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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

In vitro correction of cystic fibrosis epithelial cell lines by small fragment homologous replacement (SFHR) technique.

BACKGROUND: SFHR (small fragment homologous replacement)-mediated targeting is a process that has been used to correct specific mutations in mammalian cells. This process involves both chemical and cellular factors that are not yet defined. To evaluate potential of this technique for gene therapy it is necessary to characterize gene transfer efficacy in terms of the transfection vehicle, the genetic target, and the cellular processing of the DNA and DNA-vehicle complex. METHODS: In this study, small fragments of genomic cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) DNA, that comprise the wild-type and DeltaF508 sequences, were transfected into immortalized CF and normal airway epithelial cells, respectively. Homologous replacement was evaluated using PCR and sequence-based analyses of cellular DNA and RNA. Individual stages of cationic lipid-facilitated SFHR in cultured cell lines were also examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: We demonstrated that the lipid/DNA (+/-) ratio influences the mode of entry into the cell and therefore affects the efficacy of SFHR-mediated gene targeting. Lipid/DNA complexes with more negative ratios entered the cell via a plasma membrane fusion pathway. Transfer of the DNA that relies on an endocytic pathway appeared more effective at mediating SFHR. In addition, it was also clear that there is a correlation between the specific cell line transfected and the optimal lipid/DNA ratio. CONCLUSIONS: These studies provide new insights into factors that underlie SFHR-mediated gene targeting efficacy and into the parameters that can be modulated for its optimization.

Journal Article↗

Expression of Ti-plasmid DNA in E. coli: comparison of homologous fragments cloned from Ti plasmids of Agrobacterium strains C58 and Ach5.

Fragments of two Ti plasmids from Agrobacterium tumefaciens were cloned and studied for cross-hybridization. Homologous fragments were further investigated for areas of strong homology and mapped with various restriction enzymes. The fragments were inserted in two directions and the recombinant plasmid was brought into E. coli strains producing minicells. About five proteins were found to be coded by those fragments of the Ti plasmids.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Two contiguous thrombin fragments of human somatotropin form a functionally active recombinant, but the two homologous fragments from sheep hormone do not.

Two thrombin fragments of reduced-carbamidomethylated human somatotropin representing the full primary structure of the native hormone (residues 1-134 and 135-191) have been found to form a recombinant molecule with properties similar to those of reduced-carbamidomethylated human somatotropin as shown by circular dichroism spectroscopy, two receptor-binding assays, and radioimmunoassay. In contrast, the homologous thrombin fragments of reduced-carbamidomethylated sheep hormone (residues 1-133 and 134-191) do not undergo recombination. Furthermore, neither the reduced-alkylated nor the reduced and nonalkylated C-terminal thrombin fragment of sheep hormone is able to interact with the reduced-carbamidomethylated N-terminal thrombin fragment of human hormone, under conditions which favor the recombination of the two human somatotropin fragments.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Misleading gene conversion frequencies due to a PCR artifact using small fragment homologous replacement.

Recent studies have reported successful correction of the most common F508del mutation in cystic fibrosis (CF) airway epithelial cells by small fragment homologous replacement (SFHR). We wished to apply the SFHR methodology to our CF bronchial epithelial cells, of compound heterozygous genotype (F508del/W1282X), in which nucleic acid transfer was previously optimized by electroporation. Using a PCR-based detection methodology, with one of the primers located outside the SFHR homology region, we obtained SFHR dose-dependent F508del to wild-type CFTR gene conversion frequencies reaching 30%. However, the increased wild-type/F508del CFTR allele ratio was transient, vanishing at 5 days posttransfection. Furthermore, we have been unable to reproduce the SFHR-mediated repair of the F508del mutation in our cellular model when both detection primers were located outside the SFHR homology region. A thorough reexamination of our initial detection strategy revealed that a false positive result was originated from a PCR artifact created by the SFHR fragment itself. Thus, nonamplifiable detection methods, such as Southern blotting, protein analysis, or functional assays, should be performed, whenever possible, to correctly assess gene conversion frequencies.

Cystic Fibrosis↗

Modification of the pig CFTR gene mediated by small fragment homologous replacement.

The generation of a pig model of cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multistep process. Initial steps in this process involved the design and cloning of a small DNA fragment (SDF) or large oligodeoxynucleotide (LODN) that contains the F508del mutation and a silent restriction fragment length polymorphism causing mutation. This SDF/LODN was transfected into wild-type (WT) pig fetal fibroblast with the intention of modifying the pig genomic DNA by small fragment homologous replacement (SFHR). The targeted deletion (F508del) was detected in a subpopulation of transfected cells by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR).

