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TGATG vector: a new expression system for cloned foreign genes in Escherichia coli cells.

A TGATG vector system was developed that allows for the construction of hybrid operons with partially overlapping genes, employing the effects of translational coupling to optimize expression of cloned cistrons in Escherichia coli. In this vector system (plasmid pPR-TGATG-1), the coding region of a foreign gene is attached to the ATG codon situated on the vector, to form the hybrid operon transcribed from the phage lambda PR promoter. The cloned gene is the distal cistron of this hybrid operon ('overlappon'). The efficiently translated cro'-cat'-'trpE hybrid cistron is proximal to the promoter. The coding region of this artificial fused cistron [the length of the corresponding open reading frame is about 120 amino acids (aa)] includes the following: the N-terminal portions of phage lambda Cro protein (20 aa), the CAT protein of E. coli (72 aa) and 3' C-terminal codons of the E. coli trpE gene product. At the 3'-end of the cro'-cat'-'trpE fused cistron there is a region for efficient translation reinitiation: a Shine-Dalgarno sequence of the E. coli trpD gene and the overlapping stop and start codons (TGATG). In this sequence, the last G is the first nucleotide of the unique SacI-recognition site (GAGCT decreases C) and so integration of the structural part of the foreign gene into the vector plasmid may be performed using blunt-end DNA linking after the treatment of pPR-TGATG-1 with SacI and E. coli DNA polymerase I or its Klenow fragment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence

Identification of mutations in the gene for glucose-6-phosphatase, the enzyme deficient in glycogen storage disease type 1a.

Glycogen storage disease (GSD) type 1a is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism caused by a deficiency in microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), the key enzyme in glucose homeostasis. Southern blot hybridization analysis using a panel of human-hamster hybrids showed that human G6Pase is a single-copy gene located on chromosome 17. To correlate specific defects with clinical manifestations of this disorder, we identified mutations in the G6Pase gene of GSD type 1a patients. In the G6Pase gene of a compound heterozygous patient (LLP), two mutations in exon 2 of one allele and exon 5 of the other allele were identified. The exon 2 mutation converts an arginine at codon 83 to a cysteine (R83C). This mutation, previously identified by us in another GSD type 1a patient, was shown to have no detectable phosphohydrolase activity. The exon 5 mutation in the G6Pase gene of LLP converts a glutamine codon at 347 to a stop (Q347SP). This Q347SP mutation was also detected in all exon 5 subclones (five for each patient) of two homozygous patients, KB and CB, siblings of the same parents. The predicted Q347SP mutant G6Pase is a truncated protein of 346 amino acids, 11 amino acids shorter than the wild type G6Pase of 357 residues. Site-directed mutagenesis and transient expression assays demonstrated that G6Pase-Q347SP was devoid of G6Pase activity. G6Pase is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane-associated protein containing an ER retention signal, two lysines (KK), located at residues 354 and 355. We showed that the G6Pase-K355SP mutant containing a lysine-355 to stop codon mutation is enzymatically active. Our data demonstrate that the ER protein retention signal in human G6Pase is not essential for activity. However, residues 347-354 may be required for optimal G6Pase catalysis.

Base Sequence

Competitive expression of two heterologous genes inserted into one plasmid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Plasmids were constructed which contained two expression units encoding single-chain insulin precursors. Surprisingly, the total amount of insulin precursor produced was similar to that produced from plasmids containing a single expression unit. In this system, therefore, two expression cassettes can be brought to compete for the limited ability of the yeast cell for synthesis and secretion. Using genes encoding B(1-29)-A(1-21) and B(1-29)-Ala-Ala-Lys-A-(1-21), the slightly different precursors could be quantified individually after separation by high-performance liquid chromatography from the culture supernatant. The two-cassette system allowed a sensitive and well controlled comparison of parameters important for optimal expression of a heterologous gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The system was used to compare two promoter constructions and also to evaluate the position of expression cassettes in the plasmid. Finally the codon usage in the gene to be expressed was found to influence its ability to compete for expression.

Amino Acid Sequence

Cloning and expression of the vesicular stomatitis virus phosphoprotein gene in Escherichia coli: analysis of phosphorylation status versus transcriptional activity.

