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Unexpected translation initiation within the coding region of eukaryotic genes expressed in Escherichia coli.

When expressing several eukaryotic genes in Escherichia coli, we observed N-terminally truncated proteins which were attributed to translation initiation at downstream AUG codons. These AUG codons are located between 4 and 20 nucleotides 3' from sequences resembling bacterial SD elements. Although the presence of such downstream SD sequences is not sufficient for downstream initiation to occur, in two cases their removal abolishes synthesis of the truncated proteins. In one construct, a potential hairpin-loop structure is likely to inhibit translation initiation at the correct site and favor downstream initiation.

Base Sequence↗

Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of DNA encoding a 60 kDa stress protein of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, the causative agent of Johne's disease.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to generate DNA encoding a 60 kDa stress protein of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis using primers complementary to sequences at the 5' and 3' ends of 60 kDa stress protein genes (encoding the '65 kDa antigens') of M. leprae and M. tuberculosis. The predicted PCR product of 1.8 kb contained the entire coding sequence of an M. paratuberculosis 60 kDa stress protein, with non-coding regions of 124 bp and 1 bp at the 5' and 3' ends, respectively. DNA encoding the entire ORF for the 60 kDa stress protein, as well as thrombin and Factor Xa proteolytic cleavage sites, was ligated into the bacterial expression vector pGEX-2T and used to transform Escherichia coli strain JM83. Transformed bacteria, induced by IPTG, expressed an 85 kDa fusion protein comprising glutathione S-transferase (GST) and M. paratuberculosis 60 kDa stress protein. This fusion protein was purified by adsorption to glutathione-agarose beads and shown to cross-react in Western blot analysis with an anti-mycobacterial 60 kDa stress protein monoclonal antibody. Recombinant M. paratuberculosis 60 kDa stress protein was liberated from GST by proteolytic cleavage with either thrombin or Factor Xa enzyme. Authenticity of liberated recombinant stress protein was confirmed by N-terminal amino acid sequencing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The alpha and beta chains of avian retrovirus reverse transcriptase independently expressed in Escherichia coli: characterization of enzymatic activities.

Reverse transcriptase of the avian sarcoma and leukosis retroviruses is a heterodimer composed of a 63-kDa alpha and a 95-kDa beta polypeptide chain, both of which are encoded in the pol gene and are produced by proteolytic processing of a larger precursor. We previously constructed a bacterial expression clone of the entire pol coding region that produces a protein 4 kDa larger than the mature viral beta subunit. By use of this clone and synthetic oligonucleotides to introduce stop codons, two derivatives have been constructed: one that directs synthesis of a protein equivalent to the mature beta subunit and the other that directs synthesis of a protein equivalent to alpha subunit. Predicted amino acid sequences of these proteins differ from their viral counterparts only by an initiator methionine that was added to the N termini for expression in Escherichia coli. Both bacterially expressed proteins exhibit reverse transcriptase activity and appear to function as homodimers. The properties of these proteins resemble those of the viral reverse transcriptase heterodimer; however, the bacterially produced alpha dimer protein could be distinguished from the other proteins by its increased sensitivity to heat inactivation, which also has been reported for the corresponding viral product. These results show that correct folding and expression of enzymatic function does not require formation of a precursor. The alpha and beta clones provide a convenient source of individual pol gene products for further evaluation of their roles in the synthesis and integration of retroviral DNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Antimicrobial peptides from amphibian skin: what do they tell us?

Amphibian skin secretions contain many biologically active compounds, such as biogenic amines, complex alkaloids, or peptides. Within the latter class of molecules, a large number of peptide antibiotics has been isolated and characterized from different amphibian species. Antimicrobial peptides are considered the effector molecules of innate immunity, acting as a first line of defense against bacterial infections, by perturbing the phospholipid bilayer of the target cell membrane. These gene-encoded molecules are synthesized as inactive precursors and in several cases their proparts were shown to have highly conserved structures. It has also been demonstrated that the promoter regions of inducible peptide antibiotics are often regulated by the transcriptional control machinery NF-kappa B/I kappa B alpha. In amphibia of Rana and Bombina genera, inhibition of transcription of the genes encoding antimicrobial peptides has been obtained by glucocorticoid treatment, which causes an increase of I kappa B alpha synthesis. Moreover, determination of the structure of a number of genes coding for antimicrobial peptides in amphibia has actually shown that their promoter regions contain recognition sites for nuclear factors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of the protein family at 90 kDa of abortifacient Chlamydia psittaci.

