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The role of the transposable element hobo in the origin of endemic inversions in wild populations of Drosophila melanogaster.

Evidence from in situ hybridizations of DNA from the transposable element hobo to polytene salivary gland chromosome squashes reveals that hobo occupies both cytological breakpoints of three of four endemic inversions sampled from natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster in the Hawaiian islands. The fourth endemic inversion has a single hobo insert at one breakpoint. Cosmopolitan inversions on the same chromosomes do not show this association. Frequencies of both endemic and cosmopolitan inversions in Hawaiian populations fall in ranges typical for natural populations of D. melanogaster sampled worldwide, suggesting that these results may be typical of other regions besides Hawaii. This appears to be the first direct demonstration that transposable elements are responsible for causing specific rearrangements found in nature; consequently, it is also the first direct demonstration that chromosome rearrangements can arise in nature in a manner predicted by results of hybrid dysgenic crosses in the laboratory. Possible population genetic and evolutionary consequences are discussed.

Animals↗

An inverse PCR screen for the detection of P element insertions in cloned genomic intervals in Drosophila melanogaster.

We developed a screening approach that utilizes an inverse polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect P element insertions in or near previously cloned genes in Drosophila melanogaster. We used this approach in a large scale genetic screen in which P elements were mobilized from sites on the X chromosome to new autosomal locations. Mutagenized flies were combined in pools, and our screening approach was used to generate probes corresponding to the sequences flanking each site of insertion. These probes then were used for hybridization to cloned genomic intervals, allowing individuals carrying insertions in them to be detected. We used the same approach to perform repeated rounds of sib-selection to generate stable insertion lines. We screened 16,100 insert bearing individuals and recovered 11 insertions in five intervals containing genes encoding members of the kinesin superfamily in Drosophila melanogaster. In addition, we recovered an insertion in the region including the Larval Serum Protein-2 gene. Examination by Southern hybridization confirms that the lines we recovered represent genuine insertions in the corresponding genomic intervals. Our data indicates that this approach will be very efficient both for P element mutagenesis of new genomic regions and for detection and recovery of "local" P element transposition events. In addition, our data constitutes a survey of preferred P element insertion sites in the Drosophila genome and suggests that insertion sites that are mutable at a rate of approximately 10(-4) are distributed every 40-50 kb.

Animals↗

A familial balanced inverted insertion ins(15)(q15q13q11.2) producing Prader-Willi syndrome, Angelman syndrome and duplication of 15q11.2-q13 in a single family: Importance of differentiation from a paracentric inversion.

We reascertained a family in which first cousins were affected by Angelman syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome. A paracentric inversion of 15q11-q15 had previously been reported in this family but we show, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), that the rearrangement segregating in this family is not a paracentric inversion but an inverted intrachromosomal insertion, inv ins(15)(q15q13q11.2). We also describe a further recombinant resulting in a maternal duplication of the Prader-Willi/Angelman critical region. This family illustrates the importance of distinguishing paracentric inversions from intrachromosomal insertions.

Adolescent↗

Changes in gene order and gene expression.

Studies on changes in gene position in germ line and somatic cell chromosomes during evolution and differentiation have led biologists to abandon the static view of chromosomes as invariant linear arrays of hereditary information. Prokaryotic cells contain several classes of DNA insertion elements which move from place to place in the genome and mediate chromosome rearrangements. Similar elements exist in a wide variety of eukaryotic organisms (yeasts, insects, plants, and vertebrates). In addition, both reversible and irreversible changes of chromosome primary structure provide developmental controls on gene activity in bacteria, bacteriophages, yeasts, trypanosomes, and mammalian lymphocytes. At least five recombination mechanisms are known to catalyze chromosome changes: 1) general homologous, 2) site-specific reciprocal, 3) illegitimate, 4) DNA splicing, and 5) replicative. Various combinations of these mechanisms can explain many different chromosome rearrangements and changes in gene dosage. Changes in gene position can alter gene expression in many ways, some of which we understand (such as insertional mutation and inversion of coding and regulatory sequences) and some of which are still unexplained. The activities of DNA insertion elements and somatic rearrangement systems are subjects to controls at several levels by specific regulatory systems, natural selection, and connection to cell lineage. Despite the recent increase in knowledge about the biological importance of changes in gene order on chromosomes, there are far more questions than answers, particularly about the mechanisms that coordinate recombination events and cell division in higher organisms.

Animals↗

Amino-terminal region of SecA is involved in the function of SecG for protein translocation into Escherichia coli membrane vesicles.

