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An alphoid DNA sequence conserved in all human and great ape chromosomes: evidence for ancient centromeric sequences at human chromosomal regions 2q21 and 9q13.

Using vector-CENP-B box polymerase chain reaction (PCR) we isolated and cloned from a human chromosome 21-specific plasmid library, a 1 kb DNA sequence, named p alpha H21. In in situ hybridization experiments, p alpha H21 hybridized, under high stringency conditions, to the centromeric region of all the human, chimpanzee, gorilla and orangutan chromosomes. On human chromosomes p alpha H21 also identified non-centromeric sequences at 2q21 (locus D2F33S1) and 9q13 (locus D9F33S2). The possible derivation of these sequences from ancestral centromeres is discussed. Sequence analysis confirmed the alphoid nature of the whole p alpha H21 insert.

Animals↗

Mutagenesis of a buried polar interaction in an SH3 domain: sequence conservation provides the best prediction of stability effects.

The SH3 domain from the Fyn tyrosine kinase possesses a buried hydrogen bond between the side chains of a glutamate (Glu24) and a serine (Ser41) residue. Multiple amino acid substitutions were made at these positions to determine the role of this interaction in the stability and conformational specificity of the domain and to assess the relationship between the thermodynamic stability of mutants and sequence conservation seen in the SH3 domain family. Analysis of single and double alanine mutations indicated that the Glu24-Ser41 interaction contributes 0.50 kcal/mol to the stability of the domain. However, disruption of the Glu24-Ser41 interaction did not impair peptide binding function, suggesting that the interaction is not critical for conformational specificity. The stability of the domain was not increased by the replacement of these residues with different combinations of hydrophobic residues or with potential salt bridge forming residues. Despite their similar structural roles in the Fyn SH3 domain, the Ser41 position was considerably more tolerant to substitution than was the Glu24 position. An alignment of >350 different SH3 domains has been completed in our laboratory. A statistically significant correlation was found between the conservation data for the Glu24 and Ser41 positions and the thermodynamic stabilities of the mutants constructed at these positions. Surprisingly, our analysis of sequence alignment data provided a more accurate prediction of the stability of mutants than did examination of the three-dimensional structure of the domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Patterns of flanking sequence conservation and a characteristic upstream motif for microRNA gene identification.

MicroRNAs are approximately 22-nucleotide (nt) RNAs processed from foldback segments of endogenous transcripts. Some are known to play important gene regulatory roles during animal and plant development by pairing to the messages of protein-coding genes to direct the post-transcriptional repression of these messages. Previously, we developed a computational method called MiRscan, which scores features related to the foldbacks, and used this algorithm to identify new miRNA genes in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In the present study, to identify sequences that might be involved in processing or transcriptional regulation of miRNAs, we aligned sequences upstream and downstream of orthologous nematode miRNA foldbacks. These alignments showed a pronounced peak in sequence conservation about 200 bp upstream of the miRNA foldback and revealed a highly significant sequence motif, with consensus CTCCGCCC, that is present upstream of almost all independently transcribed nematode miRNA genes. Scoring the pattern of upstream/downstream conservation, the occurrence of this sequence motif, and orthology of host genes for intronic miRNA candidates, yielded substantial improvements in the accuracy of MiRscan. Nine new C. elegans miRNA gene candidates were validated using a PCR-sequencing protocol. As previously seen for bacterial RNA genes, sequence features outside of the RNA secondary structure can therefore be very useful for the computational identification of eukaryotic noncoding RNA genes. The total number of confidently identified nematode miRNAs now approaches 100. The improved analysis supports our previous assertion that miRNA gene identification is nearing completion in C. elegans with apparently no more than 20 miRNA genes now remaining to be identified.

Animals↗

Cytoplasmic protein binding to highly conserved sequences in the 3' untranslated region of mouse protamine 2 mRNA, a translationally regulated transcript of male germ cells.

