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Transposon-like structure of a new plasmid-encoded restriction-modification system in Rhizobium leguminosarum VF39SM.

Total DNA isolated from Rhizobium leguminosarum VF39SM cells is resistant to cleavage by the restriction endonuclease PstI. Plasmid curing and transfer studies localized this phenotype to pRleVF39b, the second smallest of six plasmids found in this bacterium. In vitro selection for vector modification was employed to isolate a presumptive methylase gene (M.Rle39BI) from a plasmid gene library. Total and plasmid DNAs isolated from E. coli containing M.RleBI were resistant to digestion by PstI. Sequence data suggested that a putative restriction endonuclease (R.Rle39BI) was also encoded on the same fragment. The two genes were flanked by identical copies of a putative insertion sequence, which was also present in several copies elsewhere in the VF39SM genome. The presence of this element in other strains examined suggested that this element is indeed an insertion sequence. The differences in G/C content between the DNA coding for the R/M system and that of the IS element suggest that this DNA region may have been acquired by horizontal transfer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular analysis of dihydropteridine reductase deficiency: identification of two novel mutations in Japanese patients.

Mutations in the dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) gene result in hyperphenylalaninaemia and deficiency of various neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, causing severe neurological symptoms. We studied two Japanese patients with DHPR deficiency and identified a missense and a splicing error mutation, respectively. A homozygous missense mutation (tryptophan36-to-arginine) was detected in patient 1. The mutation abolished DHPR activity according to in vitro expression studies. The DHPR mRNA in patient 2 was markedly decreased. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of the mRNA generated a cDNA fragment with a 152-bp insertion. The inserted sequence contained a termination codon, which was likely to affect the stability of the mRNA. Analysis of genomic DNA showed that the insertion was derived from putative intron 3 of the DHPR gene, and an intronic A-to-G substitution was present adjacent to the 3'-end of the inserted sequence. The nucleotide change generated a sequence similar to an RNA splice donor site and probably activated an upstream cryptic acceptor site, thus producing an abnormal extra exon.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Comparison of culture and PCR for detection of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis under routine laboratory conditions.

A PCR assay for the detection of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis was compared with the conventional culture method under routine laboratory conditions. Detection of B. pertussis was based on the amplification of a section of the IS481 insertion sequence and confirmation of positive results was based on a sequence of the pertussis toxin promoter region. Detection of B. parapertussis was based on the amplification of a section of the IS1001 insertion sequence. An internal control was included. Data were available for the period 28 November 2000 to 9 July 2003. In this period, 3096 patients were examined for infection with B. pertussis and B. parapertussis by culture and PCR on the same day. B. pertussis was found in 496 (16 %) patients; 208 (42 %) were diagnosed by PCR alone whereas 17 (3 %) were diagnosed by culture alone. B. parapertussis was found in 64 (2 %) patients. The sensitivity of the PCR was 97 % and of culture 58 %. The specificity of PCR was 93 % when regarding culture as 100 % sensitive. There was a significant relationship between laboratory method and age, as the superiority of PCR was most marked in the age group 0.5-3 years. The PCR assay proved highly sensitive for the diagnosis of pertussis. The specificity estimate of the PCR assay suffers from the influence of a gold-standard method with a low sensitivity. The PCR assay is considered highly specific due to the amplification of two different sequences in two separate assays.

Adolescent↗

Dissemination of CTX-M-type beta-lactamases among clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae in Paris, France.

We analyzed 19 clinical isolates of the family Enterobacteriaceae (16 Escherichia coli isolates and 3 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates) collected from four different hospitals in Paris, France, from 2000 to 2002. These strains had a particular extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance profile characterized by a higher level of resistance to cefotaxime and aztreonam than to ceftazidime. The bla(CTX-M) genes encoding these beta-lactamases were involved in this resistance, with a predominance of bla(CTX-M-15). Ten of the 19 isolates produced both TEM-1- and CTX-M-type enzymes. One strain (E. coli TN13) expressed CMY-2, TEM-1, and CTX-M-14. bla(CTX-M) genes were found on large plasmids. In 15 cases the same insertion sequence, ISEcp1, was located upstream of the 5' end of the bla(CTX-M) gene. In one case we identified an insertion sequence designated IS26. Examination of the other three bla(CTX-M) genes by cloning, sequencing, and PCR analysis revealed the presence of a complex sul1-type integron that includes open reading frame ORF513, which carries the bla gene and the surrounding DNA. Five isolates had the same plasmid DNA fingerprint, suggesting clonal dissemination of CTX-M-15-producing strains in the Paris area.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

The integrons In0, In2, and In5 are defective transposon derivatives.

