Deviant TATA-box binding protein.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P F Sims.
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Streptomyces cyaneus genomic DNA ligated into either lambda phage or plasmid vectors was very inefficiently cloned into standard Escherichia coli host strains. However, the same material could be efficiently cloned using Mcr-deficient E. coli strains. These results suggest that the S. cyaneus genome contains 5-methylcytosine residues, some of which occur within the recognition sequences of the E. coli Mcr restriction system.
A previously described linked set of lignin peroxidase-encoding genes (Lpo) from Phanerochaete chrysosporium (P.c.) ME446 is not expressed under standard growth conditions for ligninolytic activity. However, a single unlinked Lpo gene, not previously described in P.c. strain ME446, is expressed. The transcription start points of this gene are mapped and the gene is assigned to a genetic linkage group by the use of restriction-site polymorphism segregation analysis. No transcripts from Lpo-related genes, including that normally expressed in ME446, could be detected within RNA extracted from three nonligninolytic mutant strains, but a hyper-ligninolytic strain showed an increased level of Lpo expression. This increase is due to expression of additional Lpo genes, rather than to an increased level of transcription from the normally expressed sequence.
Heterologous hybridisation was used to isolate a genomic DNA sequence from Phanerochaete chrysosporium using the facA (acetyl CoA synthetase) gene from Aspergillus nidulans as a probe. The cloned sequence hybridises to a 2.2 kb transcript in poly(A)+ RNA prepared from mycelium grown on acetate as the sole carbon source. Comparison of the DNA sequence obtained with those of the A. nidulans facA and N. crassa acu5 genes reveals an ORF that appears to be interrupted by five typical fungal introns. Two possible candidates for the translation initiation codon were observed. Homology with the facA and acu5 genes is revealed after the second ATG codon.
We have developed a recombinant system that directs the functional expression from Escherichia coli of both dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthetase (DHFR-TS) and the isolated DHFR domain from Plasmodium falciparum. Both products are inhibitory to a number of E. coli cell lines to the extent that cell growth ceases immediately upon induction. This dramatic inhibition is not seen in strain AB1899, in which amounts of plasmodial protein of up to 100 times the basal E. coli TS level can be accumulated. However, as well as the full-length DHFR-TS molecule, smaller proteins carrying an intact TS substrate-binding site are produced. These represent ca. 60-75% of the total plasmodial protein expressed and are observed in every E. coli strain examined. We show that they are not derived by degradation of the parent DHFR-TS molecule, but can be correlated with the sizes of proteins expected to be produced if erroneous initiation of translation were occurring at 3 internal methionine residues.
We have isolated and characterised the gene (PGK) encoding the glycolytic enzyme 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. This was achieved using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify genomic DNA with primers constructed on the basis of conserved regions identified within PGK molecules of other organisms, and using the PCR product to isolate genomic clones. The gene is present in a single copy, encoding a protein of 416 amino acids (aa). The predicted aa sequence (45.5 kDa) displays approx. 60% identity to both human and yeast PGK molecules, and of the three P. falciparum glycolytic enzymes reported to date, has the greatest sequence identity to the host homologue. All aa residues implicated in substrate and cofactor binding and catalysis are conserved in the malarial PGK molecule, but there are major differences in overall composition, with implications for enzyme stability. In asexual blood-stage parasites, a single mRNA transcript of approx. 2.1 kb is observed. We have mapped the PGK gene to chromosome 9 of the parasite, and a further gene encoding a glycolytic enzyme, aldolase, to chromosome 14.
The Phanerochaete chryososporium trpC gene has been isolated by complementation of an Escherichia coli trpC mutant. The full extent of the fungal gene, determined by sequence analysis, was found to be 2414bp. This includes a single intron of 50bp, the presence of which was confirmed by RNA-primed polymerase chain reaction analysis. This features makes the P. chrysosporium gene unique when compared to equivalent genes from other filamentous fungi. The P. chrysosporium trpC gene encodes a single protein containing three enzyme activities involved in tryptophan biosynthesis arranged in the order: NH2-GAT-IGPS-PRAI-COOH. This order is conserved in all filamentous fungi so far examined and, indeed, is the gene order within the E. coli trp operon.
We report the isolation and sequencing of genomic clones encompassing the entire alpha-tubulin II gene from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. This gene is closely related to, but significant different from the alpha-tubulin I gene that we have described previously. These two genes represent the entire complement of alpha-tubulin sequences in this organism and are expressed in a stage-specific manner. The alpha-II gene is present as a single copy and encodes a tubulin molecule with a predicted length of 450 amino acid residues (49.7 kDa). Like the alpha-I gene, it contains two introns, which are in identical positions to those of alpha-I, but are about one-third smaller. The deduced alpha-II protein is very similar to alpha-tubulin I (94.2% amino acid identity), except for notable differences across residues 40-45. In addition, unlike the great majority of alpha-tubulin genes (including alpha-I), alpha-II does not encode a terminal tyrosine residue. Using pulsed field gel electrophoresis we demonstrate that the two alpha-tubulin genes, together with the single beta-tubulin gene, are unlinked, all residing on different chromosomes. We assign alpha-I to chromosome 9, alpha-II to chromosome 4 and beta-tubulin to chromosome 10.
