Calcium protects DNase I from proteinase K: a new method for the removal of contaminating RNase from DNase I

Experimental Review of DNA-Based Methods for Wine Traceability and Development of a Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Genotyping Assay for Quantitative Varietal Authentication

The genetic varietal authentication of wine was investigated according to DNA isolation procedures reported for enological matrices and also by testing 11 commercial extraction kits and various protocol modifications. Samples were collected at different stages of the winemaking process of renowned Italian wines Brunello di Montalcino, Lambruschi Modenesi, and Trento DOC. Results demonstrated not only that grape DNA loss is produced by the fermentation process but also that clarification and stabilization operations contribute to the reduction of double-stranded DNA content on wine. Despite the presence of inhibitors, downstream PCR genotyping yielded reliable nuclear and chloroplast SSR markers for must samples, whereas no amplification or inconsistent results were obtained at later stages of the vinification. In addition, a TaqMan genotyping assay based on cultivar-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was designed, which allowed assessment of grapevine DNA mixtures. Once the wine matrix limitations are overcome, this sensitive tool may be implemented for the relative quantification of cultivars used for blend wines or frauds.

Rapid and convenient synthesis of stable silver nanoparticles with kiwi juice and its novel application for detecting protease K

Stable AgNPs were synthesized by a facile approach, and further developed as a colorimetric nanoplatform for selectively detecting protease K.

Analysis of herpes simplex virus type I nuclear particles by flow cytometry

Flow cytometry has been instrumental to characterize cell populations and examine their inner molecules and processes. In most instances, whole cells are analyzed, and hence, particle size is not an issue. Viruses are 2-3 orders of magnitude smaller than cells so flow cytometry has typically been used to study viral markers within whole infected cells. However, the ability to separate and purify viral particles representing different maturation stages within a viral life cycle would be a useful tool to analyze them in details and characterize the host proteins they associate with. Herpes simplex virus Type 1 is a 250 nm enveloped DNA virus that replicates in the nucleus where it assembles new viral particles called capsids. These capsids eventually travel to the cell surface and are modified along the way, producing several intermediate particles. In the nucleus, three types of stable nonenveloped 125 nm nuclear capsids exist that differ in protein composition and genome content. This includes so-called nuclear C-capsids that are the precursors of mature extracellular virions. We report that we can apply flow cytometry to sort these nuclear C-capsid intermediates by labeling the viral genome with Syto 13, a fluorescent marker that binds to nucleic acids. This is the first time flow cytometry has been used not only to detect but also to purify an intracellular viral maturation intermediate. This opens new research avenues in virology to study capsid assembly, maturation and egress, analyze mutant phenotypes, and define host factors associated with specific viral intermediates.

Transcription of rDNA insertions in bobbed mutants ofDrosophila melanogaster

InDrosophila melanogastera large number of the genes coding for 18S and 28S rRNA are interrupted in the 28S region by insertions of two types. Ribosomal insertion transcripts were compared in wild-type and bobbed strains. We found that the level of insertion transcripts increased in bobbed mutants after deletion of 50% of INS−genes, and inversely decreased in revertants when more than 50% of wild-type levels. Among type II insertion transcripts we found a predominant 3·5 kb RNA, precisely of the most frequent insertion size. No primary insertion transcript has been found, although it could be undetected if very fast splicing leads to mature 28S occurs.

Cloning and characterization of two guide RNA-binding proteins from mitochondria of Crithidia fasciculata: gBP27, a novel protein, and gBP29, the orthologue of Trypanosoma brucei gBP21