The expression of the protamines, the predominant nuclear proteins of mammalian spermatozoa, is regulated translationally during male germ-cell development. The 3' untranslated region (UTR) of protamine 1 mRNA has been reported to control its time of translation. To understand the mechanisms controlling translation of the protamine mRNAs, we have sought to identify cis elements of the 3' UTR of protamine 2 mRNA that are recognized by cytoplasmic factors. From gel retardation assays, two sequence elements are shown to form specific RNA-protein complexes. Protein binding sites of the two complexes were determined by RNase T1 mapping, by blocking the putative binding sites with antisense oligonucleotides, and by competition assays. The sequences of these elements, located between nucleotides + 537 and + 572 in protamine 2 mRNA, are highly conserved among postmeiotic translationally regulated nuclear proteins of the mammalian testis. Two closely linked protein binding sites were detected. UV-crosslinking studies revealed that a protein of about 18 kDa binds to one of the conserved sequences. These data demonstrate specific protein binding to a highly conserved 3' UTR of translationally regulated testicular mRNA.

Animals↗

Mutational analysis of the vacuolar sorting signal of procarboxypeptidase Y in yeast shows a low requirement for sequence conservation.

The core of the vacuolar targeting signal of yeast carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) is recognized by the receptor Vps10p and consists of four contiguous amino acid residues, Gln24-Arg-Pro-Leu27, near the amino terminus of the propeptide (Valls, L.A., Winther, J. R., and Stevens, T. H. (1990) J. Cell Biol. 111, 361-368; Marcusson, E. G., Horazdovsky, B. F., Cereghino, J. L., Gharakhanian, E., and Emr, S. D. (1994) Cell 77, 579-586). In order to determine the sequence specificity of the interaction with the sorting receptor, substitutions were introduced into this part of the propeptide by semirandom site-directed mutagenesis. The efficiency of vacuolar sorting by the mutants was determined by immunoprecipitation of CPY from pulse-labeled cells. It was found that amino acid residues Gln24 and Leu27 were the most important ones. While it appears that Gln24 is essential for proper function, Leu27 can be exchanged with the other hydrophobic amino acid residues, isoleucine, valine, and phenylalanine. Tolerance toward various substitutions for Arg25 is fairly high, while substitution of Pro26 for uncharged amino acid residues also resulted in only weak missorting. In addition to the low requirement for sequence conservation, the position of the targeting element relative to the amino terminus of the propeptide was analyzed and found not to be critical.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Gene connectivity, function, and sequence conservation: predictions from modular yeast co-expression networks.

BACKGROUND: Genes and proteins are organized into functional modular networks in which the network context of a gene or protein has implications for cellular function. Highly connected hub proteins, largely responsible for maintaining network connectivity, have been found to be much more likely to be essential for yeast survival. RESULTS: Here we investigate the properties of weighted gene co-expression networks formed from multiple microarray datasets. The constructed networks approximate scale-free topology, but this is not universal across all datasets. We show strong positive correlations between gene connectivity within the whole network and gene essentiality as well as gene sequence conservation. We demonstrate the preservation of a modular structure of the networks formed, and demonstrate that, within some of these modules, it is possible to observe a strong correlation between connectivity and essentiality or between connectivity and conservation within the modules particularly within modules containing larger numbers of essential genes. CONCLUSION: Application of these techniques can allow a finer scale prediction of relative gene importance for a particular process within a group of similarly expressed genes.

Base Sequence↗

Promoter and enhancer elements containing a conserved sequence motif are recognized by nuclear factor III, a protein stimulating adenovirus DNA replication.

Nuclear factor III (NFIII) is a protein from HeLa cells that stimulates the initiation of adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) DNA replication by binding to a specific nucleotide sequence in the origin, adjacent to the nuclear factor I recognition site. DNA sequences sharing a high degree of homology to the NFIII binding site in Ad2 were found in a number of transcription regulatory elements, all containing the octanucleotide sequence ATGCAAAT. We have analysed the interaction between NFIII and the octamer-containing sequences in a histone H2B promoter, immunoglobulin light and heavy chain promoters, an immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer, a U2 snRNA enhancer and the SV40 enhancer as well as Ad4. All sequences were recognized by NFIII as indicated by gel retardation assays, DNase I footprinting and methylation protection experiments. A comparison of the relative binding affinities using competition assays indicated that mutations in the octanucleotide sequence reduced the binding affinity considerably. Small but significant differences in affinity were also observed depending on the sequences bordering the conserved octanucleotide. The methylation protection patterns indicate that both major and minor groove contacts are involved in NFIII binding. The data suggest that NFIII could function both in adenovirus DNA replication and in the transcriptional control of several groups of genes sharing the octanucleotide sequence.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

The evolutionarily conserved sequence upstream of the human Ig heavy chain S gamma 3 region is an inducible promoter: synergistic activation by CD40 ligand and IL-4 via cooperative NF-kappa B and STAT-6 binding sites.

