Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Y F Lau.
We report here the strategy to isolate the DNA fragment of any species origin which encodes cell surface antigen by using cosmid library transfection and cell sortings with a monoclonal antibody. We took the mouse melanoma antigen defined by monoclonal antibody as a model system and rescued the genomic DNA by in vitro packaging, showing the feasibility of this procedure.
Several cDNA clones for the mouse lactate dehydrogenase-X (LDH-X), a sperm-specific glycolytic enzyme, were isolated from mouse testicular cDNA libraries constructed in the bacteriophage vectors, lambda gt11 and gt10. The largest cDNA clone contains an insert of 1135 base pairs in length and an open reading frame that encodes a 332 amino acid polypeptide with a molecular weight of 35.89 kD. The deduced amino acid sequence of this protein is in close agreement with the published sequence of mouse LDH-X obtained by direct protein sequencing. Northern analysis of RNA isolated from different tissues detected a single size mRNA of 1.5 kilobases in mouse testis but not in brain or liver. The Ldh-x structural gene was estimated to be about 12 kb in size as demonstrated by Southern hybridization analysis of mouse genomic DNA using the full-length cDNA as a probe.
Using an anti-serum against synthetic alpha-inhibin-31, we have studied its cellular locations in rodent testis and brain. Western blot analysis detected several molecular forms of the protein(s). A protein of 17 KDa in size was detected in testis of one month old mice. Two major bands of molecular weights 39 kDA and 21 kDA were detected in mature mouse testis. The 39 kDA protein was also present in male brain, female brain and ovary. No protein similar in size to alpha-inhibin-31 was detected with this antiserum, suggesting that the antibody recognized only the precursor of the alpha-IB-31 molecule. Immunocytochemical studies revealed that these molecules were located in the cytoplasm of the interstitial Leydig cells. The immunocytochemical reaction can be eliminated by pre-incubation with synthetic alpha-inhibin-31. Immunoreactive substances were also demonstrated at the blood-brain barrier on the external surface of the ependymal cells in the third ventricle of the rat brain. In the pituitary, similar pattern of localization was also observed in the cuboidal-columnar epithelial cells that lined the par tuberalis between the anterior and intermediate lobes. The immunoreaction to the neural cells cannot be completely abolished by competition with the synthetic peptide. These observations suggested that alpha-inhibins are located in the Leydig cells of the testis as well as in the brain, pituitary and ovary.
We have constructed a plasmid vector pSV2neo-MK alpha G in which the structural tk gene for Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) was placed downstream from the metallothionein-I promoter. The vector also contained the selection marker aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase (Km). This vector was able to transform the filamentous fungus Achlya ambisexualis and G-418-resistant colonies were obtained. Southern blot analyses revealed that multiple bands hybridizing to the HSV tk gene probe were present in the genomic DNA of the transformants. Upon analysis by gel electrophoresis, one of the transformants exhibited TK activity bearing electrophoretic mobility similar to that of the HSV-TK. An increase of approx. 40% of [3H]thymidine uptake and incorporation into cellular DNA was also observed in this transformant. This study suggested that the HSV tk gene can be expressed in the fungus A. ambisexualis that can be considered as a candidate host cell for further gene-expression studies.
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In both humans and mice, two genes encode phosphoglycerate kinase, a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. The pgk-1 gene is expressed in all somatic cells, is located on the X chromosome, and contains 10 introns. The pgk-2 gene is expressed only in sperm cells, is located on an autosome, and has no introns. The nucleotide sequence of the pgk-2 gene suggests that it arose from pgk-1 more than 100 million years ago by RNA-mediated gene duplication. The pgk-2 gene may, then, be a transcribed retroposon. Thus, gene duplication by retroposition may have been used as a mechanism for evolutionary diversification.
The hypothesis of the serological H-Y antigen as the inducer molecule for mammalian male sex differentiation has been considered an important working model in developmental biology. However, because of the difficulties involved in its detection, supporting evidence in molecular terms is lacking for this hypothesis. The isolation of the gene for the serological H-Y antigen is essential to the acertainment of its proposed functions. Using recombinant DNA technology and specific anti-H-Y sera we have isolated a candidate gene, the MEA gene, for the serological H-Y antigen. Molecular characterization of the MEA gene shows male-enhanced expression and genetic conservation patterns similar to those attributed to the serological H-Y antigen. The isolation of this candidate gene for the serological H-Y antigen. The isolation of this candidate gene for the serological H-Y antigen would allow further investigations to identify the functions for this molecule in molecular terms.
