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Sequence of the cellular T-DNA in the untransformed genome of Nicotiana glauca that is homologous to ORFs 13 and 14 of the Ri plasmid and analysis of its expression in genetic tumours of N. glauca x N. langsdorffii.

A region homologous to the TL-DNA of Agrobacterium rhizogenes was previously detected in the genome of untransformed Nicotiana glauca and designated cellular T-DNA (cT-DNA). Subsequently, part of this region was sequenced and two genes, which corresponded to rolB and rolC and were named NgrolB and NgrolC, were found. We have now sequenced a region of the cT-DNA other than the region that includes NgrolB and C and we have found two other open reading frames (ORFs), NgORF13 and NgORF14. These ORFs correspond to ORFs 13 and 14 of the TL-DNA of A. rhizogenes and exhibit a high degree of homology to these ORFs, without having a nonsense codon. We have not found any sequence homologous to rolD (ORF15). The two genes, NgORF13 and 14, as well as the NgrolB and C genes, are expressed in genetic tumors of hybrids between N. glauca and N. langsdorffii but not in leaf tissues of the hybrid.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The byp1-3 allele of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GGS1/TPS1 gene and its multi-copy suppressor tRNA(GLN) (CAG): Ggs1/Tps1 protein levels restraining growth on fermentable sugars and trehalose accumulation.

Byp1-3 is an amber nonsense allele of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GGS1/TPS1 gene which encodes the small subunit of the trehalose synthase complex. Mutations in this gene confer an inability to grow on glucose or fructose but the phenotype of byp1-3 mutants is leaky in a strain-dependent manner. Overexpression of the isolated byp1-3 allele suppressed the growth defect of a ggs1/tps1 delta mutant. Expression of an in-vitro-generated mutant allele of GGS1/TPS1 that lacks all the coding sequences downstream from the byp1-3 mutation led to the production of a shortened protein that did not complement the ggs1/tps1 delta mutant. We have isolated, as an allele-specific multi-copy suppressor of the growth defect of the byp1-3 mutant on fructose, the gene for tRNA(GLN) (CAG). Thus the leaky phenotype of byp1-3 mutants is due to a low level of read through of the internal nonsense codon by tRNA(GLN) (CAG). Using overexpression of the isolated byp1-3 allele, as well as of the tRNA(GLN) (CAG) gene, we were able to demonstrate that as little as about 10% of the normal Ggs1/Tps1 protein level is sufficient for slow growth on fructose. We also show a correlation between the level of Ggs1/Tps1, the ability to accumulate trehalose in stationary phase and the ability to grow on fermentable sugars. Sequence analysis of the cloned tRNA(GLN) (CAG) gene showed that it is located 700 bp upstream of URA10. However, we found considerable differences to the reported sequence of URA10, in particular in the non-coding region.

Alleles↗

Ribosomal recessive suppressors cause a respiratory deficiency in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Recessive suppressor mutations in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae alter a component of the cytoplasmic ribosomes, relaxing the control of translational fidelity. As a consequence ribosomes can misread nonsense codons as amino acids (Surguchov et al. 1980a). The suppressor mutants are often respiratory deficient, being unable to grow on non-fermentable substrates. The study of the cytochrome spectra has revealed that the cytochrome b and aa3 contents were lower in the mutants than in the parent strains. Furthermore, the suppressor mutations often cause hypersensitivity to paromomycin and neomycin on media with a non-fermentable source of carbon. Some of the suppressor mutants exhibited both erythromycin and chloramphenicol-dependent growth on media containing ethanol or glycerol as a sole carbon source. These results suggest that the mutations altering cytoplasmic ribosomes may simultaneously impair the mitochondrial translation. A coupling of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial protein synthesis in yeast cells is proposed. The existence of a common protein component participating both in mitochondrial and cytoplasmic protein synthesis apparatus is discussed.

Cytochromes↗

Mutagenesis by aflatoxin in M13 DNA: base-substitution mechanisms and the origin of strand bias.