Four major clusters, designated A, B, C and D, were distinguished in Western Blots by a monoclonal antibody specific for the "antigen family at 90 kDa" after two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis on immobilized pH gradient of chlamydial elementary bodies of abortifacient C. psittaci. Clusters B, C, and D were closely related with molecular mass (kDa) pI values of 91.5/5.2-5.4, 90/5.0-5.2 and 90.5/5.6-5.8, respectively. Cluster A was larger, with molecular mass/pI of 104.7/5.1-5.3. Evidence for the antigenic relationship between cluster A and clusters B, C and D was further supported by immunological cross-reaction with affinity-purified antibodies from serum of ewes with chlamydial-induced abortion. The experimental values obtained for size and pI of the four clusters correlated well with the calculated values from known sequences coded by multiple chlamydial genes. Direct evidence for the correspondence between the immunoreactive clusters B, C and D and the retrieved genes was provided by antibody binding experiments to recombinant polypeptides representing fragments of the deduced proteins. The 4-member antigen family at 90/104 kDa is the first example of proteins coded by multiple genes within the genus Chlamydia.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

Identification of AtPIS, a phosphatidylinositol synthase from Arabidopsis.

Phosphatidylinositol synthase is the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol, a key phospholipid component of all eukaryotic membranes and the precursor of messenger molecules involved in signal transduction pathways for calcium-dependent responses in the cell. Using the amino acid sequence of the yeast enzyme as a probe, we identified an Arabidopsis expressed sequence tag potentially encoding the plant enzyme. Sequencing the entire cDNA confirmed the homology between the two proteins. Functional assays, performed by overexpression of the plant cDNA in Escherichia coli, a bacteria which lacks phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol synthase activity, showed that the plant protein induced the accumulation of phosphatidylinositol in the bacterial cells. Analysis of the enzymatic activity in vitro showed that synthesis of phosphatidylinositol occurs when CDP-diacylglycerol and myo-inositol only are provided as substrates, that it requires manganese or magnesium ions for activity, and that it is at least in part located to the bacterial membrane fraction. These data allowed us to conclude that the Arabidopsis cDNA codes for a phosphatidylinositol synthase. A single AtPIS genetic locus was found, which we mapped to Arabidopsis chromosome 1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindrome repeats (CRISPRs) have spacers of extrachromosomal origin.

Numerous prokaryote genomes contain structures known as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs), composed of 25-50 bp repeats separated by unique sequence spacers of similar length. CRISPR structures are found in the vicinity of four genes named cas1 to cas4. In silico analysis revealed another cluster of three genes associated with CRISPR structures in many bacterial species, named here as cas1B, cas5 and cas6, and also revealed a certain number of spacers that have homology with extant genes, most frequently derived from phages, but also derived from other extrachromosomal elements. Sequence analysis of CRISPR structures from 24 strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and Streptococcus vestibularis confirmed the homology of spacers with extrachromosomal elements. Phage sensitivity of S. thermophilus strains appears to be correlated with the number of spacers in the CRISPR locus the strain carries. The authors suggest that the spacer elements are the traces of past invasions by extrachromosomal elements, and hypothesize that they provide the cell immunity against phage infection, and more generally foreign DNA expression, by coding an anti-sense RNA. The presence of gene fragments in CRISPR structures and the nuclease motifs in cas genes of both cluster types suggests that CRISPR formation involves a DNA degradation step.

DNA, Intergenic↗

Cloning, expression, and characterization of the Lactococcus lactis pfl gene, encoding pyruvate formate-lyase.

The Lactococcus lactis pfl gene, encoding pyruvate formate-lyase (PFL), has been cloned and characterized. The deduced amino acid sequence of the L. lactis PFL. protein showed high similarity to those of other bacterial PFL proteins and included the conserved glycine residue involved in posttranslational activation of PFL. The genetic organization of the chromosomal pfl region in L. lactis showed differences from other characterized pfl loci, with an upstream open reading frame independently transcribed in the same orientation as the pfl gene. The gene coding for PFL-activase (act), normally found downstream of pfl, was not identified in L. lactis. Analysis of pfl expression showed a strong induction under anaerobiosis at the transcriptional level independent of the growth medium used. During growth with galactose, pfl showed the highest levels of expression. Constructed L. lactis pfl strains were unable to produce formate under anaerobic growth. Higher levels of diacetyl and acetoin were produced anaerobically in the constructed Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis pfl strain.

Acetyltransferases↗

Elucidation of a carotenoid biosynthesis gene cluster encoding a novel enzyme, 2,2'-beta-hydroxylase, from Brevundimonas sp. strain SD212 and combinatorial biosynthesis of new or rare xanthophylls.

