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Biomedical subjects

I Edelman

Publications and source records attributed to I Edelman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Nucleotide sequence, transcription map, and mutation analysis of the 13q14 chromosomal region deleted in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Deletions of the 13q14 chromosome region are associated with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and several other types of cancer, suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene. In previous studies the minimal region of deletion (MDR) was mapped to a less than 300-kilobase (kb) interval bordered by the markers 173a12-82 and 138G4/1.3R. For the identification of the putative tumor suppressor gene, the entire MDR (approximately 347 kb) has been sequenced, and transcribed regions have been identified by exon trapping, EST-based full-length complementary DNA cloning, database homology searches, and computer-assisted gene prediction analyses. The MDR contains 2 pseudogenes and 3 transcribed genes: CAR, encoding a putative RING-finger containing protein; 1B4/Leu2, generating noncoding transcripts; and EST70/Leu1, probably representing another noncoding gene (longest open reading frame of 78 codons). These genes have been sequenced in 20 B-CLL cases with 13q14 hemizygous deletion, and no mutations were found. Moreover, no somatic variants were found in the entire MDR analyzed for nucleotide substitutions by a combination of direct sequencing and fluorescence-assisted mismatch analysis in 5 B-CLL cases displaying 13q14-monoallelic deletion. The nondeleted allele of the CAR and EST70/Leu1 genes was expressed in B-CLL specimens, including those with monoallelic loss, whereas no expression of 1B4/Leu2 was detectable in B-CLL, regardless of the 13q14 status. These results indicate that allelic loss and mutation of a gene within the MDR is an unlikely pathogenetic mechanism for B-CLL. However, haplo-insufficiency of one of the identified genes may contribute to tumorigenesis. (Blood. 2001;97:2098-2104)

Animals↗

Exceptional codon recognition by the glutamine tRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Recently, it was shown that wild-type glutamine tRNAs in yeast cause low-level nonsense suppression that can be enhanced by increasing glutamine tRNA gene copy number. In order to investigate glutamine tRNA behavior further, anticodon mutations that confer nonsense suppression were identified in yeast sup70 gene, which codes for glutamine tRNA(CAG). In this study we show that suppressors derived by mutation severely limit growth such that suppressor-bearing spores germinate but arrest cell division at approximately the 50 cell stage. Analysis of a sup70 deletion was used to establish that growth limitation results from loss of wild-type glutamine tRNA(CAG) function. By exploiting the growth inhibition of sup70 alleles, some exceptional codon recognition properties of glutamine tRNAs were revealed. Our results indicate that amber suppressor glutamine tRNA(UAG) can translate 5'-CAG-3' glutamine codons with low efficiency in the presence of an A/C mismatch at the first position of the codon, suggesting that reading may occur at a low level by a two-out-of-three reading mechanism. In addition, when glutamine tRNA(CAA) is over-expressed in vivo, it translates 5'-CAG-3' codons using a mechanism that resembles prokaryotic-like U/G wobble, which normally does not occur in yeast. Our studies also suggest that the yeast glutamine tRNA suppressors could potentially be exploited to express ciliated protozoan genes that normally contain internal 5'-UAG-3' and 5'-UAA-3' codons.

Base Sequence↗

pT181 plasmid replication is regulated by a countertranscript-driven transcriptional attenuator.

pT181 is the prototype of a family of staphylococcal plasmids that regulate their replication by means of antisense RNAs (countertranscripts) that block expression of the plasmid-coded initiator protein. In this paper, we show that the pT181 countertranscripts induce premature termination (attenuation) of the initiator mRNA by promoting the formation of a termination-causing hairpin just 5' to the initiator start codon. In the absence of the countertranscripts, an upstream sequence, the preemptor, pairs with the proximal arm of the terminator hairpin, preventing termination and permitting transcription of the initiator gene. This system thus differs from the classical attenuators in that attenuation is driven by antisense RNAs rather than by tRNA-induced stalling of ribosomes.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Physiological levels of normal tRNA(CAGGln) can effect partial suppression of amber mutations in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A number of ciliated protozoa are known to read the stop codons UAA and UAG as sense codons that specify glutamine during protein synthesis. In considering evolutionary mechanisms for this curious divergence from the standard genetic code, we propose the existence of progenitor tRNAs for glutamine that can weakly suppress UAA and UAG codons. It has been previously shown that multicopy plasmids that overexpress normal tRNA(CAAGln) and tRNA(CAGGln) genes from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can partially suppress a number of yeast ochre and amber mutations, respectively. In the present study we show that the tRNA(CAGGln) gene can also function as a weak amber suppressor when expressed in cells at physiological levels. This observation is consistent with a role of tRNA(CAGGln) as an evolutionary progenitor of tRNAs that strongly decode UAG codons.

Animals↗

Small Staphylococcus aureus plasmids are transduced as linear multimers that are formed and resolved by replicative processes.