Protein translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli is accomplished by concerted actions of the translocation ATPase SecA and the membrane-embedded SecE/Y/G complex. SecA interacts with preproteins and undergoes ATP-driven cycles of membrane insertion-deinsertion. To address how SecA interacts functionally with other components in the translocation machinery, we characterized a SecA mutant lacking amino-terminal 8 amino acid residues (SecA N-8). Although the absence of the 8 residues did not grossly affect the interaction of SecA with a preprotein, ATP, or phospholipids, nor did it affect the intrinsic ATPase activity, it gave differential effects on the translocation of different preproteins. It also affected the translocation ATPase activity, the ability of membrane insertion, and the topology inversion of SecG coupled with the membrane insertion-deinsertion of SecA. Most noteworthy, SecA N-8 was pronouncedly defective in the translocation of proton motive force-dependent preproteins, in which SecG might have a role. We propose that the amino-terminal region of SecA is important for the functional interaction with SecG.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Remarkable site specificity of local transposition into the Hsp70 promoter of Drosophila melanogaster.

Heat-shock genes have numerous features that ought to predispose them to insertional mutagenesis via transposition. To elucidate the evolvability of heat-shock genes via transposition, we have exploited a local transposition technique and Drosophila melanogaster strains with EPgy2 insertions near the Hsp70 gene cluster at 87A7 to produce numerous novel EPgy2 insertions into these Hsp70 genes. More than 50% of 45 independent insertions were made into two adjacent nucleotides in the proximal promoter at positions -96 and -97, and no insertions were into a coding or 3'-flanking sequence. All inserted transposons were in inverse orientation to the starting transposon. The frequent insertion into nucleotides -96 and -97 is consistent with the DNase hypersensitivity, absence of nucleosomes, flanking GAGA-factor-binding sites, and nucleotide sequence of this region. These experimental insertions recapitulated many of the phenotypes of natural transposition into Hsp70: reduced mRNA expression, less Hsp70 protein, and decreased inducible thermotolerance. The results suggest that the distinctive features of heat-shock promoters, which underlie the massive and rapid expression of heat-shock genes upon heat shock, also are a source of evolutionary variation on which natural selection can act.

Animals↗

Analysis of large structural changes of the factor VIII gene, involving intron 1 and 22, in severe hemophilia A.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hemophilia A (HA), the deficiency of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII), is the most common, sex-linked inherited bleeding disorder. The disease is caused by FVIII gene intron 22 inversion in approximately 50% of the patients, and by intron 1 inversion in 5% of the patients with severe HA. Both inversions occur as a result of intrachromosomal recombination between homologous regions, in intron 1 or 22, and their extragenic copy located telomeric to the FVIII gene. The goal of the present study was to analyze the presence of large structural changes in the FVIII gene in patients with severe hemophilia A. DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied 104 unrelated, severe HA-patients or obligate carriers for the presence of intron 22 and intron 1 inversions by Southern blotting, long-distance polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and simple PCR. RESULTS: We found altered intron 22 restriction profiles by Southern analyses in 58 cases: 43 type 1, 11 type 2 inversions and 4 unusual patterns. Upon further examination of the last 4 cases, large deletions involving intron 22 were demonstrated in two cases. In the remaining two patients extra homologous regions were detected by Southern analysis, and long-distance PCR showed the presence of unaltered intra- and extragenic copies together with one inversion-affected copy, suggesting that an additional intronic fragment participated in the inversion process and was inserted in the genome. During screening for intron 1 inversion among 43 patients, who were intron 22 inversion negative, we identified only wild type individuals. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: The relatively large proportion of unusual patterns further supports the observation that the structure of FVIII intron 22 represents a hot spot for large gene rearrangements with various mechanisms, while intron 1 inversion seems to be not common in Hungary.

Adolescent↗

Machinery to support genome segment inversion exists in a herpesvirus which does not naturally contain invertible elements.

In many herpesviruses, genome segments flanked by inverted repeats invert during DNA replication. It is not known whether this inversion is a consequence of an inherently recombinagenic replicative mechanism common to all herpesviruses or whether the replication enzymes of viruses with invertible segments have specifically evolved additional enzymatic activities to drive inversion. By artificially inserting a fusion of terminal sequences into the genome of a virus which normally lacks invertible elements (murine cytomegalovirus), we created a genome composed of long and short segments flanked by 1,359- and 543-bp inverted repeats. Analysis of genomic DNA from this virus revealed that inversion of both segments generates equimolar amounts of four isomers during the viral propagation necessary to produce DNA for analysis from a single viral particle. We conclude that a herpesvirus which naturally lacks invertible elements is able to support efficient segment inversion. Thus, the potential to invert is probably inherent in the replication machinery of all herpesviruses, irrespective of genome structure, and therefore genomes with invertible elements could have evolved simply by acquisition of inverted repeats and without concomitant evolution of enzymatic activities to mediate inversion. Furthermore, the recombinagenicity of herpesvirus DNA replication must have some importance independent of genome segment inversion.

