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T Eki

Publications and source records attributed to T Eki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Genomic structure, chromosomal localization and identification of mutations in the xeroderma pigmentosum variant (XPV) gene.

The xeroderma pigmentosum variant (XP-V) is one of the most common forms of this cancer-prone syndrome. XP groups A through G are characterized by defective nucleotide excision repair, whereas the XP-V phenotype is proficient in this pathway. The XPV gene encodes DNA polymerase eta, which catalyzes an accurate translesion synthesis, indicating that the XPV gene contributes tumor suppression in normal individuals. Here we describe the genomic structure and chromosomal localization of the XPV gene, which includes 11 exons covering the entire coding sequence, lacks a TATA sequence in the upstream region of the transcription-initiation, and is located at the chromosome band 6p21.1-6p12. Analyses of patient-derived XP-V cell lines strongly suggested that three of four cell lines carried homozygous mutations in the XPV gene. The fourth cell line, XP1RO, carried heterozygous point mutations in the XPV gene, one of which was located at the splice acceptor site of exon 2, resulting in the omission of exon 2 from the mature mRNA. These findings provide a basis for diagnosis and therapy of XP-V patients.

Alleles↗

Systematic identification, classification, and characterization of the open reading frames which encode novel helicase-related proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by gene disruption and Northern analysis.

Helicase-related proteins play important roles in various cellular processes incuding DNA replication, DNA repair, RNA processing and so on. It has been well known that the amino acid sequences of these proteins contain several conserved motifs, and that the open reading frames (ORFs) which encode helicase-related proteins make up several gene families. In this study, we have identified 134 ORFs that encode helicase-like proteins in the Saccharomyces genome, based on similarity with the ORFs of authentic helicase and helicase-related proteins. Multiple alignment of the ORF sequences resulted in the 134 ORFs being classified to 11 clusters. Seven out of 21 previously uncharacterized ORFs (YDL031w, YDL070w, YDL084w, YGL150c, YKL078w, YLR276c, and YMR128w) were identified by systematic gene disruption, to be essential for vegetative growth. Three (YDR332w, YGL064c, and YOL095c) out of the remaining 14 dispensable ORFs exhibited the slow-growth phenotype at 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Furthermore, the expression profiles of transcripts from 43 ORFs were examined under seven different growth conditions by Northern analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, indicating that all of the 43 tested ORFs were transcribed. Interestingly, we found that the level of transcript from 34 helicase-like genes was markedly increased by heat shock. This suggests that helicase-like genes may be involved in the biosynthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, and that the genes can be transcriptionally activated by heat shock to compensate for the repressed synthesis of mRNA and protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The human RNA helicase A (DDX9) gene maps to the prostate cancer susceptibility locus at chromosome band 1q25 and its pseudogene (DDX9P) to 13q22, respectively.

RNA helicase A is the homolog of the Drosophila maleless protein, an essential factor involved in dosage compensation, and plays a crucial role in early development in mammals. Here, we have mapped the human RNA helicase A (DDX9) gene to the major susceptibility locus for prostate cancer at chromosome band 1q25, and its pseudogene (DDX9P) to the band 13q22 by fluorescence in situ hybridization, somatic cell hybrid analysis, and assignment of YAC clones, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular analysis of the cDNA and genomic DNA encoding mouse RNA helicase A.

RNA helicase A is an enzyme that possesses both RNA and DNA helicase activities. In this report, we describe the isolation of a mouse cDNA encoding RNA helicase A. The deduced amino acid sequence derived from mouse RNA helicase A cDNA exhibits 87 and 47% identity to its human and Drosophila homologs, respectively. Using Southern blot analysis employing a mouse backcross panel, we have assigned the mouse RNA helicase A gene to chromosome 1, mapping near the D1Bir20 locus at MGD position 67. Northern blot and primer extension analyses indicate that, although its level is variable, RNA helicase A appears to be expressed from a single transcription start site in all tissues tested. Sequence analysis of the upstream genomic DNA revealed that the promoter region lacks a TATA box and contains two high-affinity sites for Sp1, one ISRE, a binding site for interferon regulatory factor, and three AP2-binding sites. These findings suggest that the transcriptional regulation of the RNA helicase A gene is complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mapping of the human genes encoding cyclin H (CCNH) and the CDK-activating kinase (CAK) assembly factor MAT1 (MNAT1) to chromosome bands 5q13.3-q14 and 14q23, respectively.