The molecular processes involved in the transduction of small staphylococcal plasmids by a generalized transducing phage, phi 11, have been analysed. The plasmids are transduced in the form of linear concatemers containing only plasmid DNA; plasmid-initiated replication is required for their generation but additive interplasmid recombination is not. Concatemers are probably generated by the interaction of one or more phage functions with replicating plasmid DNA. Insertion of any restriction fragment of the phage into the plasmid causes an approximately 10(5)-fold increase in transduction frequency, regardless of the size or genetic content of the fragment. The resulting transducing particles (Hft particles) contain mostly pure linear concatemers composed of tandem repeats of the plasmid::phage chimera, and their production requires active plasmid-initiated replication. The high frequency of transduction is a consequence of homologous recombination between the linear chimeric and phage concatemers, which has the effect of introducing an efficient pac site into the former. Following introduction into lysogenic recipient bacteria, the transducing DNA is first converted to the supercoiled form, then processed to monomers by a mechanism that requires the active participation of the plasmid replication system.

DNA Replication↗

Comparative sequence and functional analysis of pT181 and pC221, cognate plasmid replicons from Staphylococcus aureus.

The nucleotide sequence of pC221, a 4.6 kb Staphylococcus aureus plasmid is presented. The replication region of the plasmid is identified and compared with the corresponding region of pT181, a compatible but related plasmid. Both plasmids encode trans-active replicon-specific initiator proteins, RepC for pT181 and RepD for pC221. Plasmid replication rate is controlled by regulation of the rate of synthesis of the initiator protein by means of inhibitory 5' countertranscripts. Key elements of the control system are closely conserved between the two plasmids whereas less critical elements show extensive divergence. Overall architecture is also conserved, suggesting functional parallelism. The replication origin for both plasmids is contained within the N-terminal region of the initiator protein coding sequence; the two coding sequences are highly homologous but have two important areas of divergence, one within the origin region, the other near the C-terminus. In vivo recombinants between the two plasmids isolated previously (Iordanescu 1979) have crossover points within the initiator gene, between the two divergent regions. The recombinant plasmids have hybrid initiator proteins and are defective for replication, requiring the simultaneous presence of the parental plasmid from which their origin is derived. They are able to complement replication-defective mutants of the other parental plasmid, suggesting that the recognition specificity of the hybrid initiator protein resides in its C-terminal end and that the specific recognition site for the protein corresponds to the divergent region within the origin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Staphylococcal plasmid cointegrates are formed by host- and phage-mediated general rec systems that act on short regions of homology.

Cointegrates involving pairs of compatible staphylococcal plasmids can be isolated either by co-selection during transduction (Novick et al. 1981) or by selection for survival at the restrictive temperature of a thermosensitive, replication defective plasmid in the presence of a stable one. Cointegrates are formed by recombination at two specific sites, RSA and RSB. RSB is present on each of six plasmids analyzed, namely pT181, pE194, pC194, pS194, pUB110, and pSN2, and RSA is present on two of these, pT181 and pE194. In this communication, it is shown that the RS represent short regions of homology (RSA is some 70 bp in length and RSB is about 30) embedded in largely non-homologous contexts and that the crossovers take place within these homologous regions. The pT181 and pE194 RSA sequences contain several mismatches which permit the localization of the crossover events to several different sites within the overall RS segment. The recombination system involved is therefore general (homology-specific) rather than site-specific (sequence-specific). Mismatches included within the crossover region are always corrected to the pT181 configuration. The cointegrates are therefore formed by a relatively efficient general rec system that recognizes short regions of homology and gives rise to Holliday junctions that probably involve very short heteroduplex overlaps. The sequence results are consistent with asymmetric single-strand invasion of a contralateral gap with nucleotide conversion by copying. It is noted that RSB has substantial homology with the par sequence of plasmid pSC101, suggesting that it may be involved in plasmid partitioning.

Base Composition↗

Genetic translocation in Staphylococcus aureus.

A 5.2-kilobase pair transposon, Tn551, has been found in Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium. Initially detected on plasmid pI258, it undergoes rec-independent transposition to multiple chromosomal and plasmid sites, sometimes causing insertional inactivation. Unlike most other transposons, Tn551 undergoes apparently precise excision as a rule. The initial observation of Tn551 transition involved UV inactivation of the carrier plasmid; this would appear to be a general means of detecting transposable elements.

Chromosome Deletion↗

Translocatable elements in Staphylococcus aureus.

The properties of the first translocatable element in Gram-positive bacteria, a 5.2 kb segment encoding erythromycin resistance in S. aureus, are described. This element translocates from plasmid to multiple chromosomal sites and from chromosome to multiple plasmid sites, sometimes causing insertional inactivation and deletion. The genetic control of translocation and its role in natural plasmid evolution are discussed and preliminary evidence for translocation of penicillin and chloramphenicol resistance is presented. In the latter case, translocation involves in intact plasmid.

Chloramphenicol↗

Solubilization of a stereospecific opiate-macromolecular complex from rat brain.

A [3H]etorphine-macromolecular complex has been solubilized from rat brain synaptosomal fraction by extraction with the nonionic detergent Brij 36T. Stereospecificity of binding to this solubilized complex was demonstrated by the finding that radioactivity in the complex was virtually eliminated when binding had occurred in the presence of excess levorphanol, an active narcotic analgesic, while it was unaffected by its inactive enantiomorph dextrorphan. Bound radioactivity was dissociated by proteolytic enzymes, sulfhydryl reagents, and heat, suggesting the presence of protein. The bound solubilized macromolecular moiety may be the opiate receptor.

Animals↗