Germline C gamma gene transcription is a crucial event in the process that leads to switch DNA recombination to IgG, but its regulation in the human is poorly understood. We took advantage of our monoclonal model of germinal center B cell differentiation, IgM+ IgD+ CL-01 cells, to define the role of the I gamma 3 evolutionarily conserved sequence (ECS) in the germline transcriptional activation of the human C gamma 3 gene. The I gamma 3 ECS lies upstream of the major I gamma 3 transcription initiation site and displays more than 90% identity with the corresponding human I gamma 1, I gamma 2, and I gamma 4 regions. Reporter luciferase gene vectors containing the human gamma 3 ECS were used to transfect CL-01 cells, which have been shown to undergo Smu-->S gamma 3 DNA recombination, upon engagement of CD40 by CD40 ligand (CD40L) and exposure to IL-4. In these transfected CL-01 cells, CD40:CD40L engagement and exposure to IL-4 synergistically induced gamma 3 ECS-dependent luciferase reporter gene activation. Targeted mutational analysis demonstrated that a tandem NF-kappa B/Rel binding motif is critical for the gamma 3 ECS responsiveness to both CD40L and IL-4, while a STAT-6-binding site is additionally required for IL-4 inducibility. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that p50/p65/c-Rel and STAT-6 are effectively induced by CD40L and IL-4, respectively, and bind to specific DNA motifs within the ECS. These partially overlapping CD40L and IL-4 responsive elements are functionally cooperative as the disruption of one of them prevents synergistic promoter activation. Thus, the gamma 3 ECS is an inducible promoter containing cis elements that critically mediate CD40L and IL-4-triggered transcriptional activation of the human C gamma 3 gene.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Metal-tetracycline/H+ antiporter of Escherichia coli encoded by transposon Tn10. The role of a conserved sequence motif, GXXXXRXGRR, in a putative cytoplasmic loop between helices 2 and 3.

The region including the conserved Ser65-Asp66 dipeptide in the tetracycline/H+ antiporter (TET) encoded by transposon Tn10 is thought to play a gating role (Yamaguchi, A., Ono, N., Akasaka, T., Noumi, T., and Sawai, T. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 15525-15530). The dipeptide is in putative interhelix loop2-3, which also includes the conserved sequence motif, GXXXXRXGRR, found in all TET proteins and sugar/H+ symporters. Through the combination of localized random and site-directed mutagenesis, each residue in loop2-3 was replaced. Among 10 residues in putative loop2-3, the important residues, of which substitution resulted in significant reduction or complete loss of the transport activity, were Gly62, Asp66, Gly69, and Arg70. The defect in the transport activity of the Gly62 and Gly69 substitution mutants corresponded to the steric hindrance by the substituents as to the putative beta-turn structure of the peptide backbone containing these glycines. Of 3 conserved Arg residues, the replacement of only Arg70 caused complete loss of the activity except for replacement with Lys, indicating the importance of a positive charge at this position, which is similar to the essentiality of a negative charge at Asp66. A "charge-neutralizing" intra-loop salt bridge between Asp66 and Arg70 was not likely because the double mutant in which Asp66 and Arg70 were replaced with asparagine and leucine, respectively, showed no transport activity. A triple mutant with only one positive charge at Arg70 in this loop showed about half the wild-type activity, indicating that the polycationic nature of the loop was not critical for the activity. Cys mutants as to the unessential residues in the loop were modifiable with N-ethylmaleimide, except for the Met64----Cys and Arg71----Cys mutants; however, the modification of only the Ser65----Cys mutant caused significant inhibition of the transport activity, indicating that position 65 is a unique position in the structure of loop2-3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure of the 5' ends of immunoglobulin genes: a novel conserved sequence.