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which play a key role in cell cycle control, are activated by the CDK-activating kinase (CAK), which activates cyclin-bound CDKs by phosphorylation at the specific threonine residue. Mammalian CAK contains three components: CDK7, cyclin H, and an assembly factor called MAT1. The CDK7-cyclin H-MAT1 complex is tightly associated with a multiprotein complex TFIIH, which plays a dual role in transcription and DNA repair. Here, we have determined chromosomal localizations of the human genes encoding cyclin H (CCNH) and MAT1 (HGMW-approved symbol MNAT1) to chromosome bands 5q13.3-q14 and 14q23, respectively, by using fluorescence in situ hybridization, somatic cell hybrid analyses, and mapping to the human YAC contigs.

Animals↗

Both hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies are caused by mutation of the same gene, delta-sarcoglycan, in hamster: an animal model of disrupted dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex.

Cardiomyopathy (CM) is a primary degenerative disease of myocardium and is traditionally categorized into hypertrophic and dilated CMs (HCM and DCM) according to its gross appearance. Cardiomyopathic hamster (CM hamster), a representative model of human hereditary CM, has HCM and DCM inbred sublines, both of which descend from the same ancestor. Herein we show that both HCM and DCM hamsters share a common defect in a gene for delta-sarcoglycan (delta-SG), the functional role of which is yet to be characterized. A breakpoint causing genomic deletion was found to be located at 6.1 kb 5' upstream of the second exon of delta-SG gene, and its 5' upstream region of more than 27.4 kb, including the authentic first exon of delta-SG gene, was deleted. This deletion included the major transcription initiation site, resulting in a deficiency of delta-SG transcripts with the consequent loss of delta-SG protein in all the CM hamsters, despite the fact that the protein coding region of delta-SG starting from the second exon was conserved in all the CM hamsters. We elucidated the molecular interaction of dystrophin-associated glycoproteins including delta-SG, by using an in vitro pull-down study and ligand overlay assay, which indicates the functional role of delta-SG in stabilizing sarcolemma. The present study not only identifies CM hamster as a valuable animal model for studying the function of delta-SG in vivo but also provides a genetic target for diagnosis and treatment of human CM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation of human and fission yeast homologues of the budding yeast origin recognition complex subunit ORC5: human homologue (ORC5L) maps to 7q22.

Orc5p is a subunit of the origin recognition complex in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has been shown to play a critical role in both chromosomal DNA replication and transcriptional silencing. We have cloned cDNAs from both human and fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe that encode proteins homologous to the budding yeast and Drosophila Orc5p. Human Orc5p showed 35.1, 22.3, and 19.4% identity to the Drosophila, S. pombe, and S. cerevisiae Orc5p, respectively. We have localized the human ORC5 gene (ORC5L) to chromosome 7 using Southern and PCR analysis of DNA isolated from a panel of human/rodent somatic cell hybrids and mapped the gene locus to 7q22 using fluorescence in situ hybridization. We have identified a YAC clone that contains human ORC5L and maps to chromosome band 7q22.1. We have identified the S. pombe ORC5 gene and located it in a cosmid mapped on chromosome II.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Assignment of human membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MT2-MMP) gene to 16q12 by FISH and PCR-based human/rodent cell hybrid mapping panel analysis.

A new group of matrix metalloproteinase with a potential membrane domain was reported as membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs), and the gene coding for one of them, MT2-MMP was recently cloned from a human lung cDNA library. To predict its physiological functions by the relation to the genetic disorders mapped on the chromosomes, the chromosomal location of the human MT2-MMP gene was examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and PCR-based analysis with human/rodent hybrid cell mapping panels, and it was assigned to 16q12.

Animals↗

Expression profiles of transcripts from 126 open reading frames in the entire chromosome VI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by systematic northern analyses.

Chromosome VI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains 126 open reading frames (ORFs), and the functions of proteins encoded by 80 ORFs are still unknown. In this report, we have systematically examined the expression profiles of all 126 ORFs on chromosome VI under five kinds of growth conditions by quantitative Northern hybridization. A series of Northern analyses and reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions have revealed that more than 64 novel ORFs are transcribed. Two ORFs (YFL059w and YFR011c) are specifically expressed in the presence of galactose. Two ORFs (YFL012w and YFR032c) are specifically transcribed in sporulation. Six ORFs (YFL049w, YFL035c, YFL010c, YFR006w, YFR010w and YFR017c) are abundantly expressed in many growth conditions.

