PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M M van Raamsdonk-Duin

Publications and source records attributed to M M van Raamsdonk-Duin.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Correct removal by splicing of a Neurospora intron in yeast.

Processing of intron-containing nuclear messenger RNAs in yeast require an internal conserved sequence (ICS) element, UACUAAC. Similar elements (ugCUAGAC) have been identified in sequences interrupting nuclear genes of the related ascomycete Neurospora crassa. To examine the structural splicing requirements in yeast, we constructed hybrid genes containing the intron of the Neurospora histone H3 gene and cloned them into high copy number yeast vectors. Subsequently we analyzed the RNAs transcribed in yeast from the fusion genes by Northern analysis and primer extended sequencing. It turned out that the Neurospora intron, which contains the sequence element UGCUAAC, can be removed, though very inefficiently, provided that it is located near the 5'-end of the primary transcript. This proves that an A at the second position of the ICS is no absolute requirement for splicing in yeast. In addition, the results indicate that the yeast splicing machinery is intron-position dependent.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Yeast contains two functional genes coding for ribosomal protein S10.

The DNA sequence of the second copy of the gene coding for yeast ribosomal protein S10 was determined and compared with the sequence of the first gene-copy. In addition, the sites at which the transcription of these genes start and terminate are identified. The amino acid coding regions of the two gene copies are virtually identical. The leader and in particular the trailer sequences, however, are significantly different, while the intervening sequences have hardly any homology. Taking advantage of the sequence differences we could establish that both genes are expressed in the vegetatively growing yeast cell; the respective transcripts, however, differ in their relative amounts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The genes for yeast ribosomal proteins S24 and L46 are adjacent and divergently transcribed.

Unlike most yeast ribosomal protein genes studied so far the genes coding for S24 and L46 are adjacent on the genome. Sequence analysis showed that the two genes are transcribed divergently, their initiation codons being 630 bp apart. Taking the respective ATG translation start sites as reference points, the 5'- end of L46 mRNA was mapped at position -26, while the S24 mRNA showed two major 5'-ends mapping at positions -13 and -16 respectively. Unlike most other yeast ribosomal protein genes, the gene for S24 does not contain an intron. Its coding region encompasses 390 nucleotides encoding a protein of 14762 D. The gene for L46 on the other hand is split by an intron of 386 nucleotides starting after its second codon. This gene encodes a small, very basic protein having a molecular weight of 6334 D. Yeast ribosomal proteins S24 and L46 show striking homologies with ribosomal proteins from other organisms. In particular, yeast L46 is clearly the evolutionary counterpart of rat liver L39. A search of the intergenic region for sequence elements previously identified as common to most yeast ribosomal protein genes, revealed the presence of a single conserved box (RPG-box) roughly equidistant from the transcription initiation sites of both genes. We suggest that this box acts as a regulatory signal in either orientation and thus influences the expression of both genes simultaneously.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The gene for yeast ribosomal protein S31 contains an intron in the leader sequence.

Analysis of the primary structure of the gene for yeast ribosomal protein S31 revealed two unusual features. First, an intron of 312 nucleotides is located within the 5'-untranslated region. Second, the coding sequence for the known amino-terminal peptide of the protein starts 13 codons downstream of the ATG initiation codon, suggesting that S31 is synthesized as a precursor which undergoes post-translational processing to the mature protein. Primer extension analysis showed that transcription of the S31 gene starts at multiple sites. The 5'-flanking region of the gene contains several, previously described, conserved sequence elements that may play a role in the coordinate expression of yeast ribosomal protein genes.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗

A comparison of yeast ribosomal protein gene DNA sequences.

The DNA sequences of eight yeast ribosomal protein genes have been compared for the purpose of identifying homologous regions which may be involved in the coordinate regulation of ribosomal protein synthesis. A 12 bp homology was identified in the 5' DNA sequence preceding the structural gene for 6 out of 8 yeast ribosomal protein genes. In each case the homologous sequence was found at a position approximately 300 bp preceding the transcription start of the ribosomal protein gene. This homology was not identified in any non-ribosomal protein gene examined. Additional homologies between ribosomal protein genes were identified in the transcribed regions, including the untranslated 5' and 3' DNA regions flanking the coding regions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The primary structure of the gene encoding yeast ribosomal protein L16.