Recent investigations have suggested that tissue-specific regulatory factors are required for immunoglobulin gene transcription. Cells of the mouse lymphocytoid pre-B-cell line 70Z/3 contain a constitutively rearranged immunoglobulin kappa light chain gene; the nucleotide sequence of this gene exhibits all the known properties of a functionally competent transcription unit. Nevertheless, transcripts derived from this gene are detectable only after exposure of the cells to bacterial lipopolysaccharide, implying that accurate DNA rearrangement is not sufficient to activate expression of the gene. Comparison of the sequence of the 70Z/3 kappa light chain gene with those encoding other immunoglobulin heavy and light chains has revealed that a distinctive promoter region structure is characteristic of this multigene family. The sequence A-T-T-T-G-C-A-T lies approximately 70 base pairs upstream from the site of transcriptional initiation in every light chain gene examined; in heavy chain genes, the corresponding location is occupied by the precise inverse (A-T-G-C-A-A-A-T) of this sequence. Although adjacent regions of DNA have diverged extensively in evolution, these octanucleotide sequences are stringently conserved at this location among diverse immunoglobulin genes from at least two mammalian species. The proximity of this conserved octanucleotide block to the site of transcriptional initiation suggests that it may serve as a recognition locus for factors regulating immunoglobulin gene expression in a tissue-specific fashion.

Animals↗

Conserved sequence elements in human main type-H1 histone gene promoters: their role in H1 gene expression.

In man, the H1 class of histones consists of seven different isoforms, termed H1.1-H1.5, H1t and H1o. Analysis of the promoters of the respective genes reveals that all seven H1 gene promoters share conserved sequence elements: a TATA box at around position -25 (relative to the transcription start site), a CCAAT motif at about position -50 (except in the H1 promoter), an H1-box (AAACACA) around position -110 (except in the H1.1 promoter), and the highly conserved motif TGTGT/CTA (TG-box or CH1UE) at around nucleotide position -450 (except in the H1.1 promoter). Analysis of the H1.3 gene promoter was carried out with reporter gene assays (using the luciferase gene as a reporter gene) including stepwise deletion and site-directed mutagenesis. In addition, electrophoretic mobility-shift assays were carried out for the analysis of protein/DNA interactions at conserved promoter motifs. Mutation analysis indicates that the CH1UE motif is involved in mediating the S-phase-dependent expression of the H1.3 gene. Comparison of H1 promoters shows that the CCAAT-box is extended in each case by CA. Mutational analysis indicates that only the CCAATCA heptanucleotide, but not just the CCAAT sequence mediates the effect of this element in H1 gene promoters.

Base Sequence↗

A conserved sequence within the propeptide domain of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase is critical for function as an intramolecular chaperone.

The propeptide domain of secreted matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is responsible for maintaining the latency of these proteinases. Recently, the propeptide domain of the prototype membrane type matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) was demonstrated to act as an intramolecular chaperone (Cao, J., Hymowitz, M., Conner, C., Bahou, W. F., and Zucker, S. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 29648-29653). In the current study, the role of an unique four-amino acid sequence in the propeptide domain of MT1-MMP was examined. The sequence (42)YGYL(45) is conserved in the propeptide domain of all six members of the MT-MMP subfamily, but not in secreted MMPs. Mutant MT1-MMP cDNAs coding for alanine substitutions (single and double amino acid sequences) in this conserved propeptide region were transfected into COS-1 cells deficient in endogenous MT1-MMP. As demonstrated by immunofluorescence, mutant MT1-MMP protein was synthesized and displayed on the plasma membrane of transfected cells. Alanine substitutions within the (42)YGYL(45) sequence proved to be detrimental for enzyme function in terms of activation of proMMP-2 and binding TIMP-2 to the cell surface (MT1-MMP serves as a cell surface receptor for TIMP-2). In contrast to wild-type MT1-MMP-transfected cells, mutant MT1-MMP-transfected cells were incapable of degrading and migrating on a fibronectin substrate. These data indicate that the conserved (42)YGYL(45) sequence within the propeptide domain of MT-MMPs is required for intramolecular chaperone function of these intrinsic membrane proteinases.

