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J Mous

Publications and source records attributed to J Mous.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is a nonhistone protein and a possible activator of transcription in neurons.

A single-stranded DNA-binding protein of Mr 35,000 (35K protein) was isolated from calf cerebral cortex by affinity chromatography on immobilized double-stranded and single-stranded DNA. Its localization in the nuclear compartment was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. Previous studies had uncovered a homologous nonhistone chromosomal protein in the nuclei of rat cerebral cortex neurons, cerebellar neurons, oligodendrocytes, and liver cells. The rat protein accumulated in the nuclear compartment of neurons in exact temporal coincidence with the arrest of cell division and the initiation of terminal differentiation. Therefore, in the present work, the 35K protein was tested for an activating role in RNA transcription. During the course of this study we became aware that the 35K protein was identical to a glycolytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH, EC 1.2.1.12). When authentic GAPDH from rabbit skeletal muscle was injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes, it greatly stimulated RNA polymerase II transcription, whereas the 35K protein from calf brain did not. This apparent discrepancy was partially resolved by the finding that rabbit muscle GAPDH could be fractionated into two components by affinity chromatography on single-stranded DNA cellulose. Only 5% of the applied protein was retained on the column and could be eluted with a shallow salt gradient identical to the one used for the isolation of the 35K protein. This single-stranded DNA-binding component of rabbit muscle GAPDH did not stimulate transcription. Apparently, the 35K protein from calf brain corresponded to this single-stranded DNA-binding subfraction, which explained its failure to activate transcription.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Stimulation of sea urchin H2B histone gene transcription by a chromatin-associated protein fraction depends on gene sequences downstream of the transcription start site.

We isolated a chromosomal protein fraction derived from chromatin of sea urchin embryos which specifically stimulated the expression of the histone H2B gene by a factor of 5- to 10-fold when the complete sea urchin histone gene repeat h22 was injected in Xenopus laevis oocyte nuclei. Gene manipulation experiments revealed the existence of two different target sites in the H2B gene which appear to mediate the response to injection of the stimulatory sea urchin chromatin-associated proteins; both are located downstream of the transcription initiation site. The first sequence element which is shown to be implicated is within, or at least includes, the H2B 5' untranslated leader sequence between nucleotides 11 and 76. The second element resides within an H2B DNA segment located near the 3' end of the gene, extending from 90 base pairs upstream of the mRNA 3' terminus to 140 base pairs in the spacer sequences downstream.

Animals↗

Processing and nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of histone gene transcripts.

Precursors of Xenopus and sea urchin histone mRNAs were synthesized in vitro with the SP6 transcription system, and their maturation and nucleo-cytoplasmic transport was studied by frog oocyte injection. 3' processing is most rapid for homologous histone messenger sequences and does not require either genuine 5' or specific 3' ends of the precursor, but capping of the 5' terminus strongly influences the efficiency of 3' processing. No generation of 5' histone mRNA ends can be detected when precursors containing 5' spacer sequence extensions are injected into the oocyte nucleus. This finding may have some implications for the question whether histone gene transcription could be polycistronic. Using a novel oocyte technique, we have separated nuclei from cytoplasm and have studied the time course of exit of the processed RNA from the oocyte nucleus into the cytoplasm. The results suggest that RNA maturation and nucleo-cytoplasmic transport are not temporally coupled processes.

Animals↗

The nucleotide sequence of cDNA complementary to the C1 component of rat prostatic binding protein.

The mRNA for component C1 of rat prostatic binding protein has been cloned and characterized. A partially purified mRNA fraction for this complex protein was reverse-transcribed into double-stranded cDNA and cloned into the PstI site of plasmid pBR 322. The 426-base-pair insert of the recombinant plasmid pC1A75 was completely sequenced. The coding region corresponds precisely to the 88 amino acid residues of C1 and in addition contains the information of a signal peptide of 23 residues. The 5' non-coding region counts only 19 nucleotides and is incomplete but the 3'-terminal non-coding part of 60 nucleotides extends into the poly(A) tail. Sequence analysis of other C1-positive clones indicates the presence of sequence rearrangements which must have occurred during the cloning procedure. Possible mechanisms for the generation of these cloning artefacts are discussed.

Androgen-Binding Protein↗

Structural studies on rat prostatic binding protein. The primary structure of component C2 from subunit S.

The amino acid sequence of component C2, the polypeptide specific for subunit S of prostatic binding protein, the major secretory glycoprotein of the rat ventral prostate, has been determined. Its structure was established using the manual Edman degradation on the most relevant fragments obtained by enzymatic digestion of the S-carboxamidomethylated component C2 and the native subunit S and by chemical cleavage of the remaining undigestible 'cores' with cyanogen bromide. Component C2 contains 92 amino acids corresponding to a molecular weight of 10619. It is a slightly acidic polypeptide in which the acidic and basic residues are unevenly distributed. The N terminus is blocked and three cysteine residues are almost evenly distributed over the peptide chain. A highly polar region is found in position 23-34 and two hydrophobic segments are located in the C-terminal part of the molecule. Component C2 is compared with component C1 of subunit F and their high sequence homology reveals an evolutionary relationship.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural studies on rat prostatic binding protein. The primary structure of component C1 from subunit F.