In kinetoplastid protozoa, mitochondrial (mt) mRNAs are post-transcriptionally edited by insertion and deletion of uridylate residues, the information being provided by guide (g)RNAs. Currently popular mechanisms for the editing process envisage a series of consecutive 'cut-and-paste' reactions, carried out by a complex RNP machinery. Here we report on the purification, cloning and functional analysis of two gRNA-binding proteins of 28.8 (gBP29) and 26.8 kDa (gBP27) from mitochondria of the insect trypanosome Crithidia fasciculata. gBP29 and gBP27 proved to be similar, Arg + Ala-rich proteins, with pI values of approximately 10.0. gBP27 has no homology to known proteins, but gBP29 is the C.fasciculata orthologue of gBP21 from Trypanosoma brucei, a gRNA-binding protein that associates with active RNA editing complexes. As measured in UV cross-linking assays, His-tagged recombinant gBP29 and gBP27 bind to radiolabelled poly(U) and synthetic gRNAs, while competition experiments suggest a role for the gRNA 3'-(U)-tail in binding to these proteins. Immunoprecipitates of mt extracts generated with antibodies against gBP29 also contained gBP27 and vice versa. The immunoprecipitates further harbored a large proportion of the cellular content of four different gRNAs and of edited and pre-edited NADH dehydrogenase subunit 7 mRNAs, but only small amounts of mt rRNAs. In addition, the bulk of gBP29 and gBP27 co-eluted with gRNAs from gel filtration columns in the high molecular weight range. Together, these results suggest that the proteins are part of a large macromolecular complex(es). We infer that gBP29 and gBP27 are components of the C.fasciculata editing machinery that may interact with gRNAs.

RNA editing in the free-living bodonid Bodo saltans

In parasitic kinetoplastid protozoa, mitochondrial (mt) mRNAs are post-transcriptionally edited by insertion and deletion of uridylate residues, the information being provided by guide (g) RNAs. In order to further explore the role and evolutionary history of this process, we searched for editing in mt RNAs of the free-living bodonid Bodo saltans. We found extensive editing in the transcript for NADH dehydrogenase (ND) subunit 5, which is unedited in trypanosomatids. In contrast, B.saltans cytochrome c oxidase (cox) subunit 2 and maxicircle unidentified reading frame (MURF) 2 RNAs display limited editing in the same regions as their trypanosomatid counterparts. A putative intramolecular cox2 gRNA and the gene for gMURF2-I directing the insertion of only one U in the 5' editing domain of MURF2 RNA, are conserved in B.saltans. This lends (further) evolutionary support to the proposed role of these sequences as gRNAs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that B.saltans is more closely related to trypanosomatids than the cryptobiids Trypanoplasma borreli and Cryptobia helicis, in line with the trypanosomatid-like cox2 and MURF2 RNA editing patterns. Nevertheless, other features like the apparent absence of a catenated mtDNA network, are shared with bodonid and cryptobiid species. ND5 RNA editing may represent yet another example of editing 'on the way out' during kinetoplastid evolution, but in view of the fact that cox2 RNA is unedited in T. borreli and C.helicis, we infer that the editing of this RNA may have arisen relatively recently. Our results provide the first examples of RNA editing in a free-living kinetoplastid, indicating that there is no direct link between U-insertion/deletion editing and a parasitic lifestyle.

Phosducin is a ubiquitous G-protein regulator

Phosducin is a 33-kDa cytosolic regulator of G-protein-mediated signaling that has previously been thought to be specific for retina and pineal gland. In this study, we show widespread tissue distribution of phosducin by the amplification of its cDNA and the detection of two different transcripts in Northern analyses in liver, lung, heart, brain, and retina. On the protein level, phosducin could be detected in 12 bovine tissues by immune precipitation and subsequent Western analysis using anti-phosducin antibodies generated in two different species. Masking of phosducin in direct Western blots appears to explain the failure to detect phosducin in earlier studies. The concentration of phosducin in bovine brain was calculated in the range of 10 pmol/mg total cytosolic protein (approximately 1 microM), whereas in the other tissues, it was slightly less. In these concentrations, phosducin inhibited receptor-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in cell membranes by about 50%. Taken together, our results indicate that phosducin is a ubiquitous regulator of G-protein function.