The class 1 integrons In0, In2, and In5, found in different locations in pVS1, Tn21, and pSCH884, have closely related structures. All three integrons contain an insertion sequence, IS1326, that is a new member of the IS21 family. IS1326 has caused deletions of adjacent 3'-conserved segment and transposition module sequences, and all three integrons retain a complete copy of only one of four genes required for transposition of related transposons and are thus defective transposon derivatives. In2 contains an additional insertion sequence, IS1353, located within IS1326. IS1353 is a member of the IS3 family and appears to have been acquired after the integron was inserted into an ancestral mercury resistance transposon to create the ancestor of Tn21 and several other transposons that are close relatives of Tn21.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular analysis of diverse elements mediating VanA glycopeptide resistance in enterococci.

Differences were examined among 24 distinct elements mediating VanA-type glycopeptide resistance in enterococci isolated from hospital patients and non-human sources in the UK. The methods used included long-PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (L-PCR RFLP) analysis and DNA hybridization. All elements had conserved vanRSHAX genes, but variation occurred upstream of vanR and downstream of vanX. Twenty-one VanA elements had significant alterations upstream of vanR in the transposition genes orf1 and orf2: either parts of these genes were absent or they were disrupted by IS1216V or IS3-like insertion sequences. Among VanA elements with alterations downstream of vanX, seven lacked vanY, one lacked both vanY and vanZ, and ten had copies of insertion sequence IS1216V between vanX and vanY. All VanA elements of group D (from geographically and temporally diverse enterococci) were characterized by the presence of an IS1216V/IS3-like/orf1 complex and a point mutation in vanX, both of which were absent from the other 23 groups of VanA elements. This finding is consistent with the dissemination of a stable resistance element. We conclude that L-PCR RFLP analysis, combined with DNA hybridization, merits further development for studying the evolution and epidemiology of VanA resistance elements in enterococci.

Animals↗

[Growing divergence inside primate T cell lymphotropic viruses].

During our studies on the evolution of the PTLVs, we have isolated and genomically characterized two divergent simian T-lymphotropic viruses, not belonging to the previously well-established PTLV lineages. STLV-PH969 has been isolated from an Eritrean sacred baboon (Papio hamadryas), with an HTLV-like indeterminate serological profile. The entire 8916 nt long genomic sequence, was obtained from a cDNA library of PH969 mRNA, in combination with a PCR based strategy. All open reading frames (ORF) common to all HTLV related viruses could be identified without important deletions or insertions. Sequence comparison of the STLV-PH969 genomic sequence with the HTLV-I and -II prototype sequences revealed that this virus is equidistantly related to HTLV-I and -II. A phylogenetic analysis on the envelope and regulatory Tax proteins conclusively proved the ancient separation of HTLV-I, -II and STLV-PH969. Together these data provided enough evidence to justify the classification of this virus as a new type of primate T-lymphotropic virus, designated PTLV-L. We isolated a second highly divergent virus from pygmy chimpanzees (bonobo's, Pan paniscus) housed in the Antwerp Zoo. The animals infected with this virus showed an aberrant HTLV-I like serological profile. The entire 8855 nt long genomic sequence of the STLV-PP1664 provirus was obtained by sequencing of overlapping PCR fragments. On this sequence, all ORFs common to all HTLV related viruses could be identified without any important deletions or insertions. Sequence comparison showed that the STLV-PP1664 proviral sequence was related to HTLV-II and the virus is called STLV-II. However, in all genomic regions, STLV-IIPP1664 was much more divergent from any of the HTLV-II subtypes than these are from each other. In order to further investigate the genomic relationship of STLV-LPH969 and STLV-IIPP1664 with HTLV-I and -II, we also analyzed the genomic organization of the pX region, which differs between HTLV-I and HTLV-II. In the STLV-LPH969 and STLV-IIPP1664 producing cell lines, 2 and 5 viral messengers could be detected respectively, potentially expressing 3 and 5 different accessory proteins respectively. The splicing pattern and the resulting proteins differ from those of HTLV-I and HTLV-II. In the light of the growing interest for xenotransplantation, the prevalence of distinct PTLVs in the wild and their capacity to cross the species barrier deserves further attention.

