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N Pallisgaard

Publications and source records attributed to N Pallisgaard.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A common multiple cloning site in a set of vectors for expression of eukaryotic genes in mammalian, insect and bacterial cells.

Here, we describe the construction of plasmid vectors facilitating expression of cloned genes in bacteria and in cells of mammalian and insect origin. Two types of multiple cloning site (MCS) were designed based on the MCS in the expression vector lambda gt11Sfi-Not. In the first set of vectors a start Met codon was included in the same reading frame as in lambda gt11Sfi-Not to support expression of partial cDNA clones. Thus a cDNA insert of lambda gt11Sfi-Not could be shuttled among the new vectors for expression. The other set of vectors without a start codon were suitable for expression of cDNA carrying their own start Met codon. By Western blot analysis and by transactivation of a reporter plasmid in co-transfections we show that cDNA is very efficiently expressed in NIH 3T3 cells under control of the elongation factor 1 alpha promoter.

3T3 Cells↗

Basic helix-loop-helix proteins in murine type C retrovirus transcriptional regulation.

E boxes, recognition sequences for basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, are detected in the enhancer and promoter regions of several murine type C retroviruses. Here we show that ALF1, a member of bHLH protein family of transcription factors, in vitro binds with differing affinities to distinct E-box sequences found in the U3 regulatory regions of Friend, Moloney, SL3-3, and Akv murine leukemia viruses (MLVs) as well as Friend spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV). In NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, ALF1 overexpression elevated transcription from the U3 region of Moloney MLV and the complete long terminal repeat regions of Friend SFFV, Akv MLV, and SL3-3 MLV but neither from the U3 region nor from the complete long terminal repeat of Friend MLV. Introduction of mutations in the Akv MLV E boxes showed the E-box cis elements to be required for the function of ALF1 as a transcription factor. ALF1 and the glucocorticoid receptor, with overlapping DNA binding sequences, did not act synergistically with respect to transcriptional trans activation of expression from the Akv MLV promoter-enhancer region. We conclude that ALF1 in vivo may be an important transcription regulator for Akv, SL3-3, and Moloney MLVs as well as for Friend SFFV.

Animals↗

Determination of recognition-sequences for DNA-binding proteins by a polymerase chain reaction assisted binding site selection method (BSS) using nitrocellulose immobilized DNA binding protein.

We have developed a simple procedure for rapid determination of a DNA sequence recognized by a DNA binding protein based on immobilization of the protein on nitrocellulose filters. The procedure consists of the following steps: A recombinant protein with a functional DNA binding domain is expressed in E. coli. The protein is purified to homogeneity, immobilized on nitrocellulose paper, and exposed to a pool of double stranded oligonucleotides carrying in the central part a 20 bp random sequence, which is flanked by conserved sequences with restriction endonuclease recognition sites for analytical and subcloning purposes and sequences complementary to polymerase chain reaction primers. Oligonucleotides retained by the DNA-binding protein are liberated by increasing the ionic strength and used in a new binding process after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction technique. Finally the amplified product is cloned for determination of the DNA sequence selected by the DNA-binding protein. Murine Zn-finger and basic helix-loop-helix DNA binding proteins were used to demonstrate the efficiency of the method. We show that the yield of oligonucleotides binding to the protein was increased by several consecutive rounds of filter binding and amplification, and that the protein extracted a specific sequence from the pool of random oligonucleotides.

Animals↗

Murine helix-loop-helix transcriptional activator proteins binding to the E-box motif of the Akv murine leukemia virus enhancer identified by cDNA cloning.

The enhancer region of Akv murine leukemia virus contains the sequence motif ACAGATGG. This sequence is homologous to the E-box motif originally defined as a regulatory element in the enhancers of immunoglobulin mu and kappa genes. We have used double-stranded oligonucleotide probes, corresponding to the E box of the murine leukemia virus Akv, to screen a randomly primed lambda gt11 cDNA expression library made from mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblast RNA. We have identified seven lambda clones expressing DNA-binding proteins representing two different genes termed ALF1 and ALF2. The results of sequencing ALF2 cDNA suggests that we have recovered the gene for the basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor A1, the murine analog of the human transcription factor E47. The cDNA sequence of ALF1 codes for a new member of the basic-helix-loop-helix protein family. Two splice variants of ALF1 cDNA have been found, differing by a 72-bp insertion, coding for putative proteins of 682 and 706 amino acids. The two ALF1 mRNAs are expressed at various levels in mouse tissues. In vitro DNA binding assays, using prokaryotically expressed ALF1 proteins, demonstrated specific binding of the ALF1 proteins to the Akv murine leukemia virus E-box motif ACAGATGG. Expression in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts of GAL4-ALF1 chimeric protein stimulated expression from a minimal promoter linked to a GAL4 binding site, indicating the existence of a transcriptional activator domain in ALF1.

3T3 Cells↗

Kinetics of BCR-ABL fusion transcript levels in chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with STI571 measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

The activated tyrosine kinase, which arises as a result of the balanced t(9,22) translocation in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), is thought to be essential for the development of the leukemic phenotype. Recently, designer drugs have been introduced which specifically inhibit such specific kinases. Among these, STI571 (Glivec) has entered clinical trials and shown promising activities in chronic phase (CP), accelerated phase (AP) and blast crisis (BC) as evidenced by significant hematological and cytogenetic responses in CML patients. To evaluate the effect of STI571 at the molecular level we have employed quantitative real-time PCR (RQ-PCR) to measure the amount of BCR-ABL fusion transcript in a series of 19 patients treated with STI571, either in CP(11) or in (AP)(8) of the disease for 3--9 months (median 6 months). Employing this method, which is able to detect at least one BCR-ABL+ cell in 500,000, in serial blood and bone marrow specimens we found decreases in transcript levels in 10/11 CP patients, but only in 1/8 of the AP patients. When present such decreases were gradual and became evident only after 3 months of STI571 treatment, and their kinetics in blood closely mirrored those seen in parallel marrow samples. Moreover, decreases were between 10- and 100-fold in 11/13 patients, with only two patients reaching residual disease levels below 10(-2) (a 900-fold decrease). Thus, no patient reached PCR negativity. We conclude that the RQ-PCR method is a highly suitable tool for following the effect of STI571 in CML and that further validation of the method, performed in a prospective manner, will contribute significantly to the elucidation of the proper role of STI571 in CML.

Adult↗