Collagenase gene expression in cutis laxa fibroblasts is upregulated by transcriptional activation of the promoter gene through a 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-responsive element

Our previous work demonstrated that collagenase mRNA levels are increased in fibroblasts derived from patients with cutis laxa (CL). To pursue the mechanism of the upregulation of collagenase expression, we investigated transcriptional levels of the collagenase gene in CL fibroblasts. Fibroblasts cultured from the skin of three congenital CL patients were studied. Northern blot hybridization revealed 2.8- to 7.3-fold increases in collagenase mRNA levels in CL fibroblasts compared with normal cells. Nuclear run-off experiments demonstrated that the transcription rate of the collagenase gene in nuclei isolated from the same cells was 5.1- to 10.2-fold higher in the CL fibroblasts than in the controls. Transient transfection of a normal collagenase promoter-CAT construct into the cells further showed significantly enhanced transcriptional activity in CL but not in normal fibroblasts. Experiments of transient transfection of deleted or small substituted collagenase promoter-CAT constructs indicated that collagenase transcription in CL fibroblasts was activated the TPA-responsive element site of the collagenase promoter gene. Although the levels of Jun and Fos gene expression did not differ from those observed in normal fibroblasts, AP-1-binding activity, as measured by the ability to bind to an oligonucleotide containing a TPA-responsive element, was significantly elevated in CL fibroblasts as compared with normal fibroblasts. These data suggest that collagenase expression is upregulated at the transcriptional level by endogenous activation of DNA binding of AP-1 in CL fibroblasts [corrected].

A possible role for the guide RNA U-tail as a specificity determinant in formation of guide RNA-messenger RNA chimeras in mitochondrial extracts of Crithidia fasciculata

Chimeric g(uide) RNA:pre-mRNA molecules are potential intermediates of the RNA editing process in kinetoplastid mitochondria. We have studied the characteristics of chimeric molecules formed in mitochondrial extracts of the insect trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata which had been supplied with synthetic NADH dehydrogenase (ND) subunit-7 gRNA and pre-mRNA variants. The ability of a gRNA to participate in chimera formation in this system depends on the possibility of base pairing with the pre-mRNA via the anchor sequence, but not on the presence of a U-tail or a full-length informational part. Chimeras formed with a specific gRNA:pre-mRNA pair displayed a large variation in length, due to variably sized 3' end truncations of the gRNA moieties and variation in the sites in the pre-mRNA to which the gRNAs were attached. Surprisingly, the presence of a U-tail in the gRNA for a large part determined the specificity of the linkage. In 60% of the cases gRNAs possessing a U-tail of at least one residue were attached to an editing site, whereas 75% of the gRNAs without Us were attached to non-editing sites. Furthermore, the chimera forming activity was greatly stimulated by the addition of ATP but not by AMP-CPP, an ATP-analogue with a non-hydrolyzable alpha-beta phosphate bond. This suggests the involvement in the chimera formation of an RNA ligase.

The tagGH operon of Bacillus subtilis 168 encodes a two-component ABC transporter involved in the metabolism of two wall teichoic acids

We report the nucleotide sequence and the characterization of the Bacillus subtilis tagGH operon. The latter is controlled by a sigma A-dependent promoter and situated in the 308 degrees chromosomal region which contains genes involved in teichoic acid biosynthesis. TagG is a hydrophobic 32.2 kDa protein which resembles integral membrane proteins belonging to polymer-export systems of Gram-negative bacteria. Gene tagH encodes a 59.9 kDa protein whose N-moiety contains the ATP-binding motif and shares extensive homology with a number of ATP-binding proteins, particularly with those associated with the transport of capsular polysaccharides and O-antigens. That the tagGH operon is essential for cell growth was established by the failure to inactivate tagG and the 5'-moiety of tagH by insertional mutagenesis. During limited tagGH expression, cells exhibited a cocoid morphology while their walls contained reduced amounts of phosphate as well as galactosamine. These observations, revealing impaired metabolism of both wall teichoic acids of B. subtilis 168, i.e. poly(glycerol phosphate), and poly(glucose galactosamine phosphate), combined with sequence homologies, suggest that TagG and TagH are involved in the translocation through the cytoplasmic membrane of the latter teichoic acids or their precursors.