The phosphoprotein (P, previously known as NS) genes of vesicular stomatitis virus serotypes New Jersey and Indiana have been cloned in the Escherichia coli expression vector pET-3a. Transcription of P genes in these clones initiated from a phage T7 RNA polymerase promoter, whereas translation was driven by the Shine-Dalgarno sequence and the initiator AUG codon of the T7 gene 10 message. The clones were introduced into an appropriate E. coli strain in which T7 RNA polymerase was expressed under the control of the lac promoter. Under optimal conditions of induction with isopropylthiogalactopyranoside, P protein made in these bacterial strains constituted 5 to 20% of total cellular protein. P protein expressed in bacteria was unphosphorylated and transcriptionally active in an in vitro reconstitution assay with viral L protein and an N-RNA template. However, the P protein was phosphorylated in vitro by the kinase activities associated with L and the N-RNA template.

Animals

[Rate limitations in the elongation working cycle and the action mechanisms of GTP-complexed elongation protein factors].

Kinetic aspects of the peptide chain elongation process, proper role and the working mechanisms of the GTP-complexed protein elongation factors are discussed. High rates of the codon-dependent binding of aminoacyl-tRNA and translocation are shown to need the mutually exclusive properties of the ribosomal A centre which in the absence of some additional events seems to be unable to possess simultaneously these properties. A centre of translating ribosome is postulated to have a character of dynamic structure providing unsimultaneous consecutive optimization of the aminoacyl-tRNA binding and translocation conditions in accordance with the principle "either binding or translocation". According to this suggestion the rate of elongation is limited by the rate of reversible changes of the A centre structure fitting into the scheme A in equilibrium with B. Each step of this scheme is specifically promoted by corresponding GTP-complexed protein factor. Thus, elongation factors are suggested to be specific modulators of the A centre affinity for the codon-appropriate tRNA and to play a role of complex ligands carrying out an allosteric regulation of the ribosomal functional activity.

Codon

The extension reached by the minimization of the polarity distances during the evolution of the genetic code.

The level reached by the optimization of the polarity distances during the evolution of the genetic code was investigated. The results, although not conclusive, indicate that this optimization level is higher than the data reported in the literature. The results seem compatible with the reaching of an evolutionary minimum, with respect to the optimization of the polarity distances, by the genetic code during its formation.

Amino Acids

Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis of the p53 gene in paraffin-embedded surgical material from human renal cell carcinomas.

p53 tumour suppressor gene mutations were studied in 118 renal cell carcinomas using paraffin-embedded surgical material. Optimal results were obtained with analysis of exon lengths between 150 and 200 base pairs for polymerase chain reaction. Single strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing analysis revealed only two point mutations (2/118, 2%): one involving codon 135; TGC-->TTC (cysteine-->phenylalanine) and the other codon 175; CGC-->CAC (arginine-->histidine). Both of these cases were classified as granular cell subtype on microscopic observation. The data suggest that the p53 tumour suppressor gene is not related to tumour initiation, promotion, or progression of renal cell carcinomas. However, there is the possibility that granular cell type carcinomas may have a different genetic background from clear cell type renal neoplasms.

Base Sequence

Effect of spermine on the efficiency and fidelity of the codon-specific binding of tRNA to the ribosomes.

Binding of the yeast Tyr-tRNA and Phe-tRNA to the A site, and the binding of their acetyl derivatives to the P site of poly(U11,A)-programmed Escherichia coli ribosomes was studied. Spermine stimulated the rate of binding of both tRNAs at least threefold, enabling more than 90% final saturation of both ribosomal binding sites. The effect is observed when the tRNAs, but not ribosomes or poly(U11,A), are preincubated with polyamine. Regardless of the binding site, optimal saturation was reached at spermine/tRNA molar ratios of 3 for tRNA(Phe) and 5 for tRNA(Tyr). The same low spermine/tRNA ratios were previously reported to stabilize the conformation of these tRNAs in solution. On the other hand, the messenger-free, EF-Tu- and EF-G-dependent polymerization of lysine from E. coli Lys-tRNA is drastically reduced, while the poly(A)-directed polymerization is stimulated by spermine through a wide range of Mg2+ concentrations. Misreading of UUU codons as isoleucine, assayed by the A-site binding of E. coli Ile-tRNA, is also inhibited by spermine. All these results demonstrate that spermine increases the efficiency and accuracy of a series of macromolecular interactions leading to the correct incorporation of an amino acid into protein, at the same time preventing some unspecific or erroneous interactions. From the analogy with its known structural effects, it can be inferred that spermine does so by conferring on the tRNA a specific biologically functional conformation.