The two goals of the experiments described here are: (a) to examine whether there is a strand bias in mutagenic processing of bulky lesions in M13 replicative form (RF) DNA, and (b) to examine the mutational mechanisms of metabolically activated aflatoxin. For these experiments, two types of nicked heteroduplex M13 RF DNA molecules (+WT/-am1 and +am1/-WT) in which either the minus (-) or the plus (+) strand carried a gene 1 amber nonsense codon, were constructed. Heteroduplex DNAs were modified in vitro with aflatoxin B1 activated by hamster liver S9 enzymes, and transfected into SOS(UV)-induced Escherichia coli (Supo/uvrA-/mucAB+). Forward mutations in the lacZ alpha-complementing gene segment were scored and sequenced. Results indicated that aflatoxin-induced mutation frequencies in the +WT/-am1 heteroduplex were significantly greater than those in the +am1/-WT heteroduplex, suggesting more efficient mutagenic processing of lesions in the plus strand. These results permit specific suggestions for improved mutation detection in the extensively used M13 forward mutagenesis system. Sequence analysis of point mutations from the +WT/-am1 experiments showed that most substitutions were targeted to plus-strand guanines. Both G-to-A transitions and G-to-T transversions were induced with equal efficiency. Since activated aflatoxin B1 is known to react almost exclusively with DNA guanines at the N7 position, these results suggest that bulky lesions at guanine N7 position may have the properties of mis-instructional as well as non-instructional lesions.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Unusual suppression properties of lysogens containing derivatives of phi 80 psu3+.

Nonsense codon suppressing lysogens of E. coli have been made using phi 80 psu3+-A2 and phi 80 psuoc+-A2, heat-sensitive amber and ochre suppressing derivatives, respectively, of bacteriophage phi 80. The various lysogens selected differ in strength of suppression as well as in heat sensitivity of suppressor function. Heat-resistant derivatives, some still carrying the A2 mutation, can be selected from the heat sensitive parents. Mapping experiments indicate that the phi 80 derivatives integrate at the tyrTV locus, which contains two copies of tRNA1Tyr. The origin of the various suppressor phenotypes appears to be related to the great variety of distinctive recombination events possible either between the incoming tRNA1Tyr gene and the host copies, or among the three copies of this gene in the lysogens.

Bacteriophages↗

Dependence of expression of an inducible Staphylococcus aureus cat gene on the translation of its leader sequence.

The gene for chloramphenicol (Cm) acetyltransferase (CAT) carried by the staphylococcal plasmid pUB112, whose expression can be stimulated by Cm, is preceded by a regulatory region containing two control elements. One of these consists of a Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence followed by an open reading frame coding for a leader peptide of nine amino acids. Previous work has shown that the SD sequence is essential for inducibility of Cm resistance by the antibiotic (Brückner and Matzura 1985). Here we demonstrate that fusion of the leader peptide coding sequence to a truncated 'lacZ gene results in synthesis of a leader peptide-beta-galactosidase fusion protein. Introduction of an ochre nonsense codon into the reading frame of the leader peptide sequence leads to considerable reduction of the basal expression and loss of inducibility of the cat gene. These results reveal that synthesis of the leader peptide is required for the basal and inducible expression of the cat gene and support the model of translational attenuation for its regulation.

Acetyltransferases↗

The requirement of nonsense suppression for the development of several phages.

A spontaneous streptomycin-resistant Escherichia coli mutant which is temperature-sensitive for suppression of a nonsense codon was studied for its ability to propagate phages T2, T4D, T5, phi K, f2, MS2, R17, Q beta, lambda as well as filamentous phages fl, fd and M13. Of all phages tested, only the growth of Q beta, lambda, and filamentous phages is inhibited in the mutant at 42 degree C. This selective inhibition suggests that, like Q beta, lambda and filamentous phages also require a read-through proten(s) which results from suppression of a termination codon.

Coliphages↗

Restoration of polarity by N-deficiency in lambda phage containing a translocated trp operon segment.

When translation of trp mRNA is terminated by a nonsense codon or by antibiotics like chloramphenicol, the amount of the mRNA distal to the blocked ribosomes is found at much lower levels ("polarity"). Polarity is alleviated when the trp mRNA is formed as part of a long transcript from the phage lambda promoter PL (Segawa and Imamoto, 1974; Franklin, 1974); but the relief of polarity is itself largely dependent on the lambda protein N. In a phage that joins the trp operon segment (trpD, C, B A) to a point distal to the N gene, lacking the tL site, synthesis of trp mRNA starting at the PL promoter continues even when translation is generally inhibited by chloramphenicol, but in the absence of functional N gene product synthesis of the mRNA can be blocked by the antibiotic. Unexpectedly, in the absence of N function, even when translation is occurring, weak termination of transcription occurs at some sites in the translocated trp operon.