The gene for human apolipoprotein (apo-) E was isolated from a human genomic library constructed in the cosmid shuttle vector pCV108. The transient expression of the apo-E gene was examined in cultured mammalian cells 48 h following calcium phosphate-mediated gene transfer. The expression of the cloned human apo-E gene, which contained between 0.7 and 29 kilobases of 5'-flanking DNA, was not restricted to human cells or to cultured cells derived from tissues that have been shown to synthesize apo-E. Several independent mouse L cell stable transfectants with the human apo-E gene integrated into their genome were selected on the basis of G418 resistance, which is conferred by the selectable gene marker in the cosmid vector. The levels of human apo-E mRNA found in the stable transfected mouse L cells ranged from undetectable to a level comparable to that found in the human liver. The size of the apo-E mRNA observed in the stable transfectants was identical to that found in the liver, indicating that the mouse L cells were capable of correctly processing the human apo-E gene transcripts. The integrated human apo-E genes had not undergone major rearrangements or deletions during transfer, and the level of apo-E mRNA found in the different stable transfectants correlated directly with the number of integrated copies of the human apo-E gene. The stable transfected L cells secreted authentic human apo-E into the medium. The secreted protein interacted specifically with antibodies to human plasma apo-E and had an apparent Mr = 35,000 to 36,000, which is slightly larger than that of plasma apo-E. The secreted human apo-E was associated with lipid (presumably phospholipids), floated at d approximately 1.09 g/ml, and bound with high affinity to the apo-B,E(LDL) receptor on fibroblasts.
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We have constructed two new recombinant cosmid vectors that can be used for direct expression and amplification of genomic DNA in mammalian cells. The vectors allow cloning of DNA fragments up to 40 kb in size. Each carries two dominant selectable markers: the bacterial neo gene and the mouse DHFR gene. In the first vector, pCV001, the neo and DHFR genes are regulated by the SV40 early promoter, and in the second, pAVCV007, by the avian sarcoma virus LTR promoter. The neo gene served as a dominant marker for the selection of transformants in all mammalian cell types, and we demonstrate here that the LTR promoter significantly improved the efficiency of DNA-mediated transformation of a human cell line. We isolated the human growth hormone genes from genomic libraries prepared in these cosmid vectors and used these recombinant cosmids for direct transfections of cultured cells. Selection of transformants in increasing concentrations of methotrexate led to the outgrowth of resistant cell populations carrying amplified copies of the DHFR marker. A 40-1000-fold coamplification of the hGH genes was observed in the different transfected cell lines, along with a corresponding increase in transcription and translation activity of the hGH gene. Gene amplification could be achieved in both DHFR deficient or normal cell lines. High level expression of a cloned gene mediated by gene amplification should facilitate characterization of DNA sequences, as well as isolation of specific gene products for biochemical, functional, and pharmacological studies.
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We have used a recombinant DNA clone derived from the Y-specific 3.4-kb repeats for in situ chromosome hybridization and Southern blotting analysis to identify a case of de novo Y;18 translocation. The proband has a chromosome complement of 46,XY and a variant chromosome 18 with a Q-bright and C-positive short arm. The father has a normal male karyotype of 46,XY. The mother has a female karyotype of 46,XX and an unusually large Q-bright satellite on one chromosome 22. In situ hybridization with the 3.4-kb probe to the metaphase preparations of family members indicated that the additional Q-bright material in the proband's variant chromosome 18 derived from the Y chromosome of his father, and not from the variant chromosome 22 of his mother. On Southern hybridization, the proband had approximately twice the amount of 3.4-kb repeats per cell as his father. These observations suggest a de novo genetic rearrangement in the proband which probably occurred during the father's spermatogenesis.
In situ hybridization with a cloned human Y-specific repeat, pY3.4, derived from the 3.4-kb HaeIII repetitive sequences, is useful in identifying Yq-autosome translocations. In this study nonradioactive procedures were also employed to detect the sites of hybridization. Using a biotinylated probe and either immunofluorescence or horseradish peroxidase reaction, the chromosomes of three probands and members of their families with probable Y-autosome translocations were examined. It was found that not all such translocations can be correctly diagnosed based on conventional banding analysis. The present data indicate the importance of chromosome-specific probes in studying chromosome rearrangements in man.