Animals↗

[Distribution in the genomes of microorganisms of fragments homologous to cDNA of chicken pro-alpha1(1) collagen].

Southern-analysis of genomic DNAs from 14 yeast species (Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes) with alpha 1(1) chicken collagen cDNA coding for triple-helical domain as a probe, has shown that presence of genomic fragment, homologous to collagen genes of higher eucaryotes, is characteristic for yeasts. In bacterial genomes such fragments are revealed quite rarely. No collagen-like sequences has been found in known yeast proteins by computer-analysis.

Animals↗

Isolation of a fragment homologous to the rp49 constitutive gene of Drosophila in the Neotropical malaria vector Anopheles aquasalis (Diptera: Culicidae).

The constitutive ribosomal gene rp49 is frequently used as an endogenous control in Drosophila gene expression experiments. Using the degenerate primer PCR technique we have cloned a fragment homologous to this gene in Anopheles aquasalis Curry, a Neotropical vector of malaria. In addition, based on this first sequence, a new primer was designed, which allowed the isolation of fragments of rp49 in two other species, Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) and Culex quinquefasciatus Say, suggesting that it could be used to clone fragments of this gene in a number of other mosquito species. Primers were also designed to specifically amplify rp49 cDNA fragments in An. aquasalis and Ae. aegypti, showing that rp49 could be used as a good constitutive control in gene expression studies of these and other vectorially important mosquito species.

Aedes↗

In vivo and in vitro correction of the mdx dystrophin gene nonsense mutation by short-fragment homologous replacement.

Targeted genetic correction of mutations in cells is a potential strategy for treating human conditions that involve nonsense, missense, and transcriptional splice junction mutations. One method of targeted gene repair, single-stranded short-fragment homologous replacement (ssSFHR), has been successful in repairing the common deltaF508 3-bp microdeletion at the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) locus in 1% of airway epithelial cells in culture. This study investigates in vitro and in vivo application of a double-stranded method variant of SFHR gene repair to the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A 603-bp wild-type PCR product was used to repair the exon 23 C-to-T mdx nonsense transition at the Xp21.1 dys locus in cultured myoblasts and in tibialis anterior (TA) from male mdx mice. Multiple transfection and variation of lipofection reagent both improved in vitro SFHR efficiency, with successful conversion of mdx to wild-type nucleotide at the dys locus achieved in 15 to 20% of cultured loci and in 0.0005 to 0.1% of TA. The genetic correction of mdx myoblasts was shown to persist for up to 28 days in culture and for at least 3 weeks in TA. While a high frequency of in vitro gene repair was observed, the lipofection used here appeared to have adverse effects on subsequent cell viability and corrected cells did not express dystrophin transcript. With further improvements to in vitro and in vivo gene repair efficiencies, SFHR may find some application in DMD and other genetic neuromuscular disorders in humans.

Animals↗

Gel purification of genomic DNA removes contaminating small DNA fragments interfering with polymerase chain reaction analysis of small fragment homologous replacement.

Oligonucleotides can mediate sequence-specific gene modification that results in the correction and/or alteration of genomic DNA. There is evidence to suggest that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analytical methods usually used to analyze oligonucleotide-mediated modification can generate artifacts. To investigate the conditions under which a PCR artifact can be generated and eliminated when analyzing small fragment homologous replacement (SHFR)-mediated modification, cells homozygous for the DeltaF508 mutation (CFBE41o-) were mixed with small DNA fragments (SDFs) containing the wild-type CFTR (wt-CFTR) sequence. An artifact could be generated after wild-type allele-specific PCR (wtAS-PCR) if the genomic DNA was not gel purified. Without gel purification, the amount of SDF/cell required to generate the artifact was dependent to the AS primer pairs used. When the genomic DNA was gel purified, no artifact could be detected with any of the wtAS-PCR primers whether the SDF was mixed with the cells or transfected into the cells. Furthermore, treatment of cellular mRNA with DNase was sufficient to eliminate potential artifacts in the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Thus, it is critical to gel purify genomic DNA and DNase treat mRNA when analyzing SFHR-mediated modification by PCR.

