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S Parimoo

Publications and source records attributed to S Parimoo.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Olfactory receptor-like genes are located in the human major histocompatibility complex.

The murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) includes sequences that are responsible for haplotype-specific odor types that, in turn, influence mating preference. We report that there are several olfactory receptor genes or pseudogenes in the Class I region of the human MHC. At least one of these genes is intact, appears to encode an mRNA, and is quite homologous to a previously reported murine olfactory receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation of novel non-HLA gene fragments from the hemochromatosis region (6p21.3) by cDNA hybridization selection.

It has previously been shown that cDNA hybridization selection can identify and recover novel genes from large cloned genomic DNA such as cosmids or YACs. In an effort to identify candidate genes for hemochromatosis, this technique was applied to a 320-kb YAC containing the HLA-A gene. A short fragment cDNA library derived from human duodenum was selected with the YAC DNA. Ten novel gene fragments were isolated, characterized, and localized on the physical map of the YAC.

Base Sequence↗

Genes in one megabase of the HLA class I region.

To define the gene content of the HLA class I region, cDNA selection was applied to three overlapping yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) that spanned 1 megabase (Mb) of this region of the human major histocompatibility complex. These YACs extended from the region centromeric to HLA-E to the region telomeric to HLA-F. In addition to the recognized class I genes and pseudogenes and the anonymous non-class-I genes described recently by us and others, 20 additional anonymous cDNA clones were identified from this 1-Mb region. We also identified a long repetitive DNA element in the region between HLA-B and HLA-E. Homologues of this element were located at several sites in the human genome outside of the HLA complex. The portion of the HLA class I region represented by these YACs shows an average gene density as high as the class II and class III regions. Thus, the high gene density portion of the HLA complex is extended to more than 3 Mb.

Animals↗

An integrated approach for identifying and mapping human genes.

We have developed a method for generating expressed-sequence maps of human chromosomes. The method involves several steps that begin with libraries of highly representative short cDNAs prepared by using random oligomers as primers. The cDNA inserts are amplified by PCR with flanking vector primers. Chromosomal region-specific cDNA packets are prepared by hybridization of the cDNA inserts to DNA derived from yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) assigned to defined regions of human chromosomes. The cDNA packets are cloned into yeast chromosome fragmentation vectors and used for transformation of yeast bearing the YAC used for affinity purification. Sequences in the cDNAs undergo homologous recombination with the corresponding exons in the genomic DNA yielding a set of truncated YACs. Each unique truncation specifies the location of an exon in the YAC. Since all of the truncation events end with the same vector sequence, it is possible to rescue and sequence these ends to generate expressed sequence tags. The method couples rapid purification of region-specific cDNAs with precise mapping of their genes on YACs. Appropriately truncated YACs also provide easy access to gene regulatory sequences. We describe the feasibility of individual steps of the method using the factor IX (F9) gene as a model system and we present the mapping of several expressed sequences corresponding to a 330-kb YAC containing DNA from human chromosome 6p21. In addition, we obtained the sequence, including an intron-exon junction, flanking a particular truncation event.

Base Sequence↗

Application of cDNA selection techniques to regions of the human MHC.

Identification of transcribed sequences by cDNA selection is a potentially rapid and efficient way of scanning large genomic DNA fragments for the presence of genes. To evaluate this approach further, we have applied it to three yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) and examined the products obtained from a total of about 1100 kb from two regions of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC). One YAC was derived from an extensively studied portion of the Class II region of the MHC. The cDNAs recovered from this YAC included representatives of the previously described genes as well as one or more cDNA clones not described in the databases. A second YAC spanned about 330 kb of DNA surrounding the Class I gene HLA-A. In addition to Class I clones, 10 distinct cDNA products were identified from this YAC. A third YAC contained about 700 kb of human DNA, including 260 kb of overlap with the second YAC, and recovered an additional cDNA complementary to YAC B30 H3 DNA. Overall, the method is shown to be able to detect very scarce cDNAs and to detect a large fraction of coding sequences in YAC clones. Advantages and limitations of the approach are discussed.

Chromosome Mapping↗

cDNA selection: efficient PCR approach for the selection of cDNAs encoded in large chromosomal DNA fragments.

Identification of coding segments in large fragments of genomic DNA is a recurrent problem in genome mapping and positional cloning studies. We have developed a rapid and efficient protocol to achieve this goal, based on hybridization of cDNA fragments to immobilized DNA and recovery of the selected cDNAs by the PCR. The procedure permits rapid cloning of cDNA fragments encoded by large genomic DNA fragments, groups of yeast artificial chromosomes, or cosmids and has the potential to directly enrich cDNAs encoded in chromosome segments. By this approach we have been able to identify several non-major histocompatibility complex class I clones from a yeast artificial chromosome that includes the HLA-A locus.

Base Sequence↗

Construction of a uniform-abundance (normalized) cDNA library.

We have used a kinetic approach to construct cDNA libraries containing approximately equal representations of all sequences in a preparation of poly(A)+ RNA. Randomly primed cDNA fragments of a selected size range were cloned in lambda phage vector. Inserts were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denatured, and self-annealed under optimized conditions. After extensive but incomplete reannealing, the single-stranded fraction was relatively depleted of more abundant species of cDNA. Libraries of these fragments are suitable for cDNA subtraction, screening, or selection by hybridization and make it possible to detect and analyze cDNA corresponding to species of mRNA present at a low level in a small fraction of the cells in a complex tissue.

Base Sequence↗

Construction and characterization of a NotI-BsuE linking library from the human X chromosome.