Alanine↗

Huntingtin-interacting protein 1 (Hip1) and Hip1-related protein (Hip1R) bind the conserved sequence of clathrin light chains and thereby influence clathrin assembly in vitro and actin distribution in vivo.

Clathrin heavy and light chains form triskelia, which assemble into polyhedral coats of membrane vesicles that mediate transport for endocytosis and organelle biogenesis. Light chain subunits regulate clathrin assembly in vitro by suppressing spontaneous self-assembly of the heavy chains. The residues that play this regulatory role are at the N terminus of a conserved 22-amino acid sequence that is shared by all vertebrate light chains. Here we show that these regulatory residues and others in the conserved sequence mediate light chain interaction with Hip1 and Hip1R. These related proteins were previously found to be enriched in clathrin-coated vesicles and to promote clathrin assembly in vitro. We demonstrate Hip1R binding preference for light chains associated with clathrin heavy chain and show that Hip1R stimulation of clathrin assembly in vitro is blocked by mutations in the conserved sequence of light chains that abolish interaction with Hip1 and Hip1R. In vivo overexpression of a fragment of clathrin light chain comprising the Hip1R-binding region affected cellular actin distribution. Together these results suggest that the roles of Hip1 and Hip1R in affecting clathrin assembly and actin distribution are mediated by their interaction with the conserved sequence of clathrin light chains.

Actins↗

Conserved sequence motifs among bacterial, eukaryotic, and archaeal phosphatases that define a new phosphohydrolase superfamily.

Members of a new molecular family of bacterial nonspecific acid phosphatases (NSAPs), indicated as class C, were found to share significant sequence similarities to bacterial class B NSAPs and to some plant acid phosphatases, representing the first example of a family of bacterial NSAPs that has a relatively close eukaryotic counterpart. Despite the lack of an overall similarity, conserved sequence motifs were also identified among the above enzyme families (class B and class C bacterial NSAPs, and related plant phosphatases) and several other families of phosphohydrolases, including bacterial phosphoglycolate phosphatases, histidinol-phosphatase domains of the bacterial bifunctional enzymes imidazole-glycerolphosphate dehydratases, and bacterial, eukaryotic, and archaeal phosphoserine phosphatases and threalose-6-phosphatases. These conserved motifs are clustered within two domains, separated by a variable spacer region, according to the pattern [FILMAVT]-D-[ILFRMVY]-D-[GSNDE]-[TV]-[ILVAM]-[AT S VILMC]-X-¿YFWHKR)-X-¿YFWHNQ¿-X( 102,191)-¿KRHNQ¿-G-D-¿FYWHILVMC¿-¿QNH¿-¿FWYGP¿-D -¿PSNQYW¿. The dephosphorylating activity common to all these proteins supports the definition of this phosphatase motif and the inclusion of these enzymes into a superfamily of phosphohydrolases that we propose to indicate as "DDDD" after the presence of the four invariant aspartate residues. Database searches retrieved various hypothetical proteins of unknown function containing this or similar motifs, for which a phosphohydrolase activity could be hypothesized.

Acid Phosphatase↗

A screen for conserved sequences with biased base composition identifies noncoding RNAs in the A-T rich genome of Plasmodium falciparum.

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as snRNAs, snoRNAs and microRNAs play important roles in transcription and translation control. These ncRNAs have yet to be discovered in the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, an organism in which these basic biological processes are poorly understood. Inspired by a report by Klein et al., we initiated a bioinformatics screen to uncover several candidate ncRNAs from the parasite genome using two simple criteria: first, elevated GC content in the highly A-T rich intergenic regions of the P. falciparum genome and second, conservation of sequence homology between malaria parasite species. We show that all the annotated tRNAs can be successfully identified in our screen as well as several new candidates that show homology to snRNAs and snoRNAs, and ten candidate ncRNAs of unknown function. Three of the candidate snRNAs, a predicted selenocysteine tRNA and two candidates of unknown function are expressed in asexual stage parasites, further validating the screen. With these results, the biological processes underlying RNA-mediated regulation of transcription, translation and splicing can be studied in an important human pathogen.