Animals↗

Heterogeneity of breakpoints of 11q23 rearrangements in hematologic malignancies identified with fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Twenty-four patients whose cells contained a variety of 11q23 rearrangements, including translocations, insertions, and an inversion, were studied using fluorescence in situ hybridization with cosmid, phage, and plasmid probes mapped to 11q22-24. In 17 patients, the breakpoints of the common 11q23 translocations involving chromosomes 4, 6, 9, and 19 as well as some uncommon translocations involving 3q23, 17q25, 10p11, and an insertion 10;11 were all located in the breakpoint cluster region of the MLL gene, regardless of age, phenotype of disease, or involvement of a third chromosome. The breakpoints in 11q23 in the other 7 patients with a t(7;11)(p15;q23), inv(11)(p11q23), t(4;11)(q23;q23), der(5)t(5;11)(q13;q23), ins(10;11)(p11;q23q24), t(11;14)(q23;q11), or t(11;18;11) (p15;q21;q23) were located either centromeric to CD3D or telomeric to THY1. Thus, although most 11q23 rearrangements, involve the same breakpoint cluster region of MLL, there is heterogeneity in the breakpoint in some of the rare rearrangements.

Adolescent↗

Detecting frame shifts by amino acid sequence comparison.

Various amino acid substitution scoring matrices are used in conjunction with local alignments programs to detect regions of similarity and infer potential common ancestry between proteins. The usual scoring schemes derive from the implicit hypothesis that related proteins evolve from a common ancestor by the accumulation of point mutations and that amino acids tend to be progressively substituted by others with similar properties. However, other frequent single mutation events, like nucleotide insertion or deletion and gene inversion, change the translation reading frame and cause previously encoded amino acid sequences to become unrecognizable at once. Here, I derive five new types of scoring matrix, each capable of detecting a specific frame shift (deletion, insertion and inversion in 3 frames) and use them with a regular local alignments program to detect amino acid sequences that may have derived from alternative reading frames of the same nucleotide sequence. Frame shifts are inferred from the sole comparison of the protein sequences. The five scoring matrices were used with the BLASTP program to compare all the protein sequences in the Swissprot database. Surprisingly, the searches revealed hundreds of highly significant frame shift matches, of which many are likely to represent sequencing errors. Others provide some evidence that frame shift mutations might be used in protein evolution as a way to create new amino acid sequences from pre-existing coding regions.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Hobo transposons causing chromosomal breakpoints.

Several laboratory surveys have shown that transposable elements (TEs) can cause chromosomal breaks and lead to inversions, as in dysgenic crosses involving P-elements. However, it is not presently clear what causes inversions in natural populations of Drosophila. The only direct molecular studies must be taken as evidence against the involvement of mobile elements. Here, in Drosophila lines transformed with the hobo transposable element, and followed for 100 generations, we show the appearance of five different inversions with hobo inserts at breakpoints. Almost all breakpoints occurred in hobo insertion sites detected in previous generations. Therefore, it can be assumed that such elements are responsible for restructuring genomes in natural populations.

Animals↗

Detection of an Alu insertion in the POMT1 gene from three French Walker Warburg syndrome families.

Walker Warburg syndrome (WWS) is the most severe of a group of multiple congenital disorders known as lissencephaly type II ( LIS Type II) associated with congenital muscular dystrophy and eye abnormalities. The POMT1 gene is the most frequently affected found in 20% of patients with WWS. We describe five fetuses with WWS in three non-related families carrying a same mutation in the POMT1 gene. All fetuses presented with tetra ventricular hydrocephaly, and arachnoidal neuroglial ectopia and cortical dysplasia characteristic of LIS type II. We performed sequencing of the POMT1 gene on fetal DNA. The five fetuses were found to share an insertion of an inversed Alu repeated DNA element within exon 3 of the POMT1 gene, all at the heterozygous state except one at the homozygous state. This mutation was associated with a common transition c.2203 C > T (p.Arg735Cys) in exon 20 on the same allele and similar intragenic haplotype, suggesting that the three families could be related or indicating a possible founder effect in France. Insertions of Alu sequences, which are rarely found in coding regions, have occasionally been reported to cause other genetic diseases. However, this is the first report of a retrotransposon insertion in the POMT1 gene associated with WWS.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Molecular dissection of a contiguous gene syndrome: localization of the genes involved in the Langer-Giedion syndrome.

