PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Patankar

Publications and source records attributed to S Patankar.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) in Plasmodium falciparum: application of the technique to A-T rich genomes.

The advent of high-throughput methods for the analysis of global gene expression, together with the Malaria Genome Project open up new opportunities for furthering our understanding of the fundamental biology and virulence of the malaria parasite. Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) is particularly well suited for malarial systems, as the genomes of Plasmodium species remain to be fully annotated. By simultaneously and quantitatively analyzing mRNA transcript profiles from a given cell population, SAGE allows for the discovery of new genes. In this study, one reports the successful application of SAGE in Plasmodium falciparum, 3D7 strain parasites, from which a preliminary library of 6880 tags corresponding to 4146 different genes was generated. It was demonstrated that P. falciparum is amenable to this technique, despite the remarkably high A-T content of its genome. SAGE tags as short as 10 nucleotides were sufficient to uniquely identify parasite transcripts from both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Moreover, the skewed A-T content of parasite sequence did not preclude the use of enzymes that are crucial for generating representative SAGE libraries. Finally, a few modifications to DNA extraction and cloning steps of the SAGE protocol proved useful for circumventing specific problems presented by A-T rich genomes.

Animals↗

Serial analysis of gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum reveals the global expression profile of erythrocytic stages and the presence of anti-sense transcripts in the malarial parasite.

Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was applied to the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum to characterize the comprehensive transcriptional profile of erythrocytic stages. A SAGE library of approximately 8335 tags representing 4866 different genes was generated from 3D7 strain parasites. Basic local alignment search tool analysis of high abundance SAGE tags revealed that a majority (88%) corresponded to 3D7 sequence, and despite the low complexity of the genome, 70% of these highly abundant tags matched unique loci. Characterization of these suggested the major metabolic pathways that are used by the organism under normal culture conditions. Furthermore several tags expressed at high abundance (30% of tags matching to unique loci of the 3D7 genome) were derived from previously uncharacterized open reading frames, demonstrating the use of SAGE in genome annotation. The open platform "profiling" nature of SAGE also lead to the important discovery of a novel transcriptional phenomenon in the malarial pathogen: a significant number of highly abundant tags that were derived from annotated genes (17%) corresponded to antisense transcripts. These SAGE data were validated by two independent means, strand specific reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Northern analysis, where antisense messages were detected in both asexual and sexual stages. This finding has implications for transcriptional regulation of Plasmodium gene expression.

Animals↗

The signal sequence and C-terminal hydrophobic domain are required for localization of the sexual stage antigen pgs28 to the surface of P. gallinaceum ookinetes.

The Pgs28 protein is a major surface antigen of the sexual stages of Plasmodium gallinaceum the zygotes and the ookinetes. The protein contains conserved motifs, namely an N-terminal signal sequence, four epidermal growth factor-like repeats and a C-terminal hydrophobic domain that serves as a signal for glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)--anchor modification. In this study, we define the protein motifs required for the surface localization of Pgs28 in ookinetes. using transient transfection combined with immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Pgs28 fused to the green fluorescent protein (Pgs28-GFP) is expressed in zygotes, intermediate retort forms and ookinetes. Mutational analyses of Pgs28 coding regions reveal that deletions of the signal sequence and the C-terminal domain result in intracellular retention of the fusion protein. Therefore, the signal sequence and C-terminal domain are required for cell surface localization. Additionally, the Pgs28-GFP fusion proteins are shed from the surface of live ookinetes, suggesting that Pgs28 may be involved in interactions with the cells of the mosquito midgut or during motility.

Animals↗

A novel basal promoter element is required for expression of the rat tyrosine hydroxylase gene.

Transcription of the rat tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene is controlled by enhancer sequences in its 5' flanking region; these enhancers include the AP1, dyad, and cAMP response element (CRE) motifs. We show that a novel basal promoter element (-17 GCCTGCCTGGCGA -5) positioned between the TATA box and +1 works in conjunction with the upstream AP1-dyad and CRE enhancers but cannot support transcription by itself. A mutation of this element, termed partial dyad, reduces basal expression of a reporter gene in TH-positive cell lines and TH-negative lines but has no effect on cAMP- or KCl-induced expression. A double mutant at positions -17 and -11 of the partial dyad reduces transcriptional activation by 80%. Conversely, insertion of this element into a heterologous promoter restores basal expression to levels mediated by the native TH promoter. The partial dyad is a novel activational element that is required for full expression of the TH gene and may assist in the function of the AP1, dyad, and CRE motifs and also other enhancers further upstream. Hence, the rat TH gene is unusual in that its enhancers will not function with a heterologous promoter but require a specific TH promoter sequence for full activation.