Animals↗

Conserved sequence elements upstream of the gene encoding yeast ribosomal protein L25 are involved in transcription activation.

Previous studies have revealed the occurrence of two closely linked conserved sequence elements, designated as HOMOL 1 and RPG box, in front of most yeast ribosomal protein genes examined. To investigate whether these conserved nucleotide elements play a role in the regulation of ribosomal protein gene expression, we performed deletion analysis of the DNA region upstream of the gene encoding ribosomal protein L25. To that end we constructed a hybrid gene consisting of the pertinent 5'-flanking sequence and the Escherichia coli galK marker gene. The effects on the transcription of this fusion gene of Bal31-generated deletions were measured by Northern analysis of RNA isolated from the respective transformed yeast cells. The results demonstrate that removal of one box has a detrimental effect on the level of transcription, whereas after the deletion of both boxes hardly any transcription can be observed. Subsequently we inserted synthetic oligonucleotides in the upstream region of an L25 gene from which the original boxes had been removed. Expression of the inactivated hybrid gene turned out to be restored even by insertion of one RPG element. Moreover, the RPG box functions in both orientations, though not with equal efficiency.

Base Sequence↗

Pleiotropic effect of disrupting a conserved sequence involved in a long-range compensatory interaction in the Drosophila Adh gene.

Recent advances in experimental analyses of the evolution of RNA secondary structures suggest a more complex scenario than that typically considered by Kimura's classical model of compensatory evolution. In this study, we examine one such case in more detail. Previous experimental analysis of long-range compensatory interactions between the two ends of Drosophila Adh mRNA failed to fit the classical model of compensatory evolution. To further investigate and verify long-range pairing in Drosophila Adh with respect to models of compensatory evolution and its potential functional role, we introduced site-directed mutations in the Drosophila melanogaster Adh gene. We explore two alternative hypotheses for why previous analysis of long-range compensatory interactions failed to fit the classical model. Specifically, we investigate whether the disruption of a conserved short-range pairing within Adh exon 2 has an effect on Adh expression or if there is a dual functional role of a conserved sequence in the 3'-UTR in both long-range pairing and the negative regulation of Adh expression. We find that a classical result was not observed due to the pleiotropic effect of changing a nucleotide involved in both long-range base pairing and the negative regulation of gene expression.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Thr-431 and Arg-433 are part of a conserved sequence motif of the glutamine amidotransferase domain of CTP synthases and are involved in GTP activation of the Lactococcus lactis enzyme.

A conserved sequence motif within the class 1 glutamine amidotransferase (GATase) domain of CTP synthases was identified. The sequence motif in the Lactococcus lactis enzyme is (429)GGTLRLG(435). This motif was present only in CTP synthases and not in other enzymes that harbor the GATase domain. Therefore, it was speculated that this sequence was involved in GTP activation of CTP synthase. Other members of the GATase protein family are not activated allosterically by GTP. Residues Thr-431 and Arg-433 were changed by site directed mutagenesis to the sterically similar residues valine and methionine, respectively. The resulting enzymes, T431V and R433M, had both lost the ability for GTP to activate the uncoupled glutaminase activity and showed reduced GTP activation of the glutamine-dependent CTP synthesis reaction. The T431V enzyme had a similar activation constant, K(A), for GTP, but the activation was only 2-3-fold compared with 35-fold for the wild type enzyme. The R433M enzyme was found to have a 10-15-fold lower K(A) for GTP and a concomitant decrease in V(app). The activation by GTP of this enzyme was about 7-fold. The kinetic parameters for saturation with ATP, UTP, and NH(4)Cl were similar for wild type and mutant enzymes, except that the R433M enzyme only had half the V(app) of the wild type enzyme when NH(4)Cl was the amino donor. The mutant enzymes T431V and R433M apparently had not lost the ability to bind GTP, but the signal transmitted through the enzyme to the active sites upon binding of the allosteric effector was clearly disrupted in the mutant enzymes.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