A carotenoid biosynthesis gene cluster mediating the production of 2-hydroxyastaxanthin was isolated from the marine bacterium Brevundimonas sp. strain SD212 by using a common crtI sequence as the probe DNA. A sequence analysis revealed this cluster to contain 12 open reading frames (ORFs), including the 7 known genes, crtW, crtY, crtI, crtB, crtE, idi, and crtZ. The individual ORFs were functionally analyzed by complementation studies using Escherichia coli that accumulated various carotenoid precursors due to the presence of other bacterial crt genes. In addition to functionally identifying the known crt genes, we found that one (ORF11, named crtG) coded for a novel enzyme, carotenoid 2,2'-beta-hydroxylase, which showed intriguingly partial homology with animal sterol-C5-desaturase. When this crtG gene was introduced into E. coli accumulating zeaxanthin and canthaxanthin, the resulting transformants produced their 2-hydroxylated and 2,2'-dihydroxylated products which were structurally novel or rare xanthophylls, as determined by their nuclear magnetic resonance and high-performance liquid chromatography/photodiode array detector/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry spectral data. The new carotenoid produced was suggested to have a strong inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular analysis of rice ragged stunt oryzavirus segment 9 and sequence conservation among isolates from Thailand and India.

Nucleotide sequences of rice ragged stunt virus (RRSV) genome segment 9 (S9) from a Thai and an Indian isolate were determined. Both sequences are 1132 bp long, contain a single large open reading frame (ORF) spanning nucleotide residues 14 to 1027 and are capable of encoding a protein of 38.5K. The two isolates are 94.6% and 99.4% identical at the nucleotide and amino acid level, respectively. The authenticity of these coding sequences was confirmed by identifying a approximately 38K protein in the RRSV particle with an N-terminal amino acid sequence identical to that inferred from the S9 ORF. Furthermore, cDNA of S9 from each isolate incorporated into the bacterial expression vector pGEX3-X produced a fusion protein that reacted with antibodies raised against purified RRSV particles. Cleaving these fusion proteins with protease factor X liberated a approximately 38K polypeptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Complementation of metabolic defect in phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK)-deficient line of Chinese hamster ovary cells by introduction of human PGK cDNA.

A full-length copy of the coding sequence of the human phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) gene was introduced into a glycolysis-negative, PGK-deficient line of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells by gene transfer. Transformants were isolated either by cotransfer of the bacterial aminoglycoside phosphotransferase (AGPT) gene, or by direct selection for expression of the PGK gene. Integration of the human PGK gene has been demonstrated by Southern blot analysis and its expression by starch gel electrophoresis. PGK transformants behaved phenotypically as predicted by the properties of their wild type parent: mannose was no longer toxic, but instead was metabolized via glycolysis to lactic acid, and cell growth was no longer dependent on glutamine oxidation. Thus a complex phenotypic change has been mediated by gene transfer. The combination of R1.1.7 cells and the PGK plasmid provides another system to facilitate the study of mammalian gene expression.

Animals↗

Polymorphism of the IGHA gene in sheep.

Genetic variation in immunoglobulin A, the most abundant immunoglobulin in mammalian cells, has not been reported in ruminants. In this study, variation in the immunoglobulin heavy alpha chain constant gene (IGHA) of sheep was investigated by amplification of a fragment that included the hinge coding sequence, followed by single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing. Three novel sequences, each characterized by unique SSCP banding patterns, were identified. One or two sequences were detected in individual sheep and all the sequences identified shared high homology to the published ovine and bovine IGHA sequences, suggesting that these sequences represent allelic variants of the IGHA gene in sheep. Sequence alignment showed that these sequences differed mainly in the 3' end of exon 1 and in the coding sequence of the hinge region. There was either a deletion or an insertion of two codons in the hinge coding region in these allelic variants. Codon usage in the hinge coding region was quite different from that in the non-hinge coding regions of the gene, suggesting different evolution of the IGHA hinge sequence. Three novel amino acid sequences of ovine IGHA were also predicted, and variation in these sequences might not only affect antigen recognition but also susceptibility to cleavage by bacterial or parasitic proteases.

Alleles↗

LexA repressor induces operator-dependent DNA bending.

LexA, the repressor of the SOS system in Escherichia coli induces a substantial DNA bending upon interaction with the operator of the caa gene, which codes for the bacterial toxin colicin A. Analysis by gel electrophoresis of a family of DNA fragments of identical length, but bearing the caa operator at different positions, shows that DNA bending occurs close to or within the operator sequence upon LexA binding. In contrast, the interaction of LexA with the recA operator induces no detectable bending on 5% polyacrylamide gels. This difference between the two operators is likely to be due to an intrinsic bendability of the caa operator related to thymine tracts located on both sides of the operator. Such tracts do not exist in the recA operator. The free DNA fragments harbouring the caa operator show a slight tendency to bend even in the absence of the LexA repressor. The centre of this intrinsic bend is located close to or within the caa operator.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Sequence and organization of the human N-formyl peptide receptor-encoding gene.