Chloramphenicol↗

The antidote and autoregulatory functions of the F plasmid CcdA protein: a genetic and biochemical survey.

The ccd operon of the F plasmid contributes to the high stability of the episome by postsegregational killing of plasmid-free bacteria. It contains two genes, ccdA and ccdB, which are negatively autoregulated at the level of transcription, probably by a complex comprising the two gene products. Using the bacterial gyrA462 CcdB resistance mutation and a Pccd-lacZ transcriptional fusion, we have obtained evidence that the CcdB protein by itself has no regulatory activity or operator DNA-binding affinity and needs CcdA in order to effect transcriptional control. The ccd killing mechanism is based on the poison-antidote principle. The CcdB protein is cytotoxic, poisoning DNA-gyrase complexes, while CcdA antagonizes this activity. In order to define functional domains of the CcdA antidote involved in the anti-killer effect, autoregulation or both, we introduced several missense or amber mutations into the CcdA protein by directed mutagenesis. We report on missense CcdA proteins that have lost their autoregulatory properties but are still able to antagonize the lethal activity of CcdB. We show that the five carboxy-terminal amino acid residues of the antidote protein are not required for the antidote effect or for autoregulation. Several missense CcdA polypeptides were generated by suppression of nonsense codons. Two substitutions lead to CcdB-promoted killing: glutamine 33-->cysteine and glutamine 33-->phenylalanine.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The revised genetic code.

Recent findings on the genetic code are reviewed, including selenocysteine usage, deviations in the assignments of sense and nonsense codons, RNA editing, natural ribosomal frameshifts and non-orthodox codon-anticodon pairings. A multi-stage codon reading process is presented.

Genetic Code↗

Yeast as a sensor of factors affecting the accuracy of protein synthesis.

The cell monitors and maintains the fidelity of translation during the three stages of protein synthesis: initiation, elongation and termination. Errors can arise by multiple mechanisms, such as altered start site selection, reading frame shifts, misincorporation or nonsense codon suppression. All of these events produce incorrect protein products. Translational accuracy is affected by both cis- and trans-acting elements that insure the proper peptide is synthesized by the protein synthetic machinery. Many cellular components are involved in the accuracy of translation, including RNAs (transfer RNAs, messenger RNAs and ribosomal RNAs) and proteins (ribosomal proteins and translation factors). The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven an ideal system to study translational fidelity by integrating genetic approaches with biochemical analysis. This review focuses on the ways studies in yeast have contributed to our understanding of the roles translation factors and the ribosome play in assuring the accuracy of protein synthesis.

Peptide Elongation Factors↗

Loss of the gene for the alpha subunit of ATP synthase (ATP5A1) from the W chromosome in the African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus).

This study describes the results of an analysis using Southern blotting, the polymerase chain reaction, and sequencing which shows that the African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) lacks the W-chromosomal gene for the alpha subunit of mitochondrial ATP synthase (ATP5A1W). Additional evidence shows that in other psittacines a fragment of the ATP5A1W gene contains five times as many nonsynonymous nucleotide replacements as the homologous fragment of the Z gene. Therefore, whereas in these other psittacines the corresponding ATP5A1Z protein fragment is highly conserved and varies by only a few, moderately conservative amino acid substitutions, the homologous ATP5A1W fragments contain a considerable number of, sometimes highly nonconservative, amino acid replacements. In one of these species, the ringneck parakeet (Psittacula krameri), the ATP5A1W gene is present in an inactive form because of the presence of a nonsense codon. Other changes, possibly leading to an inactive ATP5A1W gene product, involve the substitution of arginine residues by cysteine in the ATP5A1W protein of the mitred conure (Aratinga mitrata) and the blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna). The data suggest also that although the divergence of the psittacine ATP5A1W and ATP5A1Z genes preceded the origin of the psittacidae, this divergence occurred independently of a similar process in the myna (Gracula religiosa), the outgroup used in this study.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of exon and intron mutants in the cytochrome b mitochondrial gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The nucleotide changes present in a group of five cytochrome b mit- mutants were analyzed at the sequence level. Two single-base changes were found: one (M10-152) generated a nonsense codon in the first exon while the other (M8-181) created a missense substitution in the second exon. The other mutants all have multiple (three) substitutions that either resulted in a missense mutation in a coding region (M17-162) or else changed nucleotides in the last intron of the gene, so blocking its excision (M6-200 and M8-53). The synthesis of mitochondrial polypeptides and the steady state concentration of the complex-III subunits were examined. The Rieske protein and the core-4 and core-5 subunits were much reduced in all mutants. Consequently the overall stability of complex III is very sensitive even to amino-acid substitutions in the cytochrome b protein. Mutant M8-53 provides direct evidence for the proposed role of the P9.1 stem in the core structure of the group-I type last intron of this gene.

