high concentration of tRNA(Ser)GCU in the particles compared to its very low cellular content led us to consider its possible implication in Ty specific processes.
Base Sequence↗
Rye nuclease I as a tool for structural studies of tRNAs with large variable arms.
A single-strand-specific nuclease from rye germ (Rn nuclease I) was used for secondary and tertiary structure investigations of tRNAs with large variable arms (class II tRNAs). We have studied the structure in solution of two recently sequenced tRNA(Leu): yeast tRNA(Leu)(ncm5UmAA) and bovine tRNA(Leu)(XmAA) as well as yeast tRNA(Leu)(UAG), tRNA(Leu)(m5CAA) and tRNA(Ser)(IGA). The latter is the only tRNA with a long variable arm for which the secondary and tertiary structure has already been studied by use of chemical probes and computer modelling. The data obtained in this work showed that the general model of class II tRNAs proposed by others for tRNA(Ser) can be extended to tRNAs(Leu) as well. However interesting differences in the structure of tRNAs(Leu) versus tRNA(Ser)(IGA) were also noticed. The main difference was observed in the accessibility of the variable loops to nucleolytic attack of Rn nuclease I: variable loops of all studied tRNA(Leu) species were cut by Rn nuclease I, while that of yeast tRNA(Ser)(IGA) was not. This could be due to differences in stability of the variable arms and the lengths of their loops which are 3 and 4 nucleotides in tRNA(Ser)(IGA) and tRNAs(Leu) respectively.
Animals↗
Non-standard translational events in Candida albicans mediated by an unusual seryl-tRNA with a 5'-CAG-3' (leucine) anticodon.
From in vitro translation studies we have previously demonstrated the existence of an apparent efficient UAG (amber) suppressor tRNA in the dimorphic fungus Candida albicans (Santos et al., 1990). Using an in vitro assay for termination codon readthrough the tRNA responsible was purified to homogeneity from C.albicans cells. The determined sequence of the purified tRNA predicts a 5'-CAG-3' anticodon that should decode the leucine codon CUG and not the UAG termination codon as originally hypothesized. However, the tRNA(CAG) sequence shows greater nucleotide homology with seryl-tRNAs from the closely related yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae than with leucyl-tRNAs from the same species. In vitro tRNA-charging studies demonstrated that the purified tRNA(CAG) is charged with Ser. The gene encoding the tRNA was cloned from C.albicans by a PCR-based strategy and DNA sequence analysis confirmed both the structure of the tRNA(CAG) and the absence of any introns in the tRNA gene. The copy number of the tRNA(CAG) gene (1-2 genes per haploid genome) is in agreement with the relatively low abundance (< 0.5% total tRNA) of this tRNA. In vitro translation studies revealed that the purified tRNA(CAG) could induce apparent translational bypass of all three termination codons. However, peptide mapping of in vitro translation products demonstrated that the tRNA(CAG) induces translational misreading in the amino-terminal region of two RNA templates employed, namely the rabbit alpha- and beta-globin mRNAs. These results suggest that the C.albicans tRNA(CAG) is not an 'omnipotent' suppressor tRNA but rather may mediate a novel non-standard translational event in vitro during the translation of the CUG codon. The possible nature of this non-standard translation event is discussed in the context of both the unusual structural features of the tRNA(CAG) and its in vitro behaviour.
Anticodon↗
Unusual deficiency of the modified purine base queuine in transfer ribonucleic acid from the human placenta as tested by enzymatic assay.
Transfer ribonucleic acid from rapidly growing tissues, particularly from neoplasia, is partially deficient in queuine, a highly modified transfer ribonucleic acid constituent. By means of an enzymatic assay we also found a queuine deficiency (14%) in human placenta transfer ribonucleic acid despite its high concentrations in the amniotic fluid. Proposed cause and significance of the results are discussed.
Female↗
Unusual structure of the double-stranded RNA associated with the '447' cytoplasmic male sterility in Vicia faba.
The 16.7 kbp dsRNA specific to the '447' cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) line of Vicia faba was labelled in vitro with [alpha-32P]ATP and poly(A) polymerase, and by T4 RNA ligase-mediated addition of [32P]pCp. Analysis of the reaction products under denaturing conditions revealed in both cases extensive labelling of a 4.5 kb ssRNA, already detected in previous experiments in which the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase associated with the dsRNA was allowed to pursue RNA synthesis on preinitiated complexes. Mobility shift analysis of total pCp-labelled dsRNA revealed not two but three different 3' termini. The most prominent sequencing pattern corresponded to the 4.5 kb ssRNA, indicating that this RNA species has a preferentially accessible, free 3' OH extremity. Northern blot analysis of the denatured dsRNA confirmed that the 4.5 kb ssRNA is a subgenomic mRNA and detected its counterpart of about 12 kb. Nearly all 16.7 kbp dsRNA molecules featured an interrupted positive-sense strand, indicating a marked prevalence of transcription over replication complexes. This unusual strategy of transcription by a strand displacement mechanism, following initiation at an internal discontinuity, is compared with that of other dsRNA viruses or defective viruses, and is discussed in relation to the expression of the CMS trait.
Base Sequence↗