Binding Sites

Physical map and polyhedrin gene sequence of Lymantria dispar nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

Restriction maps of the 166.6-kb genome of Lymantria dispar multiply-enveloped nuclear polyhedrosis virus (LdMNPV clone g) were constructed for BamHI, BglII, EcoRI, EcoRV, HindIII and KpnI, using cosmid pVK102 and pBluescript vectors. Southern hybridizations indicated that the LdMNPV genome contains five dispersed regions of intragenomic sequence homology. The polyhedrin gene of LdMNPV was located within BglII-E and the sequence of the 735-nucleotide (nt) coding region and 678 nt of flanking DNA was determined. A conserved 14-nt sequence, associated with transcriptional start points in other polyhedrins, was identified at 44 to 57 nt upstream from the start codon. The deduced polyhedrin amino acid (aa) sequence showed a high degree of homology with a previously determined protein sequence for LdMNPV polyhedrin (89%) and with deduced amino acid sequences for three other MNPV polyhedrins (74%). Optimal alignment of the four sequences indicated that LdMNPV polyhedrin possesses a single aa insertion at residue 4 and a single aa deletion at residue 164.

Amino Acid Sequence

Optimal infectivity in vitro of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 requires an intact nef gene.

The replication competence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genomes containing mutations in the nef open reading frame was evaluated in continuous cell lines. Mutants that contained a deletion in the nef open reading frame, premature termination codons, or missense mutations in the N-terminal myristoylation signal were constructed. The replication of these mutants was tested in three ways. First, plasmid genomes were used to transfect T-lymphoblastoid cells. Second, low-passage posttransfection supernatants were used to infect cells with a relatively low virus input. Third, high-titer virus stocks were used to infect cells with a relatively high virus input. These experiments demonstrated a 100- to 10,000-fold decrement in p24 production by the nef mutants compared with that by the wild-type virus. The greatest difference was obtained after infection with the lowest virus input. The myristoylation signal was critical for this positive effect of nef. To investigate the mechanism of the positive influence of nef, nef-positive and nef-minus viruses were compared during a single cycle of replication. These single-cycle experiments were initiated both by infection with high-titer virus stocks and by transfection with viral DNA. Single-cycle infection yielded a three- to fivefold decrement in p24 production by nef-minus virus. Single-cycle transfection yielded equal amounts of p24 production. These results implied that nef does not affect replication after the provirus is established. In support of these results, viral production from cells chronically infected with nef-positive or nef-minus viruses was similar over time. To determine whether the effect of nef was due to infectivity, end point titrations of nef-positive and nef-minus viruses were performed. nef-positive virus had a greater infectivity per picogram of HIV p24 antigen than nef-minus virus. These data indicated that the positive influence of nef on viral growth rate is due to an infectivity advantage of virus produced with an intact nef gene.

Amino Acid Sequence

Optimized genomic editing of a common Duchenne muscular dystrophy mutation in patient-derived muscle cells and a new humanized mouse model.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal X-linked, recessive disease caused by mutations in the DMD gene encoding dystrophin, a membrane-associated protein necessary for maintaining muscle structure and function. One of the common DMD mutations is the deletion of exon 52 (Δ52), which introduces a premature stop codon in exon 53, preventing the expression of functional dystrophin protein. Patients with this mutation could benefit from skipping or reframing exon 53 to restore the dystrophin open reading frame. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of single-cut CRISPR gene editing with Staphylococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9)-LRVQR to restore dystrophin expression in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and a newly generated humanized DMD mouse model. We compared two injection routes for adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 9 to deliver gene-editing components to neonatal mice: intraperitoneal (IP) and facial vein (FV) injection. We observed efficient restoration of dystrophin protein expression across multiple skeletal muscle groups and the heart. The AAV9-mediated CRISPR single-cut approach ameliorated key DMD hallmarks, including histopathological phenotypes, impaired grip strength, and elevated serum creatine kinase levels. Our optimized strategies for dystrophin restoration in humanized DMD mice with exon 52 deletion represent a promising treatment for DMD.