Apoproteins↗

REO1 and ROX1 are alleles of the same gene which encodes a transcriptional repressor of hypoxic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Both the REO1 and ROX1 genes are thought to encode heme-dependent, transcriptional repressors of hypoxic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, genetic complementation studies have yielded conflicting results about whether these are the same or different genes. Because of the central importance of these repressors, which control the expression of nearly all known hypoxic genes in yeast, we have sought to resolve this confusion by comparing the phenotypes of reo1 and rox1 mutants using Northern-blot analyses, performing additional complementation studies, and sequencing the ROX1 gene in reo1 strains. Northern-blot analyses of a reo1 strain show wild-type expression of the aerobic genes examined, but de-repression of the Rox1-regulated, hypoxic genes. Aerobic transcript levels of these hypoxic genes were also de-repressed in a diploid strain created by mating a rox1 disrupted strain with a reo1 strain, indicating that genetic complementation did not occur between these two strains. Sequence analyses of ROX1 in reo1 strains reveal a frame-shift mutation in the 5'-end of its coding region, resulting in a nonsense codon in the sixth position. Taken together, these results provide compelling evidence that reo1 is an allele of ROX1.

Aerobiosis↗

Characterisation of fission yeast alp11 mutants defines three functional domains within tubulin-folding cofactor B.

The proper folding of tubulins prior to their incorporation into microtubules requires a group of conserved proteins called cofactors A to E. In fission yeast, homologues of these cofactors (at least B, D and E) are necessary for the biogenesis of microtubules and for cell viability. Here we show that the temperature-sensitive alp11-924 mutant, which is defective in the cofactor B homologue, contains an opal nonsense mutation, which results in the production of a truncated Alp11B protein (Alp11(1-118). We isolated a tRNA(Trp) gene as a multicopy suppressor of this mutation, which rescues alp11-924 by read-through of the nonsense codon. The truncated Alp1-118 protein lacks the C-terminal half of Alp11B, consisting of a central coiled-coil region and the distal CLIP-170 domain found in a number of proteins involved in microtubule functions. Both of these domains are required for the maintenance of microtubule architecture in vivo. Detailed functional analyses lead us to propose that Alp11B comprises three functional domains: the N-terminal half executes the essential function, the central coiled-coil region is necessary for satisfactory maintenance of cellular alpha-tubulin levels, and the C-terminal CLIP-170 domain is required for efficient binding to alpha-tubulin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of genetic factors related to preferential selection of the NSP1 gene segment observed in mixed infection and multiple passage of rotaviruses.

Reassortment is one of the major evolutionary mechanisms of the rotavirus genome. Preferential selection (assortment) of the NSP1 gene segment from either of the parental viruses after coinfection of these viruses has been reported as a notable finding in reassortment. To analyze genetic factors which are associated with preferential selection of the rotavirus NSP1 gene segment into progeny viruses, mixed infection and multiple passages were performed using two panels of rotaviruses, i.e., bovine rotavirus A5 clones, and simian rotavirus SA11 and five strains of SA11-based single NSP1 gene-substitution reassortants. In the first experiment, three A5 clones (A5-10, A5-13, and A5-16) that had genetically distinct NSP1 genes in the same genetic background were used. In coinfection of these A5 clones, it was noted that the A5-10 NSP1 gene, which encodes an incomplete protein product due to presence of a nonsense codon at an unusual position, was selected more preferentially than the A5-13 NSP1 gene with intact length and structure. The A5-16 NSP1 gene, with a deletion of 500 bp, was least efficiently selected. In the second experiment, we prepared two reassortants, SOF and SRF, which have NSP1 genes from rotavirus strains OSU and RRV, respectively, in the genetic background of SA11, which were used together with previously prepared reassortants SKF, SDF, and SNF, which had NSP1 genes from strains KU, DS1, and K9, respectively. Among the 6 NSP1 genes analyzed, the NSP1 gene from SKF was most preferentially selected, followed by SNF, SOF, SDF, SA11, and SRF, in that order. Although SOF exhibited less growth efficacy than SA11, the growth rates of other reassortants were similar to that of SA11. These findings suggest that for the occurrence of preferential selection of the NSP1 gene, production of the intact NSP1 protein may not be involved, but the presence of intact length of the NSP1 gene may be required. Furthermore, it was also found that genetic similarity based on primary structure of this gene is not related to the selectivity of the NSP1 gene.