To investigate the genetic basis of drug resistance in human malaria parasites, we have sequenced the entire dihydrofolate reductase thymidylate synthetase DHFR-TS bifunctional gene from the highly pyrimethamine-resistant K1 isolate of Plasmodium falciparum. The protein is predicted to consist of 607 amino acids (aa), (71,685 Da), with an N-terminal methionine encoded by the second start codon of the open reading frame. Compared to the sequence from drug-sensitive parasites, there are two nucleotide changes in the coding region which bring about a substitution of Arg for Cys at aa position 59 and Asn for Thr at aa position 108. Both changes occur in regions of the DHFR domain involved in inhibitor and cofactor binding and are hence strongly implicated in drug resistance. The gene is present as a single copy in both K1 and drug-sensitive FCR3 isolates, and is assigned to chromosome 4. Codon usage follows the pattern observed in that of malarial surface antigen genes, with the exception fo codons corresponding to Val and Pro. The Asn and Lys contents of the predicted protein are exceptionally high, these residues being particularly concentrated in the DHFR and junction domains.
We have constructed a number of oligonucleotide probes and tested their utility in identifying various genes in Plasmodium falciparum. The probe sequences were based on known conserved regions of proteins from other organisms, coupled with an analysis of the codon usage of the parasite. By using long single oligonucleotides, we have successfully isolated the DHFR-TS gene, two actin genes and two tubulin genes from the K1 (Thailand) isolate of P. falciparum. We compare these single probes to multiply-redundant short oligonucleotide probes and to heterologous probes. We also present a detailed quantitative analysis of optimal probe design, and of how this approach can best be implemented as a general method of isolating plasmodial genes.
As a step towards identifying exploitable differences between host and parasite at the molecular level, we have isolated and sequenced genomic clones encompassing an entire alpha-tubulin gene (designated alpha-tubulin I) from the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. The gene, which contains two introns, encodes a product with a predicted length of 453 amino acid residues (50.3 kD). The protein sequence shows a high degree of homology to other alpha-tubulins, particularly that of the coccidian parasite, Toxoplasma gondii (94%), whose gene carries introns in identical positions. Only one copy of the alpha-tubulin I gene itself was found, although a second gene designated alpha-II was also identified which is closely related but which differs at both the nucleotide and amino acid sequence levels. The alpha-I and beta-tubulin genes were found to reside on different chromosomes.
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We have investigated four distinct sequences in genomic DNA of Phanerochaete chrysosporium that show strong homology to a lignin peroxidase cDNA sequence [Tien and Tu: Nature 236 (1987) 520-523, and 328 (1987) 742]. The complete nucleotide sequence of one of these genes is presented here. Comparison of the sequenced gene, LIG1, with the published cDNA sequence reveals the presence of eight short intervening sequences. The open reading frame encodes a polypeptide of 372 amino acids (aa), which includes a 28-aa residue hydrophobic leader sequence. The predicted Mr of the mature protein product is 37,000. Partial sequencing of the other three genes reveals substantial nucleotide and amino acid homology.
Oligodeoxyribonucleotide-directed mutagenesis has been used to delete the leader sequence-coding region from the yeast gene specifying Mn-superoxide dismutase and thus enable its expression in Escherichia coli. The deletion of this leader was demonstrated to be an absolute requirement for the synthesis of an active yeast enzyme in the bacterium. Complementation analysis in E. coli has confirmed that the product of the truncated yeast gene is active in vivo as well as in vitro.
We have statistically analysed the distribution of nucleotides and dinucleotides in 21 genes of the 81% A + T-rich human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The mRNA-synonymous strands of this protozoan show in general a marked excess of purines over pyrimidines, correlated with abnormally high levels of Lys and Glu. We have used the large differences in base composition between coding and non-coding regions to estimate that the parasite possesses in the range of 2700-5400 genes. The dinucleotide preference patterns are compared with consensus patterns derived from other organisms [Nussinov, Nucl. Acids Res. 12 (1984) 1749-1763]. Patterns in the coding regions surprisingly resemble those of higher, rather than lower eukaryotes, particularly with respect to TG elevation and CG suppression. The latter is correlated with an abnormally low level of Arg in these parasites. In the non-coding regions, the four dinucleotides made up of C and/or G are found with significantly higher frequencies than expected (approx. 50-150%), specifically to the 5' side of the coding regions. The possible role of these dinucleotides in control sequences is discussed.
We describe the construction of a cosmid cloning vector, pMT555, which allows positive selection for the presence of an inserted DNA fragment. The vector contains sequences which enable its replication and selection in either E. coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrate that pMT555 may be used for the efficient construction of total genomic banks from small quantities of donor DNA. The positive selection permits the stable maintenance of the cosmid in E. coli and the faithful replication of inserted sequences.
The nucleotide sequence of the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene of a methotrexate-resistant strain of Lactobacillus casei, which is the source of DHFR for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies, has been determined. The derived amino acid sequence differs from that obtained by protein sequencing by the presence of aspartic acid instead of asparagine at position 8 and proline instead of leucine at position 90. The nucleotide sequences of 320-bp 5' and 335-bp 3' flanking regions of this gene have also been determined.
The mutant strain, 15--28, of Escherichia coli accumulates ribonucleoprotein ('47S') particles that were previously shown [Markey, Sims & Wild (1976) Biochem. J. 158, 451--456] to be an unusual intermediate in the assembly of 50S ribosomal subunits...