Animals↗

Emergence of CTX-M-12 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in Korea.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize CTX-M-12 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) produced by clinical Escherichia coli isolates and to investigate its genetic environment. METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined by disc diffusion and agar dilution methods, and the double-disc synergy test was carried out. Detection of genes encoding class A beta-lactamases was performed by PCR amplification, and the genetic environments of the bla(CTX-M-12) genes were investigated by PCR and sequencing of the regions surrounding the genes. Kinetic parameters were determined from purified CTX-M-12. RESULTS: Sequence data for the CTX-M-1 cluster from three clinical E. coli isolates indicated the presence of CTX-M-12. An ISEcp1 insertion sequence was located 49 bp upstream of bla(CTX-M-12) in all three E. coli isolates. CTX-M-12 had a more potent hydrolytic activity against cefotaxime than against ceftazidime and was encoded on a self-transferable approximately 18 kbp plasmid. CONCLUSIONS: This work shows that CTX-M-12, which confers high-level resistance to cefotaxime but not to ceftazidime, has emerged in Korea. The bla(CTX-M-12) gene was associated with an upstream ISEcp1 insertion sequence.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Chromatin structure of recombinant Moloney murine leukemia virus proviral DNAs that contain tax-responsive sequences from human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II in the presence and absence of tax.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) are replication-competent retroviruses which contain two additional regulatory proteins, tax and rex. tax is a transcriptional transactivator of the HTLV-I or HTLV-II long terminal repeat (LTR) and also of some heterologous promoters. To investigate the mechanism of tax transactivation, we used chimeric Moloney murine leukemia viruses (M-MuLVs) with LTRs containing tax-responsive sequences from the HTLV-II LTR (nucleotides -273 to -32). Mo+HTLV-II+ M-MuLV contained the HTLV II sequences inserted into the wild-type M-MuLV LTR at nucleotide -150, whereas delta Mo+HTLV-II+ M-MuLV contained the same sequences inserted into an M-MuLV LTR lacking its own enhancer region. HTLV-II tax (tax II)-positive mouse cells (15S-5a) infected with Mo+HTLV-II+ M-MuLV or delta Mo+HTLV-II+ M-MuLV showed higher rates of viral transcription in nuclear run-on assays than did infected tax-negative NIH 3T3 cells. The chromatin structure of these viruses was investigated by high-resolution mapping of DNase I-hypersensitive (HS) sites. Three prominent HS sites were associated with HTLV-II sequences in proviral chromatin both in tax-positive and in tax-negative cells. The spacing resembled that of the 21-base-pair (bp) repeats, but the HS sites were displaced approximately 50 bp upstream of the 21-bp repeats. This suggested that cellular proteins bound to the HTLV-II sequences in the presence or absence of tax. No direct effect of tax on chromatin structure was found. These in vivo results were consistent with results of in vitro DNase footprinting studies performed by other investigators.

Animals↗

A chenopod extensin lacks repetitive tetrahydroxyproline blocks.

