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N Chikazumi

Publications and source records attributed to N Chikazumi.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Efficient expression of E. coli dihydrofolate reductase gene by an in vitro translation system using phosphorothioate mRNA.

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) of Escherichia coli (E. coli) was synthesized in a cell-free translation system of E. coli directed by phosphorothioate-containing mRNA (thio-mRNA) which was polymerized by an in vitro transcription of the DHFR gene in the presence of SP diastereomers of ribonucleoside 5'-O-(1-thiotriphosphates). The molecular weights of the products thus obtained were identical to those with the unsubstituted mRNA. Furthermore, the thio-mRNA for DHFR showed higher translational activities than the corresponding unsubstituted mRNA. It is suggested that this effectiveness resulted from the higher stability of thio-mRNA in the cell-free translation system. Amongst the various types of thio-mRNAs, the single substitution of adenosine residues was most effective in translational activity. This higher translational activity of thio-mRNA compared with the unsubstituted mRNA was also demonstrated in a continuous flow cell-free system originally developed by Spirin et al. (1988). Therefore, introduction of sulfur atoms into phosphodiester bonds of mRNA appears to be a useful strategy for the stabilization of mRNA in large-scale protein production in vitro.

Base Sequence↗

Effects of polyamines on a continuous cell-free protein synthesis system of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus.

A continuous cell-free protein synthesis system of an extremely thermophilic eubacterium, Thermus thermophilus HB27, was constructed. This system produced MS2 phage RNA translation products at a rate of more than 5 micrograms per hour per 1.9 mg of ribosomes at 65 degrees C and the production continued linearly for at least 340 min. When no polyamine was added, the system did not produce the proteins. The highest activity was recorded when 0.1 mM tetrakis(3-aminopropyl)ammonium and 1.0 mM spermine were added simultaneously.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Phosphorothioate-containing RNAs show mRNA activity in the prokaryotic translation systems in vitro.

Phosphorothioate-containing RNAs were generated by transcription of coliphage T7 DNA using the Sp diastereomers of ribonucleoside 5'-O-(1-thiotriphosphates) and T7 RNA polymerase. RNAs in which a single nucleotide was substituted by the corresponding nucleoside phosphorothioate functioned as mRNA in the cell-free translation systems prepared from Escherichia coli and from an extreme thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus. This substitution increased the efficiency of protein synthesis by stabilizing the mRNAs in these systems. As the proportion of substituted nucleotides was increased, their mRNA activity was decreased accordingly. As judged from the analysis by SDS-polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis, the proteins synthesized using phosphorothioate-containing mRNAs as template were identical to those obtained with unsubstituted mRNAs. However, larger proteins which were barely detectable when unsubstituted mRNA was used were well represented when phosphorothioate-RNA was used instead. The advantages in using the phosphorothioate-mRNAs in the in vitro translation systems are discussed.

Cell-Free System↗

Cell-free translation system using phosphorothioate-containing mRNA.

Phosphorothioate-containing RNAs were generated by transcription of template DNA using the Sp diastereomers of ribonucleoside 5'-O-(1-thiotriphosphates) (NTP alpha S) and T7 RNA polymerase. The substitution of mRNA by phosphorothioate increased the efficiency of protein synthesis by stabilizing the mRNAs in prokaryotic cell-free translation systems. The substituted mRNAs were also shown to be applicable to the continuous cell-free translation system developed by Spirin and coworkers.

Escherichia coli↗