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T W Loo

Publications and source records attributed to T W Loo.

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Expression of rubella virus cDNA coding for the structural proteins.

A cDNA clone encoding the precursor polypeptide (Mr 115,000) to the nucleocapsid C (Mr 30,000) and two envelope glycoproteins E1 (Mr 58,000) and E2 (Mr 42,000-47,000) of rubella virus was inserted into a simian virus 40-derived eukaryotic expression vector. When the plasmid was introduced into COS cells, three proteins were synthesized. The expressed proteins were antigenically similar and identical in size to the authentic structural proteins of rubella virus. Expression in the presence of tunicamycin confirmed that E1 and E2 are glycoproteins. Unglycosylated E1 and E2 had Mrs of about 53,000 and 30,000, respectively. The mobility of the nucleocapsid protein was unaffected by tunicamycin. The locations of the translation start and stop codons for synthesis of the precursor to the structural proteins of rubella virus were determined by in vitro and in vivo expression studies. It was found that the first AUG codon at the 5' end of the rubella virus 24S cDNA acts as a start codon for translation. The stop codon was found to be 3183 bp from the start codon.

Animals↗

Nucleotide sequence and in vitro expression of rubella virus 24S subgenomic messenger RNA encoding the structural proteins E1, E2 and C.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the 24S subgenomic mRNA of wild-type M33 strain rubella virus has been determined. This RNA is 3,383 nucleotides in length excluding the 3'-terminal poly(A) tract. After the three multiple in-phase termination codons clustered in the 5' terminus of this RNA, there are 81 nucleotides of nontranslated nucleic acid followed by a reading frame of 2,978 nucleotides that encodes the 110 kD precursor of the structural proteins. The 3'-untranslated region is 263 nucleotides. The 110 kD polyprotein is processed to produce nucleocapsid C, the glycoproteins E2 and E1 in that order. Sites of post-translational cleavage to produce E2 and E1 were located using available N-terminal amino acid sequences. RNAs synthesized by transcription in vitro are effective messengers in the rabbit reticulocyte cell-free translation system. Post-translational processing of the structural proteins was observed in the cell-free system supplemented with microsomes from dog pancreas.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nucleotide sequence of the pntA and pntB genes encoding the pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase of Escherichia coli.

A 3240-base-pair DNA fragment spanning the pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase (pnt) genes of Escherichia coli has been sequenced. The sequence contains two open-reading frames, pntA and pntB of 1506 and 1386 base pairs, coding for the transhydrogenase alpha and beta subunits, respectively. The coding sequences are preceded by a promoter-like structure and are most likely co-transcribed. Each coding sequence is preceded by a Shine-Dalgarno sequence. The amino-terminal amino acid sequences were determined from the purified alpha and beta subunits of the transhydrogenase. These sequences agree with those predicted from the nucleotide sequences of the pntA and pntB genes. The predicted relative molecular masses of 53906 (alpha) and 48667 (beta) are close to the values obtained by analysis of the subunits by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Several hydrophobic regions large enough to span the cytoplasmic membrane were observed in each subunit. These results indicate that transhydrogenase is an intrinsic membrane protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Detection of antibodies to individual proteins of rubella virus.

Individual rubella virus structural polypeptides were electroeluted from SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The eluted polypeptides were used, without further purification, as antigens in ELISA assays for the detection of rubella-specific antibodies in patients' sera. This provided a more sensitive detection method than that involving classical serological assays such as HI or VN or that using immunoprecipitation. Antisera against individual viral polypeptides were raised in mice. No haemagglutination inhibition activity was observed in any of these sera and weak virus neutralizing activity was only detected with antiserum to the E1 protein. Antisera to either the E1 or E2(a,b) complex proteins cross-reacted with both the E1 and E2(a,b) complex proteins.

Animals↗

Interaction of Escherichia coli F1-ATPase with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-binding polypeptide.

Antibody raised against the N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)-binding polypeptide of Escherichia coli bound to the cytoplasmic surface of the cell membrane. A weak reaction was seen with everted vesicles of the thermophile PS3. Rat-liver mitochondrial membranes did not react with the antibody. Reaction of the isolated DCCD-binding polypeptide with the antibody was prevented by oxidation of methionine residues or cleavage of the polypeptide with cyanogen bromide. Modification of the arginine residues of the DCCD-binding polypeptide did not affect interaction with the antibody. Purified F1-ATPase of E. coli bound to the isolated DCCD-binding polypeptide as shown by solid-phase radioimmune assay. Binding involved the alpha and/or beta subunits of F1 and the arginine residues of the polar central region of the DCCD-binding polypeptide. Our results are consistent with a looped arrangement of the DCCD-binding polypeptide in the membrane in which the carboxyl- and amino-terminal regions of the molecule are at the periplasmic surface and the polar central region, interacting with F1, is at the cytoplasmic surface of the cell membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