The Langer-Giedion syndrome (tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome type II, TRPS II) is characterized by craniofacial dysmorphism and skeletal abnormalities. It combines the clinical features of TRPS I and multiple cartilaginous exostoses (EXT). We have used YAC cloning, Southern blotting, PCR analysis, and fluorescence in situ hybridization to study chromosome 8 deletions, translocations, an inversion, and an insertion in patients with TRPS I, TRPS II or EXT. Our results indicate that the TRPS gene maps more than 1,000 kb proximal to the EXT1 gene and that both genes are affected in TRPS II. We conclude that TRPS II is not due to pleiotropic effects of mutations in a single gene, but that it is a true contiguous gene syndrome.

Base Sequence↗

The use of an improved transposon mutagenesis system for DNA sequencing leads to the characterization of a new insertion sequence of Streptomyces lividans 66.

A DNA sequencing strategy was developed based on the tetracycline resistance transposon Tn1721. A universal M13 primer binding site (UP) for DNA sequencing and restriction sites for mapping were inserted near one end of Tn1721 and the new derivative, Tn5491, introduced onto a conjugative F' plasmid. The target sequence is inserted between two inverted resolution sites (res) of Tn1721 present on the high-copy plasmid pJOE2114. Due to the inviability of long palindromic sequences in Escherichia coli insertions between the inversely orientated res sites of pJOE2114 are positively selected. Transposition of Tn5491 into the target sequence is selected by cointegrate formation of Tn5491 during transposition, mating and transfer of the nonconjugative sequencing vector. After cointegrate resolution, the additional res sites in the vector result in a second site-specific recombination removing most of the transposon (except of 136 bp) and part of the target sequence. The reduced plasmid sizes and the use of the universal primer improved the quality of the sequencing results obtained on an automated fluorescent sequencer. A 3.35-kb EcoRI fragment from the 30-kb terminal inverted repeats (TIR) of the Streptomyces lividans chromosome was sequenced by this method. A 1304-bp sequence was found on this fragment with the features of insertion elements. The element called IS1372 had 27-bp IR and two potential open reading frames. The predicted gene products had similar sizes and high similarity to gene products encoded by insertion sequences of the IS3 family. Furthermore, a potential signal stimulating ribosomal shifts and typical for members of the IS3 family was identified. Five to seven copies of IS1372 were found in different strains of S. lividans but none in other Streptomyces species tested.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Physical genome analysis of bacteria.

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is a general analytical tool to separate large DNA molecules and may therefore be applied to problems from all areas of bacteriology. The genome size of bacteria covers the range of 0.6 to 10 megabase pairs. For genome fingerprinting, the bacterial chromosome is cleaved with a restriction endonuclease that gives a resolvable and informative number of five to one hundred fragments on the PFGE gel. Restriction enzymes are chosen according to GC content, degree of methylation, and codon usage of the respective bacterial genus. Macrorestriction fingerprinting allows the identification of bacterial strains and the distinction between related and unrelated strains. If fragment patterns of several restriction digestions are quantitatively evaluated, strains can be classified according to genetic relatedness at the level of genus, species, and biovar. In particular, members of a clonal lineage can be uncovered. Hence, any problem from applied, environmental, and clinical microbiology may be addressed by PFGE restriction analysis where the spatiotemporal spread of a bacterial clone is of interest. In bacterial genomics, PFGE is employed for the top-down construction of macrorestriction maps of the chromosome which yields data about genome organization, mobile genetic elements, and the arrangement of gene loci and gene families. The genomic diversity of a bacterial species is elucidated by comparative chromosome mapping. Map positions of restriction sites and gene loci of interest serve as landmarks to assess the extent of gross chromosomal modification, namely insertions, deletions and inversions. Intra- and interspecies comparisons of genome organization provide insights into the structure and diversity of bacterial populations and the phylogeny of bacterial taxa.

Bacteria↗

The potential of electrophoretic mobility shift assays for clinical mutation detection.