An extensin isolated from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) cell suspension cultures fulfills all criteria for membership of the extensin family save one, notably, lack of the ;diagnostic' pentamer Ser-Hyp-Hyp-Hyp-Hyp. However, sequence analysis of the major tryptic peptides shows that sugar beet extensin shares a motif in common with tomato extensin P1 but differs by the position of an insertion sequence [X] or [Y] which, in sugar beet, splits the tetrahydroxyproline block: Ser-Hyp-Hyp-[X]-Hyp-Hyp-Thr-Hyp-Val-Tyr-Lys, where [X] is [Val-His-Glu/Lys-Tyr-Pro], while in tomato the insertion sequence [Y] = [Val-Lys-Pro-Tyr-His-Pro] and, when it occurs, immediately follows the tetrahydroxyproline block: Ser-Hyp-Hyp-Hyp-Hyp-[Y]-Thr-Hyp-Val-Tyr-Lys. Based on these data we reinterpret three highly repetitive cDNA sequences, including nodulin N75 from soybean and wound-induced P33 of carrot, as extensins with split tetra(hydroxy)proline blocks.

Journal Article↗

Ligation amplification and fluorescence detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA.

Current methods for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are dependent upon culture of the bacteria and are necessarily lengthy due to the slow growth of this agent. The development of DNA probe technology offers rapid, accurate and cost effective alternatives for the identification of such fastidious organisms. A technique for detecting specific DNA sequences, known as oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) involves the ligation of two adjacent oligonucleotides annealed to target DNA, and has been previously described. Amplification of the target sequences can be accomplished by including complementary pairs of oligonucleotides and a thermal stable ligase in a reaction which cycles between annealing/ligation and denaturing temperatures. Using a cloned portion of an insertion sequence, IS6110, which has been reported to be specific for M. tuberculosis complex as target DNA, we demonstrate the ligation dependent amplification of a 40 base pair region of plasmid bearing IS6110. By employing oligonucleotides which are each labelled with a different fluorescent dye, the reaction can be followed by fluorescence detection on an Applied Biosystems model 373A DNA sequencer. Using this approach, we have optimized conditions for the detection of 100 target molecules in a mixture containing 4 micrograms of unrelated DNA. Since the insertion sequence is repeated on average 12-14 times in the genome of M. tuberculosis, this corresponds to a theoretical detection level of 7-8 organisms. Completion of this entire assay can be accomplished in less than 8 h and serves as a basis for further studies in the development of a rapid clinical diagnostic test for tuberculosis.

Base Sequence↗

Multiple sequence threading: conditional gap placement.

Preliminary work to improve on the gap placement in a novel multiple sequence threading method is presented here. Using the globin family, we construct measures for the assessment of gaps in a multiple sequence threading alignment based on the structural comparison of two of the proteins in the family. We take into account information from multiple sequence alignments on both the structure and sequence side of the problem. This work shows the parameterization of the problem allowing the foundation to optimize and test a gap placement weight or penalty. Four states were considered: deleted structure, inserted sequence, gap ends in structure, and broken ends in sequence. Each of these states was analyzed for exposure, occupancy and secondary structure. These measures enable us to gain insight into the placement of gaps in a multiple sequence threading alignment. We analyzed the most extreme violations of these properties and found in these cases that most secondary structures are broken by gaps. However, sequence inserts in structure were never found in deeply buried positions. Most end separations were 3-4 A in excess of the minimum 6 A, although some were larger. We show that the maximum amount of observed secondary structure found in inserts was about half of the predicted structure (typically 5 and 10%, respectively). A similar trend occurred with observed and predicted exposure in inserts. Our eventual aim is to devise a weight incorporating these measures of gap placement to further refine our algorithm for the threading of sequence on structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

IS231A insertion specificity: consensus sequence and DNA bending at the target site.

In its natural host, Bacillus thuringiensis, the insertion sequence IS231A is preferentially inserted into the terminal inverted repeats of the transposon Tn4430. Using a novel transposition assay, we demonstrate that the Tn4430 ends behave as insertion hot spots for IS231A in Escherichia coli. Sequence analysis reveals that IS231A insertion sites match the 5'-GGG(N)5CCC-3' consensus. However, this consensus is not the only determinant of IS231A insertion specificity. Although both Tn4430 ends have identical sequences, one is strongly preferred to the other and the orientation of insertion into this end is not random. We demonstrate that this preference is determined by the flanking regions of the site. These regions display a conserved periodic organization of their sequence which, by conferring anisotropic flexibility, would induce the DNA to bend in a roughly 'S'-shaped structure centered on the target consensus. DNA conformation analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indeed shows that the preferred target site of IS231A is flanked by DNA segments curved in opposite directions. We present a model in which DNA bendability and curvature would contribute to the positioning of IS231A transposase on the target DNA.