A recombinant DNA probe was used for antenatal sex determination. The probe was isolated from the 3.4 kilobase human repeat sequence derived from heterochromatin of the Y chromosome and had 1000 times more affinity for male DNA than for female DNA. A dot blot hybridisation method with 200 microliter of amniotic fluid yielded accurate results in 2 to 3 days. This test should facilitate antenatal diagnosis of sex-linked genetic disorders.
We have developed a new recombinant DNA cloning system to isolate directly the functional unit of the human thymidine kinase (TK) gene. The system utilizes a cosmid vector that can shuttle cloned DNA sequences between bacteria and mammalian cells. A complete human cosmid library was constructed and DNA from the total library was transfected to mouse L cells deficient in TK (LTK-) by calcium phosphate precipitation. The transfected cells were then selected with hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine (HAT) medium, and one HAT-resistant cell clone was isolated. This cell line became resistant to HAT selection by acquiring the TK gene derived from the human cosmid library. As the cosmid vector contains the cohesive ends of the bacteriophage, we could directly retrieve the human DNA sequences from the transformed mouse L cells. Total DNA from the transformed TK+ L cells was packaged in vitro with lysogenic bacterial extracts and used to infect Escherichia coli. One of the two recombinant cosmids isolated contained a 43.8-kilobase human DNA insert and was capable of converting TK- L cells to the TK+ phenotype in both acute and stable transformation assays. Thus, we have isolated the functional human TK gene in this recombinant cosmid. The gene was further localized on a 14.5-kilobase BamHI DNA fragment, and it transcribed a mature mRNA of about 1,500 nucleotides. This method of gene isolation has several special features: (i) an intact structural gene can be cloned directly based on its function without knowledge of its amino acid or nucleotide sequence; (ii) the functional gene sequences can be recovered faster and more efficiently than with the usual DNA transfection method; and (iii) in conjunction with cell-sorting techniques, this method can be used to clone genes encoding cell surface markers.
We studied the effects of gene amplification on human globin gene expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The normal human alpha-globin gene (N alpha 2) and a hybrid gene (M alpha G) containing the 5' promoter-regulator region of the mouse metallothionein gene and the human structural alpha 2-globin gene were linked to a modular SV2-cDNA dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene. The recombinant DNA molecules were introduced into Chinese hamster ovary cells by calcium phosphate precipitation. After initial selection to retain the DHFR and linked sequences, the cells were cultured in increasing concentrations of methotrexate up to 0.2 mM. Southern blot analysis of total cellular DNA showed an approximately 500- to 1,000-fold increase in the number of copies of DHFR and human alpha-globin genes. The transcription of the alpha-globin and DHFR genes increased as their copy number within the cells increased. The transcription of the amplified hybrid M alpha G gene was also inducible with cadmium treatments. Both mature mRNA and "read-through" transcripts were observed. DHFR constituted approximately 10% of pulse-labeled cellular proteins in these cells, but no human alpha-globin was detected. In vitro translation of polyadenylated RNA from these cells showed that alpha-globin mRNA transcribed from the amplified alpha-globin genes was functional and directed alpha-globin chain synthesis. In situ hybridization of 3H-labeled alpha-globin and DHFR DNA probes in chromosome preparations from the two cell lines indicated that both genes were coamplified in the same chromosomal locations in each cell type. These results indicate that gene amplification enhances human globin gene expression in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells.
Using a recombinant DNA probe, we have demonstrated the presence of residual 3.4-kilobase (kb) repeat sequences in a family with a Yq- chromosome. The heterochromatin of this Y variant was not readily detectable with conventional chromosome-banding techniques. These data suggest that the breakpoint of the deletion occurs at the heterochromatin region proximal to the euchromatin/heterochromatin junction.
The process of DNA synthesis in normal and endoreduplicating mammalian cells are very similar. Both types of chromosomes are replicated in defined units termed chromosomal replicons, and in the same sequences along their lengths. The sister chromosomes of the diplochromosomes are replicated synchronously in identical patterns. The present observations suggest that organization and sequences of chromosome replication are genetically programmed.