The human FPR1 gene encodes the N-formyl peptide receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that mediates the activation of mature myeloid cells by bacterial N-formyl oligopeptides. To investigate the molecular basis for myeloid-specific production of this receptor, we have cloned and sequenced FPR1. The gene is organized into three exons and two introns that span 6 kb. The coding block lacks introns. Yet, the transcription start point (tsp) is separated from the start codon by 4902 bp consisting of three exons and two large introns. Two mRNAs are produced by alternative splicing of exon 2 in HL-60 neutrophils and normal blood monocytes. The region 5' to the tsp contains three pyrimidine-rich segments, a feature that has been observed in other myeloid-specific genes. One complete Alu repeat is found in each intron and in the 3'-flanking region 317 bp downstream of the polyadenylation signal. Thus, FPR1 is a small myeloid-specific gene that is expressed as two alternatively spliced mRNAs encoding the same protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A dispensable peptide from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase affects tRNA binding.

The activation domain of class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, which contains the Rossmann fold and the signature sequences HIGH and KMSKS, is generally split into two halves by the connective peptides (CP1, CP2) whose amino acid sequences are idiosyncratic. CP1 has been shown to participate in the binding of tRNA as well as the editing of the reaction intermediate aminoacyl-AMP or the aminoacyl-tRNA. No function has been assigned to CP2. The amino acid sequence of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans TrpRS was predicted from the genome sequence. Protein sequence alignments revealed that A. ferrooxidans TrpRS contains a 70 amino acids long CP2 that is not found in any other bacterial TrpRS. However, a CP2 in the same relative position was found in the predicted sequence of several archaeal TrpRSs. A. ferrooxidans TrpRS is functional in vivo in Escherichia coli. A deletion mutant of A. ferrooxidans trpS lacking the coding region of CP2 was constructed. The in vivo activity of the mutant TrpRS in E. coli, as well as the kinetic parameters of the in vitro activation of tryptophan by ATP, were not altered by the deletion. However, the K(m) value for tRNA was seven-fold higher upon deletion, reducing the efficiency of aminoacylation. Structural modeling suggests that CP2 binds to the inner corner of the L shape of tRNA.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

A carboxylesterase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus: cloning of the gene, characterization of the protein.

A genomic library of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus strain MT4 was constructed in Escherichia coli using a cloning vector not designed for heterologous gene expression. One positive clone exhibiting acquired thermophilic acetylesterase activity was directly detected by an in situ plate assay using a colony staining procedure with the chromogenic substrate beta-naphthyl acetate. The plasmid isolated from the clone contained a 3.3 kb genomic fragment from S. solfataricus and a full-length esterase coding sequence could be identified. Expression of the active thermostable esterase in E. coli was independent of isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside and of the kind of vector, suggesting that the archaeal esterase gene was controlled by fortuitous bacterial-like sequences present in its own 5' flanking region, not by the bacterial lac promoter or other serendipitous vector-located sequences. The protein, partially purified by thermoprecipitation of the host proteins at high temperature and gel exclusion chromatography, showed a homo-tetrameric structure with a subunit of molecular mass of 32 kDa which was in perfect agreement with that deduced from the cloned gene. The same protein was revealed in S. solfataricus cell extracts, thus demonstrating its functional occurrence in vivo under the cell culture conditions tested. The recombinant enzyme exhibited high thermal activity and thermostability with optimal activity between pH 6.5 and 7.0. The hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl esters of fatty acids (from C(2) to C(8)) allowed the enzyme to be classified as a short length acyl esterase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and characterization of four B-hordein genes from Tibetan hull-less barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare).

Four B-hordein genes, designated BH1-BH4, were cloned using PCR amplification from two hull-less barley cultivars, ZQ7239 and ZQ148, collected from Tibet. The results of sequencing indicated that BH1-BH4 contained complete open reading frames (ORFs). Comparison of their predicted polypeptide sequences with the published sequences suggested that they all share the same basic protein structure. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the deduced amino-acid sequences of BH1-BH4 genes were more closely related to B-hordeins from cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) than to any other prolamins from wild barley and Aegilops tauschii. Comparison of the coding regions of BH1-BH4 genes showed that BH1 had a lower sequence identity to other previously published B-hordeins than the other three B-hordeins obtained in this study. BH1 was then cloned in a bacterial expression vector based on bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase. The resulting plasmid produced a 28.15 kDa protein in Escherichia coli. The potential value of B-hordein genes in grain quality improvement of hull-less barley has been discussed.

Cloning, Molecular↗