As the understanding of the links between genetic mutations and diseases continues to grow, there is an increasing need for techniques that can rapidly, inexpensively, and sensitively detect DNA sequence alterations. Typically, such analyses are performed on PCR-amplified gene regions. Automated DNA sequencing by capillary array electrophoresis can be used, but is expensive to apply to large numbers of patient samples and/or large genes, and may not always reveal low-abundance mutations in heterozygous samples. Many different types of genetic differences need to be detected, including single-base substitutions and larger sequence alterations such as insertions, deletions, and inversions. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays seem well suited to this purpose and could be used for the efficient screening of patient samples for sequence alterations, effectively reducing the number of samples that must be subjected to full and careful sequencing. While there is much promise, many of the mobility shift assays presently under development have yet to be demonstrated to have the high sensitivity and specificity of mutation detection required for routine clinical application. Hence, further studies and optimization are required, in particular the application of these methods not only to particular genes but also to large numbers of patient samples in blinded studies aimed at the rigorous determination of sensitivity and specificity. This review examines the state-of-the-art of the most commonly used mobility shift assays for mutation detection, including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, TGGE, SSCP, heteroduplex analysis, and denaturing HPLC.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗

Molecular characterization of the spectrum of genomic deletions in the mismatch repair genes MSH2, MLH1, MSH6, and PMS2 responsible for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).

A systematic search by Southern blot analysis in a cohort of 439 hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families for genomic rearrangements in the main mismatch repair (MMR) genes, namely, MSH2, MLH1, MSH6, and PMS2, identified 48 genomic rearrangements causative of this inherited predisposition to colorectal cancer in 68 unrelated kindreds. Twenty-nine of the 48 rearrangements were found in MSH2, 13 in MLH1, 2 in MSH6, and 4 in PMS2. The vast majority were deletions, although one previously described large inversion, an intronic insertion, and a more complex rearrangement also were found. Twenty-four deletion breakpoints have been identified and sequenced in order to determine the underlying recombination mechanisms. Most fall within repetitive sequences, mainly Alu repeats, in agreement with the differential distribution of deletions between the MSH2 and MLH1 genes: the higher number and density of Alu repeats in MSH2 corresponded with a higher incidence of genomic rearrangement at this disease locus when compared with other MMR genes. Long interspersed nuclear element (LINE) repeats, relatively abundant in, for example, MLH1, did not seem to contribute to the genesis of the deletions, presumably because of their older evolutionary age and divergence among individual repeat units when compared with short interspersed nuclear element (SINE) repeats, including Alu repeats. Moreover, Southern blot analysis of the introns and the genomic regions flanking the MMR genes allowed us to detect 6 novel genomic rearrangements that left the coding region of the disease-causing gene intact. These rearrangements comprised 4 deletions upstream of the coding region of MSH2 (3 cases) and MSH6 (1 case), a 2-kb insertion in intron 7 of PMS2, and a small (459-bp) deletion in intron 13 of MLH1. The characterization of these genomic rearrangements underlines the importance of genomic deletions in the etiology of HNPCC and will facilitate the development of PCR-based tests for their detection in diagnostic laboratories.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Genetic reshuffling reconstitutes functional expression cassettes in retroviral vectors.

BACKGROUND: A major prerequisite for the design of retroviral vectors encoding cell toxic or harmful genes is the possibility to tightly control gene expression, thus limiting activity to the relevant target cells and protecting the packaging cell used for production of recombinant viral particles. METHODS: In the present study a system was developed in which genetic reshuffling during the retroviral life cycle is exploited, allowing reconstitution of functional expression cassettes from separate elements exclusively in transduced target cells. For construction of these murine leukaemia virus (MLV)-based reconstituting viral vectors (ReCon), a promoterless inverted enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter gene cassette was inserted in place of the U3 region of the 3' LTR. Subsequently, the human ubiquitin promoter was inserted in the inverse orientation into the R/U5 border of the 5' LTR of the vector. RESULTS: PA317 packaging cells stably transfected with ReCon vectors were established and EGFP expression was analysed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). After detection of low-level background expression, an additional polyadenylation signal was introduced in antisense orientation into the 3' LTR at the R/U5 border to prevent accidental read-through transcription from neighbouring cellular promoters. Virus-containing cell culture supernatants were then used to infect NIH3T3 target cells. EGFP expression, recloning and sequencing of integrated proviruses demonstrated the correct reassembly of the transduced ubiquitin/EGFP transcription unit in these infected cells. CONCLUSIONS: This facile and convenient system should allow production of retroviral vectors encoding potentially toxic proteins, cell cycle inhibitors or inducers of apoptosis, all of which would interfere with vector production if expressed in the retroviral packaging cell.

3T3 Cells↗