AAV

Optimizing the expression in E. coli of a synthetic gene encoding somatomedin-C (IGF-I).

Double-stranded DNA encoding the human hormone somatomedin-C (SMC) has been synthesized. This synthetic gene has been inserted into a plasmid bearing the strong leftward promoter (PL) of bacteriophage lambda and expressed in E. coli. Codons for the N-terminal region of SMC which maximized the hormone's synthesis were chosen in an SMC-lac z fusion assay. The amounts of SMC accumulated in E. coli were influenced by mutations at two chromosomal loci, lon and htpR.

ATP-Dependent Proteases

Nitrile hydratase gene from Rhodococcus sp. N-774 requirement for its downstream region for efficient expression.

For improvement of the production of nitrile hydratase (NHase) from Rhodococcus sp. N-774 by recombinant DNA techniques, several plasmids, each of which had a deletion of the upstream or downstream region of the genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of NHase, were constructed. Enzyme assays of recombinant R. rhodochrous and Escherichia coli cells showed that a downstream region of the NHase genes was indispensable for the production of active NHase in both cells, but for the production of the active amidase, no genes other than the amidase structural gene were required. The nucleotide sequence of the downstream region contained a single open reading frame (Orf1188) with 396 amino acids. Orf1188 showed similarity in amino acid sequence to P47K, an open reading frame found downstream of the NHase genes from Pseudomonas chlororaphis B23, and also to the cobW gene product, which may be involved in cobalamin biosynthesis in Pseudomonas denitrificans. Because the distance between the TGA stop codon for the NHase beta-subunit and the ATG codon for Orf1188 is only 98 bp, and because production of both Orf1188 and NHase is dependent on a promoter upstream of the amidase gene, these genes appear to be co-transcribed in a polycistronic manner, forming an operon. By optimization of the culture conditions of R. rhodochrous carrying pKRNH2, which contained the amidase, NHase, and Orf1188 genes, the transformant showed the NHase activity 6-fold higher than that of the original strain, Rhodococcus sp. N-774.

Amino Acid Sequence

[Computer programs for the analysis of nucleotide sequences (MALK)].

A system for the computer analysis of nucleic acid and protein sequences ("Helix") is described. Format of the DNA sequences is EMBL--compatible and may be easily commented with the help of convenient menus. "Helix" has also following possibilities: an effective alignment of gele reading data and formation of the final sequence; simple making of recombined molecules "in calcular"; calculations of nucleotide and dinucleotide distribution along the sequence; looking for coding frames; calculations percentage of codons and amino acids in coding frames; searching for direct and inverted repeats; sequences alignment; protein secondary structure prediction; restriction mapping; DNA--protein translation. "Helix" also contain programs for RNA-structure prediction, looking for homologies throughover the EMAL bank, choosing optimal sequence for probes and searching promoters. All the programs are written at FORTRAN-77 and automatically translated into FORTRAN-4. "Helix" require only 64 kbite.

Base Sequence

Transcriptional regulation of the carbon monoxide dehydrogenase gene (cdhA) in Methanosarcina thermophila.

The mechanisms of gene regulation in the phylogenetic domain Archaea are not yet understood. To examine the expression of a gene encoding a highly regulated catabolic enzyme from the methanogenic archaea, a Methanosarcina thermophila lambda gt11 chromosomal library was probed with antiserum prepared against the 89-kDa subunit of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, an enzyme which is required for growth and methanogenesis from acetate. A 2.3-kilobase DNA fragment was isolated that encoded 300 bases of the 5'-end of cdhA, the gene which encodes the 89-kDa subunit, and 2 kilobases upstream of cdhA that included an upstream open reading frame (ORF1). Primer extension analyses determined that cdhA and ORF1 each had a single transcriptional initiation site located 370 and 9 nucleotides, respectively, 5' of the putative translation initiation codons for cdhA and ORF1. Each promoter element had sequence similarity to a consensus archaeal promoter sequence. Three discrete mRNA cdhA transcripts of 9.5, 5.6, and 4.8 kilobases and one mRNA ORF1 transcript of < 2 kilobases were identified. All four transcripts were optimally expressed in cells grown with acetate, while growth with the more energetically favorable substrates methanol and trimethylamine caused a significant reduction in levels of the cdhA and ORF1 mRNA's. The half-lives of the 5' ends of the three cdhA transcripts and entire ORF1 mRNA transcript were approximately 2 min upon addition of methanol to cells growing exponentially in medium that contained acetate. Results of this study demonstrate that transcription of both cdhA and ORF1 is highly regulated in response to substrate by this methanogenic archaeon.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases

Sequence and linkage analysis of the Coxiella burnetii citrate synthase-encoding gene.