Animals↗

Analysis on reassortment of rotavirus NSP1 genes lacking coding region for cysteine-rich zinc finger motif.

Rotavirus clones A5-10 and A5-16 isolated from a bovine rotavirus strain A5 possess NSP1 gene which has a point mutation generating a nonsense codon and a 500 base-deletion, respectively. As a result, the two A5 clones encode truncated NSP1 product which lacks cysteine-rich region forming zinc finger motif. In order to analyze reassortment of these mutated NSP1 gene with RNA segments from heterologous strains, we investigated a number of reassortant clones derived from coinfection with either A5-10, A5-16 or a reference strain A5-13 (possessing intact NSP1 gene) and either simian rotavirus SA11 or human rotavirus KU. In coinfection with SA11 and A5-13, selection rates of A5-13 segments in reassortants ranged approximately from 20 to 70% (46% for NSP1 gene). In contrast, in the reassortment between SA11 and A5-10 or between SA11 and A5-16, selection rates of NSP1 gene from A5-10 and A5-16 were only 1% (one clone) and 0%, respectively. In reassortants from crosses KU x A5-clones, selection rate of A5-13 NSP1 gene decreased to 15%, while 11 reassortants with A5-10 NSP1 gene (31%) and one reassortant with A5-16 NSP1 gene (2%) were isolated. Reassortants with A5-10 NSP1 possessed a single gene (segment 9 or 11) from KU in the genetic background of A5-10. One reassortant clone (cl-55) with A5-16 NSP1 gene possessed KU gene segments 3, 4, and 8-11. When single-step growth curves were compared, the reassortant cl-55 showed almost identical growth curve to that of KU, while KU showed a better replication than A5-16. These results indicated that although A5-10 or A5-16 NSP1 gene encoding the truncated NSP1 is selected into reassortants much less efficiently than normal NSP1 gene, the reassortants with the mutated NSP1 gene and RNA segments from heterologous strains normally replicated in cultured cells. Thus, cysteine-rich region of NSP1 was not considered essential for genome segment reassortment with heterologous virus.

Animals↗

Molecular characterization of galactokinase deficiency in Japanese patients.

Galactokinase (GALK) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder, which causes cataract formation in children not maintained on a lactose-free diet. We characterized the human GALK gene by screening a Japanese genomic DNA phage library, and found that several nucleotides in the 5'-untranslated region and introns 1,2, and 5 in our GALK genomic analysis differed from published data. A 20-bp tandem repeat was found in three places in intron 5, which were considered insertion sequences. We identified five novel mutations in seven unrelated Japanese patients with GALK deficiency. There were three missense mutations and two deletions. All three missense mutations (R256W, T344M, and G349S) occurred at CpG dinucleotides, and the T344M and G349S mutations occurred in the conserved region. The three missense mutations led to a drastic reduction in GALK activity when individual mutant cDNAs were expressed in a mammalian cell system. These findings indicated that these missense mutations caused GALK deficiency. The two deletions, of 410delG and 509-510delGT, occurred at the nucleotide repeats GGGGGG and GTGTGT, respectively, and resulted in in-frame nonsense codons at amino acids 163 and 201. These mutations arose by slipped strand mispairing. All five mutations occurred at hot spots in the CpG dinucleotide for missense mutations and in short direct repeats for deletions. These five mutations in Japanese have not yet been identified in Caucasians. We speculate that the origin of GALK mutations in Japanese is different from that in Caucasians.

Adolescent↗