Base Sequence↗

Small fragment homologous replacement-mediated modification of genomic beta-globin sequences in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

An ultimate goal of gene therapy is the development of a means to correct mutant genomic sequences in the cells that give rise to pathology. A number of oligonucleotide-based gene-targeting strategies have been developed to achieve this goal. One approach, small fragment homologous replacement (SFHR), has previously demonstrated disease-specific genotypic and phenotypic modification after introduction of small DNA fragments (SDFs) into somatic cells. To validate whether the gene responsible for sickle cell anemia (beta-globin) can be modified by SFHR, a series of studies were undertaken to introduce sickle globin sequences at the appropriate locus of human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). The characteristic A two head right arrow T transversion in codon 6 of the beta-globin gene was indicated by restriction fragment length polymorphic (RFLP) analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products generated by amplification of DNA and RNA. At the time of harvest, it was determined that the cells generally contained </=1 fragment per cell. Control studies mixing genomic DNA from nontransfected cells with varying amounts of the targeting SDFs did not indicate any PCR amplification artifacts due to the presence of residual SDF during amplification. RNA was analyzed after DNase treatment, thus eliminating the potential for SDF contamination. Stable SFHRmediated conversion of normal (beta (A)) to sickle (beta (S)) globin was detected at frequencies up to 13% in cells harvested 30-45 days posttransfection. The minimum conversion efficiency ranged from 0.2 to 3%, assuming modification of at least one cell per experiment showing conversion. Conversion of sickle (beta (S)) to normal (beta (A)) globin was detected up to 10 days posttransfection in lymphoblastoid cells from a sickle cell patient. These studies suggest that SFHR may be effective for ex vivo gene therapy of sickle cells in a patient's HSPCs before autologous transplantation.

Cells, Cultured↗

In vitro restoration of functional SMN protein in human trophoblast cells affected by spinal muscular atrophy by small fragment homologous replacement.

The majority of patients affected by spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have deletion of the survival of motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, but they retain a "nonfunctional" copy of the duplicate gene (SMN2) in their genome. SMN2 produces defective SMN protein because of a C --> T transition in exon 7, which causes the skipping of exon 7 during SMN mRNA maturation. Many attempts have been made to correct altered SMN gene expression and to increase the level of normal SMN protein, but to date an effective treatment for this disease has not been established. Small Fragment Homologous Replacement (SFHR) is a site-specific gene modification approach that has the potential to maintain the genomic organization necessary for expression. The target modification in the genome is mediated by small DNA fragments (SDFs) 400-800 bp in length. In this study we used SFHR to induce a T --> C transition at codon 280 in exon 7 of the SMN2 gene in order to produce an increase in functional SMN protein. SDFs were transfected in vitro into cells obtained from five human fetal chorionic villi of embryos, homozygous for the SMN1 deletion, by either electroporation or microinjection. Transfected SMA cells showed an increase of up to 53% in full-length SMN mRNA compared with untransfected controls, as detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Consistent with the RNA data, immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting revealed a significant 2-fold increase in wild-type SMN protein. Furthermore, genotype and phenotype of transfected cells remained stable after several in vitro passages, demonstrating the stability of the correction over time.

Cells, Cultured↗

Nucleotide sequence of a Proteus mirabilis DNA fragment homologous to the 60K-rnpA-rpmH-dnaA-dnaN-recF-gyrB region of Escherichia coli.

A 6.5-kb DNA fragment from Proteus mirabilis hybridized to the Escherichia coli dnaA gene. This DNA fragment was cloned and the nucleotide (nt) sequence determined. The fragment is homologous to a region of the E. coli chromosome containing a part of the gene encoding a 60-kDa membrane-associated protein (60K), the rnpA-rpmH-dnaA-dnaN-recF genes, and the N-terminal part of the gyrB gene. The degree of homology is variable: the amino-acid (aa) sequence of a part of the 60K protein and a part of the DnaA protein is only minimally conserved, whereas the C-terminal 148 aa of DnaA are identical in the two species. The conservation of the nt sequence between the rnpA gene and the gene encoding the 60K protein suggests that this region encodes a hitherto unrecognized protein. The ORF for this protein partially overlaps the 3' end of the rnpA structural gene, and the degree of conservation suggests that this gene is important for these bacteria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Mechanism of cross-linking of fibrinogen and its early structural homolog fragment X].