Blotting, Northern↗

Gene identification in 1.6-Mb region of the Down syndrome region on chromosome 21.

The Down syndrome (DS) region has been defined by analyses of partial trisomy 21. The 2.5-Mb region between D21S17 and ERG is reportedly responsible for the main features of DS. Within this 2.5-Mb region, we focused previously on a distal 1.6-Mb region from an analysis of Japanese DS patients with partial trisomy 21. Previously we also performed exon-trapping and direct cDNA library screening of a fetal brain cDNA library and identified a novel gene TPRD. Further screening of a fetal heart cDNA library was performed and a total of 44 possible exons and 97 cDNA clones were obtained and mapped on a BamH1 map. By rescreening other cDNA libraries and a RACE reaction, we isolated nearly full-length cDNAs of three additional genes [holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS), G protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium channel 2 (GIRK2), and a human homolog of Drosophila minibrain gene (MNB)] and a coding sequence of a novel inward rectifier potassium channel-like gene (IRKK). The gene distribution and direction of transcription were determined by mapping both ends of the cDNA sequences. We found that these genes, except IRKK, are expressed ubiquitously and are relatively large, extending from 100 kb to 300 kb on the genome. These nearly full-length cDNA sequences should facilitate understanding of the detailed genome structure of the DS region and help to elucidate their role in the etiology of DS.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Assignment of STK6 to human chromosome 20q13.2-->q13.3 and a pseudogene STK6P to 1q41-->q42.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of human STK6 encoding a mitotic centrosomal protein kinase, Aik, revealed two signals in chromosome bands 20q13.2-->q13.3 and 1q41-->q42. Somatic cell hybrid panel analyses showed the existence of an identical sequence to STK6 cDNA on chromosome 20, and a processed pseudogene on chromosome 1. These results suggest that STK6 is localized at 20q 13.2-->q13.3 and a pseudogene STK6P at 1q41-->q42.

Aurora Kinase A↗

Cloning and characterization of novel gene, DCRR1, expressed from Down's syndrome critical region of human chromosome 21q22.2.

The new gene, DCRR1, from the proximal part of the Down's syndrome critical region (DCR) was identified by the GRAIL analysis of the 97-kb nucleotide sequence of two P1 DNAs and the cDNA for DCRR1 gene was cloned. A 7.36-kb cDNA encodes the imcompleted open reading frame composed of 1941 amino acid residues (220.2 kDa). The deduced amino acid sequence contains the conserved domain for protein phosphatases at the N-terminus. The domain encoding the rod-like tail of a myosin heavy chain was also found near the C-terminal region besides the signature for an actin binding protein, profilin, suggesting its possible role as a microtuble-associated protein. Two different sizes (7.9 and 9.0 kb) of mRNAs were detected in the poly(A)+ RNA from abundant tissues by the Northern analysis. The smaller transcript was only transcribed at a high level in the testis. The imbalance of the DCRR1 gene dosage may contibute to the pathogenesis of Down's syndrome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Construction of high-resolution physical maps from yeast artificial chromosomes using restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS).

We have established a new system for chromosome-specific yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig construction using restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS-based YAC contig mapper). RLGS is a powerful tool for detecting more than 1000 restriction landmarks distributed on an entire genome in one procedure. In this system, RLGS is applied to sorted chromosomes to cover the target chromosome. Using these landmarks as guideposts, chromosome-specific YAC clones are then ordered. In this paper, we report the construction of a map for a human chromosome 21 YAC contig spanning q22.1 using this new approach. Applying RLGS to sorted chromosomes 21 enables detection of approximately 1400 spots (equivalent of 1050 PacI landmarks), covering the entire region of this chromosome. We constructed the 2.5-Mb YAC contig encompassing 21q22.1 with 66 spots (equivalent of 50 PacI landmarks). With this contig map, we could detect two deleted regions and chimerism in the YAC insert DNA. Our results demonstrated the usefulness of this approach for finding DNA alterations of YACs, such as deletions and chimerism.

Chimera↗