We describe the construction and characterization of methylation-resistant sequence-tagged NotI linking clones specific for the X chromosome, referred to as NotI-BsuE linking clones. The approach consists of methylating the X-chromosome-specific cloned DNA with BsuE methylase (M. BsuE), an enzyme that methylates the first C residue in the CGCG sequence, followed by selection of the methylation-resistant NotI sites by insertion of a kanamycin-resistance gene in the clones cleavable by NotI. The frequent occurrence of NotI sites in CpG islands is expected to cause methylation of a large number of NotI sites with BsuE methylase, thereby rendering them resistant to NotI cleavage. Thus, the combination of M. BsuE and NotI yields less frequent cutting than the NotI alone. We have isolated, partially sequenced, and characterized 113 NotI-BsuE linking clones, and mapped 50 clones to various regions along the chromosome.

Base Sequence↗

Analysis of somatic changes in human tumor DNA using synthetic oligonucleotide probes.

Like most hematologic malignancies, solid cancers may be associated with non-random chromosomal abnormalities. Heterogeneity in the cell population in solid cancers and the chromosomal variations occurring among primary, explant, and passaged cells of a given tumor, however, present a major difficulty in assessment of their cytogenetic changes. Alternative approaches to identifying specific somatic changes in subtypes of solid cancers, without cell culture manipulations, must be developed. This report describes preliminary evidence indicating that oligonucleotide probes, homologous to short tandem repeats, that can determine individual identity, may also be useful tools with which to examine somatic changes in DNA which has been isolated directly from a tumor mass. Two, of the four, bladder tumors (transitional cell carcinomas) analyzed, exhibited oligonucleotide-based DNA fingerprint patterns that differed from those of corresponding constitutive or uninvolved tissue DNA. The changes that were observed included gain or loss of hypervariable DNA fragments or shifts in band intensities.

DNA↗

The long terminal repeat of feline endogenous RD-114 retroviral DNAs: analysis of transcription regulatory activity and nucleotide sequence.

Six cloned 5' long terminal repeat (LTR) and adjoining cellular DNA regions of partially deleted feline endogenous RD-114 proviral loci were linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene and assayed for their ability to promote transient CAT expression. One endogenous LTR (clone CRL-3) and the LTR from an infectious RD-114 provirus, EX-LTR, were capable of actively expressing the CAT gene. DNA sequence comparison of these LTRs with an inactive endogenous LTR (CR-1) revealed extensive homology in all regions except in the 5' half of U3. The homologous portion contained transcriptional regulatory sequences including CAT, TATA, polyadenylation signal boxes and an octamer enhancer, which is rarely seen in retroviruses. Variations in the 5' half of U3 were primarily due to insertions and deletions. A major difference was in number of copies and integrity of tandemly repeated sequences. EX-LTR contained two pairs of tandem direct repeats, while the two endogenous LTRs contained different deletions of repeated sequences. DNA sequence data also revealed that the primer binding site for RD-114 loci was complementary to a glycine tRNA isotype, the use of which is distinct from any other known retrovirus. An analysis of the steady state RNA levels in T-lymphoid cell lines showed that at least three different incomplete proviral transcripts and their spliced products made up the majority of expressed RD-114 mRNA, and further demonstrated that partially deleted proviral loci have the potential to be transcriptionally vigorous in certain feline cell types.

Acetyltransferases↗

Reversible silencing of enhancers by sequences derived from the human IFN-alpha promoter.

The virus-responsive element of the IFN-alpha 1 promoter, VRE(IFN alpha), comprises two imperfect 19 bp repeats, repA and repB. VRE(IFN alpha), tetrameric repA, and tetrameric GAAAGT (a subsequence of repB) or tetrameric AAGTGA conferred inducibility on a reporter gene when placed upstream of a complete or truncated promoter. Induced transcription was weak with a minimal promoter (TATA box only), but was strongly stimulated by the SV40 enhancer placed immediately upstream of the inducible element. Surprisingly, under noninduced conditions, tetrameric repA, GAAAGT, and AAGTGA (but not VRE(IFN alpha)) completely silenced enhancement of constitutive transcription by the SV40 72 bp repeat when interposed between the latter and the TATA box; silencing was fully abrogated by induction.

Animals↗

Construction of a cDNA clone for a nuclear-coded subunit of cytochrome c oxidase from rat liver.

A cDNA library for 6S-9S poly(A)-containing RNA from rat liver was constructed in E. coli. Initial screening of the clones was carried out using single stranded 32P-labeled cDNA prepared against poly(A)-containing RNA isolated from immunoadsorbed polyribosomes enriched for the nuclear-coded subunit messenger RNAs of cytochrome c oxidase. One of the clones, pCO89, was found to hybridize with the messenger RNA for subunit VIC. The DNA sequence of the insert in pCO89 was carried out and it has got extensive homology with the C-terminal 33 amino acids of subunit VIC from beef heart cytochrome c oxidase. In addition, the insert contained 146 bp, corresponding to a portion of the 3'-non-coding region. Northern blot analysis of rat liver RNA with the nick-translated insert of pCO89 revealed that the messenger RNA for subunit VI would contain around 510 bases.

Animals↗

Cytochrome c oxidase is preferentially synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum--mitochondrion complex in rat liver.

The specific activity and content of cytochrome oxidase in the rough endoplasmic reticulum--mitochondrion complex are higher than in the mitochondrial fraction. Radiolabelling studies with the use of hepatocytes and isolated microsomal and rough endoplasmic reticulum--mitochondrion fractions, followed by immunoprecipitation with anti-(cytochrome oxidase) antibody, reveal that the nuclear-coded cytoplasmic subunits of cytochrome oxidase are preferentially synthesized in the latter fraction. The results have a bearing on the mechanism of transport of these subunits into mitochondria.

Animals↗