We studied the mechanism of the cross-linking of fibrinogen as well as its closest structural homolog X fragment under the influence of a fibronectin-stabilizing factor (factor XIIIa). The data on elastic and dynamic light scattering indicate the formation of single-stranded polymers without any structural rigidity that acquire a ramified and compact structure upon reaching critical mass. The values of coefficients of translational diffusion, mean-mass molecular weight, averaged scattering factor, and the accumulation of gamma-dimers indicate that preincubation of fibrinogen and fragment X solutions significantly accelerates the enzymatic formation of a covalently bound macromolecular protein complex. We propose that enzymatic cross-linking proceeds only with the gradual accumulation of structurally imperfect molecules of fibrinogen and fragment X that are prone to intermolecular D-D end-to-end contacts.

Animals↗

p65 fragments, homologous to the C2 region of protein kinase C, bind to the intracellular receptors for protein kinase C.

Receptors for activated protein kinase C (RACKs) have been isolated from the particulate cell fraction of heart and brain. We previously demonstrated that binding of protein kinase C (PKC) to RACKs requires PKC activators and is via a site on PKC that is distinct from the substrate binding site. Here, we examine the possibility that the C2 region in the regulatory domain of PKC is involved in binding of PKC to RACKs. The synaptic vesicle-specific p65 protein contains two regions homologous to the C2 region of PKC. We found that three p65 fragments, containing either one or two of these PKC C2 homologous regions, bound to highly purified RACKs. Binding of the p65 fragments and PKC to RACKs was mutually exclusive; preincubation of RACKs with the p65 fragments inhibited PKC binding, and preincubation of RACKs with PKC inhibited binding of the p65 fragments. Preincubation of the p65 fragments with a peptide resembling the PKC binding site on RACKs also inhibited p65 binding to RACKs, suggesting that PKC and p65 bind to the same or nearby regions on RACKs. Since the only homologous region between PKC and the p65 fragments is the C2 region, these results suggest that the C2 region on PKC contains at least part of the RACK binding site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A DNA fragment homologous to F1-ATPase beta subunit was amplified from genomic DNA of Methanosarcina barkeri. Indication of an archaebacterial F-type ATPase.

A 490 bp DNA fragment was amplified from Methanosarcina barkeri genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using oligonucleotide primers designed based on conserved amino acid sequences of the F1-ATPase beta subunits. The amino acid sequence deduced from the DNA sequence of this fragment was highly homologous to a portion of the F1-ATPase beta subunit. This indicates that this archaebacterium has a gene of F-type ATPase in addition to a gene of V-type ATPase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Meiotic nondisjunction and recombination of chromosome III and homologous fragments in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A yeast strain, in which nondisjunction of chromosome III at the first meiotic division could be assayed, was constructed. Using chromosome fragmentation plasmids, chromosomal fragments (CFs) were derived in isogenic strains from six sites along chromosome III and one site on chromosome VII. Whereas the presence of the CFs derived from chromosome III increased considerably the meiosis I nondisjunction of that chromosome, the CF derived from chromosome VII had no effect on chromosome III segregation. The effects of the chromosome III-derived fragments were not linearly related to fragment length. Two regions, one of 12 kb in size located at the left end of the chromosome, and the other of 5 kb, located at the center of the right arm, were found to have profound effects on chromosome III nondisjunction. Most disomics arising from meioses in strains containing chromosome III CFs did not contain the CF; thus it appears that the two chromosome III homologs had segregated away from the CF. Among the disomics, recombination between the homologous chromosomes III was lower than expected from the genetic distance, while recombination between one of the chromosomes III and the fragment was frequent. We suggest that there are sites along the chromosome that are more involved than others in the pairing of homologous chromosomes and that the pairing between fragment and homologs involves recombination among these latter elements.

Chromosomes, Fungal↗

[Cloning in Escherichia coli cells of mouse DNA fragments homologous to two main species of long hairpin regions of pre-mRNA].

Clones of plasmid pBR322, containing fragments of mouse DNA were obtained. DNA from many of these clones (at least 15%) was able to hybridize with double-stranded hairpin-like regions of pre-mRNA (dsRNA-B). It was shown by hybridization of dsRNA-B with clone DNA, that there are two abundant species of sequences in the population of these molecules designated as B1 and B2. They are 40-50% and 20-25% of all the molecule of dsRNA-B, respectively. The size of DNA sequences complementary to dsRNA is about 200--400 base pairs. The melting experiments with hybrids show that the members of B1 family are very similar if not identical, while the divergence among B2 sequences is higher but still the number of substitutions does not exceed 10% of bases. The sequence B1 and B2 are represented by many copies in the mouse genome and in pre-mRNA, and many of them probably do not form hairpin-like structures.

Animals↗