The nucleotide (nt) sequence of the Coxiella burnetii citrate synthase-encoding gene (gltA), previously cloned in Escherichia coli, was determined. The nt sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame (ORF) of 1290 bp capable of coding for a protein of 430 amino acids (aa) with a deduced Mr of 48,633. Preceding an ATG start codon, a possible transcription start point (tsp) with homology to the E. coli promoter consensus was detected. A poly-purine-rich region occurred immediately upstream from the gltA reading frame and potentially serves as a ribosome-binding site. Additionally, a G + C-rich region of dyad symmetry 3' to the translational stop codon was found that could possibly function as a Rho-independent transcriptional termination signal. A large, nearly perfect, inverted repeat was identified upstream from the gltA tsp and was shown by Southern analysis to be present in multiple copies in the C. burnetii genome. The deduced aa sequence of C. burnetii GltA was optimally aligned with enzymes from various prokaryotic sources and one eukaryotic source (pig heart). Using perfect aa identity, the C. burnetii enzyme demonstrated the greatest homology with GltA from Acinetobacter anitratum (65%). Although only 26% aa identity was seen with the pig heart enzyme, many of the residues identified in ligand binding appear to be conserved. Sequencing studies of a region centered approx. 5.6 kb upstream from gltA revealed an ORF read with opposite polarity that encodes a peptide highly homologous to the C terminus of the flavoprotein subunit of E. coli succinate dehydrogenase. This report represents the first nt sequence analysis of a gene of known function from the obligate intracellular parasite, C. burnetii.

Amino Acid Sequence

Optimizing the promoter and ribosome binding sequence for expression of human single chain urokinase-like plasminogen activator in Escherichia coli and stabilization of the product by avoiding heat shock response.

The expression of recombinant single-chain urokinase-like plasminogen activator (rscuPA) in Escherichia coli was optimized by fusing the puk gene to different promoters and ribosome binding sequences. Comparison of the tac, trp and lambda PL promoters showed that expression was maximal under tac control. Variation in the ribosome binding sequence and its distance to the AUG start codon yielded a further slight improvement of expression. The largest increase in rscuPA expression was achieved by variations in the host strain and growth conditions. In E. coli DG75 grown at 37 degrees C maximal expression was achieved 30 min after induction and decreased gradually until 240 min after induction. Growth at 30 degrees C yielded maximal expression 60 min after induction and resulted in reduced activity at longer times. Western blot analysis of the products showed that degradation of rscuPA was much larger at 37 degrees C than at 30 degrees C. Using E. coli CAG630 carrying the htpR mutation, which avoids heat shock response, for expression of rscuPA eliminated the instability of the product at both temperatures. Expression in this strain was even more efficient than in E. coli JM101 carrying the lon mutation. It is concluded that induction of the general heat-shock response in E. coli must be avoided to obtain stabilization of rscuPA. This drastically improves the overall yield of rscuPA from recombinant E. coli strains.

Base Sequence

Early assignments of the genetic code dependent upon protein structure.

Orgel (1972) has suggested that polynucleotides with sequences of alternating purine/pyrimidine are likely to have predominated in prebiotic conditions. Therefore, in any early template-directed protein synthesis, the number of available codons would have been limited. However, for any self-organizing system to survive and propagate, some feedback must occur from the products of the synthesis to the control of the synthetic procedure itself; i.e. the protein synthesized should have catalysed some step in the initation of template-directed synthesis. A given protein structure with a characteristic conformation and function would be optimal for the product of such a synthesis, and this in turn would limit the number of nucleotide sequences of those available able to give rise to a functioning synthetic assembly. A possible candidate for such an early polypeptide is the ferredoxin group of proteins and it is shown that with the present-day code the corresponding nucleotides do have a high percentage of alternating purine/pyrimidine sequences. Hence these combined restraints on the primitive synthetic machinery would direct the possible assignments of the genetic code helping to explain its regularity and universality.

Amino Acid Sequence