As part of our studies on the molecular basis for the coordinate expression of ribosomal protein genes in yeast we analyzed the primary structure of the gene encoding protein L16 of the large ribosomal subunit including the flanking sequences. L16 turned out to be a ribosomal protein with a molecular mass of 22662 Da and a net charge of +12. Both the 5'- and the 3'-end of the L16 mRNA were mapped by primer extension and S1 nuclease analysis. In the DNA regions flanking the coding sequence several conserved elements are present that may be involved in transcription initiation or termination.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural comparison of yeast ribosomal protein genes.

The primary structure of the genes encoding the yeast ribosomal proteins L17a and L25 was determined, as well as the positions of the 5'- and 3'-termini of the corresponding mRNAs. Comparison of the gene sequences to those obtained for various other yeast ribosomal protein genes revealed several similarities. In all split genes the intron is located near the 5'-side of the amino acid coding region. Among the introns a clear pattern of sequence conservation can be observed. In particular the intron-exon boundaries and a region close to the 3'-splice site show sequence homology. Conserved sequences were also found in the leader and trailer regions of the ribosomal protein mRNAs. The 5'-flanking regions of the yeast ribosomal protein genes appeared to contain sequence elements that many but not all ribosomal protein genes have in common, and therefore may be implicated in the coordinate expression of these genes. The amino acid coding sequences of the ribosomal protein genes show a biased codon usage. Like most yeast ribosomal protein molecules, L17a and L25 are particularly basic at their N-terminus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Yeast ribosomal protein S33 is encoded by an unsplit gene.

The structure of the gene coding for ribosomal protein S33, - a protein which escapes the coordinate control of ribosomal protein synthesis in rna 2 mutant cells -, was determined by sequence analysis. The gene comprises an uninterrupted coding region of 204 nucleotides encoding a protein of 8.9 kD. Like for other yeast ribosomal protein genes that have been sequenced so far, a relatively strong codon bias was observed. By S1 nuclease mapping the 5' end of the S33 mRNA was shown to be located at 11 to 15 nucleotides upstream from the initiation codon.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The structure of the gene coding for the phosphorylated ribosomal protein S10 in yeast.

From previous studies on cloned yeast ribosomal protein genes we obtained evidence that a large number of them contain an intron [Bollen et al. (1982) Gene 18, 29-38]. In the temperature-sensitive rna2-mutant transcription of these genes leads to the accumulation of precursor RNAs at the restrictive temperature. These precursor mRNAs are several hundreds of nucleotides longer than the respective mature mRNAs. The split character of one of these ribosomal protein genes, viz. the gene coding for the major phosphorylated small-subunit protein S10, was further established by sequence analysis. The intervening sequence interrupts the coding sequence after the second codon and has a length of 352 nucleotides. Genomic Southern hybridizations with a DNA fragment carrying part of the S10-gene revealed that this gene is duplicated on the yeast genome. The molecular weight of S10 as deduced from the sequence analysis was estimated to be 31462 dal. Comparison of the N-terminal aminoacid sequence of the yeast ribosomal protein S10 with that of ribosomal protein S6 from rat liver revealed a striking homology between both proteins. Moreover, at the C-terminal end of the yeast ribosomal protein the sequence Arg-Ala-Ser-Ser-Leu-Lys is present which is very similar to the phosphorylation site of the rat liver protein S6.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ribosomal protein genes of yeast contain intervening sequences.

From a colony bank of HindIII-generated yeast DNA fragments we have isolated a number of recombinant DNAs carrying genes for ribosomal proteins (e.g., S10, S16A, S20, S24, S31, S33, L16, L25 and L34) of the yeast Saccharomyces carlsbergensis. By electron microscopic analysis of the R-loops formed between various DNA fragments and yeast mRNA, we could locate the ribosomal protein genes on the physical maps of the cloned DNA fragments. The R-loop structures observed indicate that a number of the ribosomal protein genes contain an intervening sequence.

Base Sequence↗