Biomedical subjects

M C Looney

Publications and source records attributed to M C Looney.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1989

Nucleotide sequence of the FokI restriction-modification system: separate strand-specificity domains in the methyltransferase.

The genes for FokI, a type-IIS restriction-modification system from Flavobacterium okeanokoites (asymmetric recognition sequence: 5'-GGATG/3'-CCTAC), were cloned into Escherichia coli. Recombinants carrying the fokIR and fokIM genes were found to modify their DNA completely, and to restrict lambdoid phages weakly. The nt sequences of the genes were determined, and the probable start codons were confirmed by aa sequencing. The FokI endonuclease (R.FokI) and methyltransferase (M.FokI) are encoded by single, adjacent genes, aligned in the same orientation, in the order M then R. The genes are large by the standards of type-II systems, 1.9 kb for the M gene, and 1.7 kb for the R gene. Preceding each gene is a pair of FokI recognition sites; it is conceivable that interactions between the sites and the FokI proteins could regulate expression of the genes. The aa sequences of the N- and C-terminal halves of M.FokI are similar to one another, and to certain other DNA-adenine methyltransferases, suggesting that the enzyme has a 'tandem' structure, such as could have arisen by the fusion of a pair of adjacent, ancestral M genes. Truncated derivatives of M. FokI were constructed by deleting the 5'- or 3'-ends of the fokIM gene. Deleting most of the C-terminus of M.FokI produced derivatives that methylated only the top (GGATG) strand of the recognition sequence. Conversely, deleting most of the N-terminus produced derivatives that methylated only the bottom (CATCC) strand of the recognition sequence. These results indicate that the domains in M.FokI for methylating the two strands of the recognition sequence are largely separate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

M.FokI methylates adenine in both strands of its asymmetric recognition sequence.

M.FokI, a type-IIS modification enzyme from Flavobacterium okeanokoites, was purified, and its activity was characterized in vitro. The enzyme was found to be a DNA-adenine methyltransferase and to methylate both strands of the asymmetric FokI recognition sequence: (formula; see text) M.FokI does not methylate single-stranded DNA, nor does it methylate double-stranded DNA at sequences other than FokI sites.

Adenine↗

PubMed1988

Cloning type-II restriction and modification genes.

We have cloned into Escherichia coli the genes for 38 type-II bacterial modification methyltransferases. The clones were isolated by selecting in vitro for protectively modified recombinants. Most of the clones modify their DNA fully but a substantial number modify only partially. In approximately one-half of the clones, the genes for the corresponding endonucleases are also present. Some of these clones restrict infecting phages and others do not. Clones carrying endonuclease genes but lacking methyltransferase genes have been found, in several instances, to be viable.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed1987

Gluconeogenesis in isolated lamb hepatocytes.

Isolated sheep hepatocytes were used to obtain estimates of kinetic parameters, identify substrate preference and interactions and study regulation of gluconeogenesis. Respective Vmax estimates for propionate, pyruvate and alanine conversion to glucose were 59.5, 12.8 and 21.5 mol glucose formed X (h X g dry weight)-1. Respective KS estimates for propionate and pyruvate were 1 mM and 18 to 40 microM. Rates of lactate utilization varied among cell preparations, possibly because of loss of lactate dehydrogenase during isolation. Dihydroxyacetone and glycerol were utilized for glucose synthesis at similar rates of 8.6 and 8.7 mumol glucose formed X (h X g dry weight)-1, respectively. Respective rates of glucose synthesis from 5 mM fructose and 10 mM galactose were 63.2 and 31.4 mumol X (h X g dry weight)-1. Maximum rates of pyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase were estimated to be 101.6 and 160.4 mumol substrate converted X (h X g dry weight)-1, respectively. Neither butyrate nor acetate accelerated gluconeogenesis from propionate while acetate increased glucose synthesis from pyruvate, presumably through activation of pyruvate carboxylase. Glucagon stimulated gluconeogenesis from propionate. Dibutyrylcyclic AMP mimicked the effect of glucagon, implying that the glucagon effect is translated via the adenyl cyclase system as in rats. The kinetic parameters established in these experiments should be useful in future experiments and in computer modeling analyses of ruminant liver and whole animal metabolism where Michaelis-Menten type equations are widely used.

Animals↗