The amino acid sequence of component C1, the polypeptide specific for subunit F of prostatic binding protein, the major secretory glycoprotein of the rat ventral prostate, has been determined. Its structure was established using the manual Edman degradation on the intact protein and on the most relevant fragments isolated from trypsin, chymotrypsin, thermolysin and Staphylococcus aureus protease digests of the 14C-labelled S-carboxamidomethylated component C1. Component C1 contains 88 amino acids corresponding to a molecular weight of 10246. It is an acidic polypeptide due to the presence of 17 acidic residues; its three cysteine residues are almost symmetrically distributed over the peptide chain. Highly polar regions are found in positions 17-27 and 37-47, while the C-terminal part of the molecule contains two hydrophobic segments.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural studies on rat prostatic binding protein. The primary structure of its glycosylated component C3.

The amino acid sequence of the glycosylated component C3 of rat prostatic binding protein has been determined. The peptides obtained by digestion of the S-carboxamidomethylated or S-aminoethylated glycoprotein with trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus protease were sequenced by manual Edman degradation. The alignment of the fragments was further established with overlapping peptides obtained by enzymic hydrolysis of the modified protein with chymotrypsin and thermolysin, and by chemical cleavage with cyanogen bromide. The glycopeptide C3 contains 77 amino acids corresponding to a molecular weight of 8653. the oligosaccharide chain is attached to the peptide by an N-glycosidic bond to asparagine-17. C3 is an acidic polypeptide due to the presence of ten acidic residues; its three cysteine residues are located at both extremities and in the middle of the molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The wheat germ cell-free system possesses processing activity for the precursor of human placental lactogen.

1. Total RNA was extracted from human term placenta and mRNA purified by chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose. The poly(A)-containing fraction stimulated amino acid incorporation 5- to 10-fold in the wheat germ cell-free system. Immunoprecipitation with an anti-lactogen serum indicated that 14-27% of the peptides synthesized in vitro contained antigenic determinants of this hormone. 2. Analysis of the [3H]leucine labelled product in the immunoprecipitate on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels revealed a complex mixture of polypeptides. Two heavily labelled bands (I and III) were seen corresponding in mobility with pre-lactogen (Mr = 25 000) and native lactogen (Mr = 22 200), each accounting for about 30% of the immunoprecipitable radioactivity. Two additional bands with an intermediate mobility were also observed. 3. Synthesis of the hormone was inhibited by 7-methylguanosine-5'-monophosphate suggesting the presence of a 7-methylguanosine 'cap' on the 5'-end of the mRNA for lactogen. 4. Peptide analysis of the cyanogen bromide cleavage products of band I, band III and authentic lactogen showed marked similarities in their primary structure. The precursor molecule, however, was lacking the N-terminal peptide present in authentic hormone indicating the presence of an extension of 25 amino acids at this side of the molecule. 5. The presence of one or several processing enzymes in the wheat germ cell-free system was indicated by the effect of Triton X-100. Low concentrations of this detergent (0.04%) while inhibiting the protein synthesizing activity for only 15%, completely abolished the precursor cleavage activity. Under these conditions only pre-lactogen was detected in the immunoprecipitate.

Female↗

Translation of biologically active messenger RNA from human placenta in Xenopus oocytes.

Polysomal RNA was extracted from human term placenta and total poly(A)-containing RNA purified by affinity chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose. Poly(A)-containing RNA constituted approximately 1.2% of the total polysomal RNA and 8% of this purified preparation was able to anneal with [3H]poly(U). When injected into Xenopus oocytes, this poly(A)-rich RNA directed the synthesis of a polypeptide which is immunoprecipitable with a specific antiserum to human placental lactogen. The identity of authentic human placental lactogen and the immunoreactive polypeptide synthesized in the oocytes is suggested by their identical behaviour in dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis and by the formation of identical cyanogen bromide peptides. No precursor of human placental lactogen can be detected in the oocytes. The messenger RNA for human placental lactogen is very stable in oocytes; it is translated efficiently for a period of at least 7 days.

Animals↗

Purification and characterisation of prostatic binding protein and its subunits.

The prostatic binding protein, previously described in rat ventral prostate, was isolated. The purified protein binds pregnenolone with an affinity of 1.2 X 10(6) M-1 and contains an average of 0.84 binding site per molecular. Its carbohydrate content is 3.2%. Its Mr, estimated by gel filtration, is 51 000 but in the presence of 6 M guanidine hydrochloride or 0.1% dodecylsulfate it dissociates into two subunits (S and F), which can be separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or by chromatography on hydroxyapatite. The Mr of these subunits is about 17 000, when estimated by gel filtration in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride, or 19 000 for subunit F and 20 000 for subunit S, when measured by dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Their isoelectric points, estimated by isoelectric focusing in 8 M urea, are 4.6 for subunit F and 4.9 for subunit S. Prostatic binding protein and both subunits have a very similar amino acid composition. Upon reduction of disulfide bridges each subunit dissociates further into two components: one of these components is the same in both subunits.

Amino Acids↗