Animals↗

The cyclic AMP response element directs tyrosine hydroxylase expression in catecholaminergic central and peripheral nervous system cell lines from transgenic mice.

Enhancer elements regulating the neuronal gene, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), were identified in TH-expressing peripheral nervous system PATH and central nervous system CATH cell lines. Mutational analysis in which rat TH 5'-flanking sequences directed chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene expression demonstrated that mutating the cyclic AMP response element (CRE) at -45 base pair reduced expression by 80-90%. A CRE linked to an enhancerless TH promoter fully supported expression. Cotransfection of a dominant-negative CREB protein reduced expression 50-60%, suggesting that the CRE is bound by CREB or a CREB dimerization partner. Although mutating the AP1/dyad (AD) element at -205 base pair only modestly reduced CAT levels, AD minimal enhancer constructs gave 45-80% of wild type expression when positioned at -91 or -95. However, in its native context at -205, the AD could not support expression. In contrast, a CRE, moved from its normal position at -45 to -206, gave full activity. These results indicate that the CRE is critical for TH transcription in central nervous system CATH and peripheral nervous system PATH cells, whereas the AD is less important and its enhancer activity is context-and/or position-dependent. These results represent the first attempts to map regulatory elements directing TH expression in central nervous system cell lines.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

A Bacillus subtilis dipeptide transport system expressed early during sporulation.

Two previously identified Bacillus subtilis DNA segments, dciA and dciB, whose transcripts accumulate very rapidly after induction of sporulation, were found in the same 6.2 kb transcription unit, now known as the dciA operon. Analysis of the sequence of the dciA operon showed that its putative products are homologous to bacterial peptide transport systems. The product of the fifth gene, DciAE, is similar to peptide-binding proteins from Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium (DppA and OppA) and B. subtilis (OppA). A null mutation in dciAE abolished the ability of a proline auxotroph to grow in a medium containing the dipeptide Pro-Gly as sole proline source, suggesting that the dciA operon encodes a dipeptide transport system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A randomized, double-blind study of two combined and two progestogen-only oral contraceptives.

A randomized double-blind study of two combined oral contraceptives and two progestogen-only oral contraceptives was conducted using the same protocol at WHO Collaborating Centres for Clinical Research in Human Reproduction in Bombay and Ljubljana of the 518 women admitted to the trial, 123 received mestranol 50 micrograms + norethisterone 1mg (MES 50 + NET 1); 137 received ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms + levonorgestrel 150 micrograms (EE 30 + LNG 150); 130 received norethisterone 350 micrograms/NET 350); and 128 received levonorgestrel 30 micrograms (LNG 30). At one year, between 52.6 and 61.0 percent of those recruited had discontinued oral contraceptive use for all reasons, and by two years, between 70.5 and 76.5 percent had discontinued the treatment. These rates did not differ between the four treatment groups. However, discontinuation rates for all medical reasons at one and two years, and at two years pregnancy rates and discontinuation rates for bleeding disturbances, were significantly lower in the EE/LNG preparation. The groups receiving the MES/NET, LNG and NET had similar pregnancy rates, discontinuation rates for all medical reasons and all bleeding disturbances. There were two ectopic pregnancies among the 22 pregnancies in the progestogen-only groups. Discontinuation because of headache, dizziness and other central nervous system symptoms were significantly more common in those receiving MES/NET compared to EE/LNG. In contrast, discontinuation for gastro-intestinal disturbances were significantly higher in the EE/LNG combined preparation. Bleeding disturbances in the first few cycles tended to be higher in NET than in the LNG group. The data suggest that greater consideration be given to the benefits and risks of including progestogen-only oral contraceptives in the family planning programmes of some countries.

Adolescent↗