Biomedical subjects

Ghil Jona

Publications and source records attributed to Ghil Jona.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Linking DNA-binding proteins to their recognition sequences by using protein microarrays.

Analyses of whole-genome sequences and experimental data sets have revealed a large number of DNA sequence motifs that are conserved in many species and may be functional. However, methods of sufficient scale to explore the roles of these elements are lacking. We describe the use of protein arrays to identify proteins that bind to DNA sequences of interest. A microarray of 282 known and potential yeast transcription factors was produced and probed with oligonucleotides of evolutionarily conserved sequences that are potentially functional. Transcription factors that bound to specific DNA sequences were identified. One previously uncharacterized DNA-binding protein, Yjl103, was characterized in detail. We defined the binding site for this protein and identified a number of its target genes, many of which are involved in stress response and oxidative phosphorylation. Protein microarrays offer a high-throughput method for determining DNA-protein interactions.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Severe acute respiratory syndrome diagnostics using a coronavirus protein microarray.

To monitor severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infection, a coronavirus protein microarray that harbors proteins from SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and five additional coronaviruses was constructed. These microarrays were used to screen approximately 400 Canadian sera from the SARS outbreak, including samples from confirmed SARS-CoV cases, respiratory illness patients, and healthcare professionals. A computer algorithm that uses multiple classifiers to predict samples from SARS patients was developed and used to predict 206 sera from Chinese fever patients. The test assigned patients into two distinct groups: those with antibodies to SARS-CoV and those without. The microarray also identified patients with sera reactive against other coronavirus proteins. Our results correlated well with an indirect immunofluorescence test and demonstrated that viral infection can be monitored for many months after infection. We show that protein microarrays can serve as a rapid, sensitive, and simple tool for large-scale identification of viral-specific antibodies in sera.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

Global analysis of protein phosphorylation in yeast.

Protein phosphorylation is estimated to affect 30% of the proteome and is a major regulatory mechanism that controls many basic cellular processes. Until recently, our biochemical understanding of protein phosphorylation on a global scale has been extremely limited; only one half of the yeast kinases have known in vivo substrates and the phosphorylating kinase is known for less than 160 phosphoproteins. Here we describe, with the use of proteome chip technology, the in vitro substrates recognized by most yeast protein kinases: we identified over 4,000 phosphorylation events involving 1,325 different proteins. These substrates represent a broad spectrum of different biochemical functions and cellular roles. Distinct sets of substrates were recognized by each protein kinase, including closely related kinases of the protein kinase A family and four cyclin-dependent kinases that vary only in their cyclin subunits. Although many substrates reside in the same cellular compartment or belong to the same functional category as their phosphorylating kinase, many others do not, indicating possible new roles for several kinases. Furthermore, integration of the phosphorylation results with protein-protein interaction and transcription factor binding data revealed novel regulatory modules. Our phosphorylation results have been assembled into a first-generation phosphorylation map for yeast. Because many yeast proteins and pathways are conserved, these results will provide insights into the mechanisms and roles of protein phosphorylation in many eukaryotes.

Eukaryotic Cells↗

PubMed2005

Global analysis of protein function using protein microarrays.

Protein microarrays containing thousands of proteins arrayed at high density can be prepared and probed for a wide variety of activities, thereby allowing the large scale analysis of many proteins simultaneously. In addition to identifying the activities of many previously uncharacterized proteins, protein microarrays can reveal new activities of well-characterized proteins, thus providing new insights about the functions of these proteins. Below, we describe the construction and use of protein microarrays and their applications using yeast as a model system.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Rapid analysis of the DNA-binding specificities of transcription factors with DNA microarrays.

We developed a new DNA microarray-based technology, called protein binding microarrays (PBMs), that allows rapid, high-throughput characterization of the in vitro DNA binding-site sequence specificities of transcription factors in a single day. Using PBMs, we identified the DNA binding-site sequence specificities of the yeast transcription factors Abf1, Rap1 and Mig1. Comparison of these proteins' in vitro binding sites with their in vivo binding sites indicates that PBM-derived sequence specificities can accurately reflect in vivo DNA sequence specificities. In addition to previously identified targets, Abf1, Rap1 and Mig1 bound to 107, 90 and 75 putative new target intergenic regions, respectively, many of which were upstream of previously uncharacterized open reading frames. Comparative sequence analysis indicated that many of these newly identified sites are highly conserved across five sequenced sensu stricto yeast species and, therefore, are probably functional in vivo binding sites that may be used in a condition-specific manner. Similar PBM experiments should be useful in identifying new cis regulatory elements and transcriptional regulatory networks in various genomes.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Recent developments in analytical and functional protein microarrays.

In recent years, the genomes of many different organisms have been fully sequenced and annotated. As a consequence of this information, a number of methods have emerged to study the function of many genes and proteins in parallel. One recent approach for the large-scale analysis of proteins is the use of protein microarrays in which hundreds to thousands of proteins are arrayed and assayed simultaneously. Protein arrays can be used for assessing protein levels and following disease markers, identifying biochemical activities, analyzing post-translational modifications, building interaction networks, and for drug discovery and development. In this review, we discuss the construction of different types of protein arrays, and their numerous and diverse applications.

Antibodies↗

PubMed2002

Mutations in the RING domain of TFB3, a subunit of yeast transcription factor IIH, reveal a role in cell cycle progression.

The RNA polymerase II general transcription factor TFIIH is composed of 9 known subunits and possesses DNA helicase and protein kinase activities. The kinase subunits of TFIIH in animal cells, Cdk7, cyclin H, and MAT1, were independently isolated as an activity termed CAK (Cdk-activating kinase), which phosphorylates and activates cell cycle kinases. However, CAK activity of TFIIH subunits could not be demonstrated in budding yeast. TFB3, the 38-kDa subunit of yeast TFIIH, is the homolog of mammalian MAT1. By random mutagenesis we have isolated a temperature-sensitive mutation in the conserved RING domain. The mutant Tfb3 protein associates less efficiently with the kinase moiety of TFIIH than the wild type protein. In contrast to lethal mutants in other subunits of TFIIH, this mutation does not impair general transcription. Transcription of CLB2, and possibly other genes, is reduced in the mutant. At the restrictive temperature, the cells display a defect in cell cycle progression, which is manifest at more than one phase of the cycle. To conclude, in the present study we bring another demonstration of the multifunctional nature of TFIIH.

Cell Cycle↗