Bacillus thuringiensis↗

Mechanisms of activation of the cryptic cel operon of Escherichia coli K12.

The cel (cellobiose utilization) operon of Escherichia coli K12 is not expressed in the wild-type organism. However, mutants that can express the operon and thereby utilize the beta-glucoside sugars cellobiose, arbutin and salicin are easily isolated. Two kinds of mutations are capable of activating the operon. The first involves mutations that allow the repressor to recognize the substrates cellobiose, arbutin and salicin as inducers. We have identified the sequence changes in five different active alleles and found those differences to be single base pair changes at one of two lysine codons in the repressor gene. The second kind of mutation involves the integration of the insertion sequences IS1, IS2 or IS5 into a 108-bp region 72-180 bp upstream of the start of transcription. Integration occurs at several different sites and in different orientations. Transcription of the cel operon begins at the same base pair in all mutants examined. Of 44 independent cel+ mutants, 27 were activated by point mutations and 17 were activated by insertion sequences. The preferred mechanism of activation appears to be strain dependent, since one of the parents yielded 94% insertionally activated alleles, while another yielded 100% point mutation activated alleles.

Base Sequence↗

Genes for the ribosomal S4 protein encoded in higher plant mitochondria are transcribed, edited, and translated.

Here we describe the structure and expression of the mitochondrial gene that encodes the S4 subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome (rps4) in two higher plants, rapeseed and rice. The ORFs of rapeseed and rice rps4 genes are 362 and 352 codons long, respectively, and their corresponding transcripts are edited (C-to-U conversions) in 19 and 15 positions, respectively. The amino acid sequences deduced from the sequences of the two rps4 genes are 78.1% identical to each other and show about 50% identity to the liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha) mitochondrial RPS4 polypeptide. Both higher plant mitochondrial genes have an inserted sequence (of 137 and 141 codons for rapeseed and rice, respectively) relative to the liverwort rps4 gene. In rice rps4, the 3' portion of the inserted sequence can potentially form two stem-loop structures that resemble two domains characteristic of group II introns, i.e., domains V and VI. However, RT-PCR analysis showed that these sequences were not spliced out during maturation of the rps4 transcripts. Antibodies specific for the plant RPS4 proteins were prepared. Protein blot analysis revealed that RPS4 polypeptides are present in both rapeseed and rice mitochondria, whose sizes are in agreement with the molecular weights calculated from the non-spliced sequences. The rps4 genes and RPS4 polypeptides have been also identified in the mitochondria of wheat, maize, soybean, and turnip by Southern and Western analyses, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The human tyrosine hydroxylase gene.

1. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is a rate-limiting enzyme for catecholamine biosynthesis, and it is a pterin-requiring monooxygenase. Both cDNAs and genomic DNA of human TH have been cloned and the nucleotide sequence has been determined. 2. Four similar but distinct mRNAs encode human TH. The results of Southern blot analysis and the nucleotide sequence of the human TH genomic DAN indicate that the four types of human TH mRNA are produced through alternative splicing from a single gene. 3. The human TH gene was split into 4 exons and 13 introns. The 12-bp insertion sequence is encoded by the 3'-terminal portion of the first exon. The 81-bp insertion sequence corresponds to the second exon. Two kinds of alternative splicing are involved: the alternative use of two donor sites in the first exon and the inclusion/exclusion of the second exon. 4. The four types (type 1-4) were expressed in COS cells, and all had enzymatic activities. The type 1 enzyme had the highest homospecific activity (activity per enzyme protein), the values for the other enzymes ranging from 30 to 40%. The Km values of the four types for L-tyrosine and 6-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterin were similar.

Base Sequence↗