Cloning and sequencing of the genes encoding the light-harvesting B806-866 polypeptides and initial studies on the transcriptional organization of puf2B, puf2A and puf2C in Chloroflexus aurantiacus

The genes encoding the alpha- and beta-polypeptide subunits of the B806-866 membrane-bound light-harvesting complex of Chloroflexus aurantiacus have been cloned and the nucleotide sequences determined. The gene puf2A, which encodes the B806-866 alpha-polypeptide, began 28 bases downstream of the stop codon of puf2B, which encodes the B806-866 beta gene. The gene-encoding cytochrome c-554, puf2C, was found about 250 bp downstream of puf2A. puf2A encoded a 13 amino acid extension at the C-terminus of the B806-866 alpha-polypeptide that was not present in the mature protein. These genes, unlike those of purple nonsulfur bacteria, did not form a contiguous operon with puf1L or puf1M, the genes encoding the L and M subunits of the photochemical reaction center. The occurrence of the two latter genes and of puf2B and puf2A in two separate operons has not been observed in purple bacteria. Under photoheterotrophic growth conditions, puf2B and puf2A were encoded on an abundant mRNA that was 0.5 kb long. Two monocistronic transcripts for puf2C were observed that had different 5'-ends. One transcript encoding all three genes was also detected. Nucleotide sequences very similar to the consensus promoter sequence of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase sigma 70 subunit were found seven and eight bases upstream of the 5'-end of mRNA encoding puf2B and for one of the monocistronic mRNA encoding puf2C, respectively.

Phenotypic modulation of keratins, vimentin, and alpha-fetoprotein in cultured rat liver epithelial cells after chemical, oncogene, and spontaneous transformation

Several lines of evidence have indicated that rat liver epithelial (RLE) cell lines may be related to a dormant stem cell compartment in the liver in vivo. We have demonstrated that keratin 14 (K14) is expressed together with vimentin in undifferentiated RLE cells. However, upon spontaneous transformation and differentiation to hepatoblast-like progeny the expression of these intermediate filaments (IF) is abrogated, while expression of another set of genes, among others keratin 18 (K18) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), is induced (Bisgaard et al., 1994, J. Cell. Physiol., in press). To better understand the mechanisms underlying IF expression during transformation and differentiation of RLE cells we examined the expression and regulation of IFs in clonal cell lines of chemically, oncogene, and spontaneously transformed RLE cells and their resulting tumors. These clonal lines provided a wide variety of tumor phenotypes including trabecular, solid and tubular adenocarcinomas, undifferentiated carcinomas, and spindle cell carcinomas. Northern blot analysis of the cell lines confirmed the differential expression of IF mRNAs. While keratin 8 (K8) was expressed at similar steady-state levels in all cell lines, K14 and vimentin but not K18 were expressed in the majority of cell lines chemically transformed with aflatoxin B1 or by transduction of oncogenes. In contrast, cell lines transformed spontaneously by prolonged passage in vitro expressed K18, while K14 and vimentin were absent. The keratin expression pattern in vitro was retained in the majority of the resulting tumors. However, the keratins expressed in vitro did not accurately predict the tumor phenotype in vivo. In particular, in tumors typed morphologically as adenocarcinomas, the keratin pair typically expressed in chemically transformed tumor cells was K8/K14, whereas K8/K18 was expressed in the tumors derived from spontaneously transformed cell lines. Finally we showed by nuclear run-on and in vitro translation analyses that the expression of K14, K18, and vimentin in transformed RLE cell lines was regulated at the transcriptional level, whereas that of K8 appeared to be posttranslational. These findings suggest that events controlling the differential expression of IF genes are involved in the processes leading to transformation and differentiation of the RLE cell lines. We conclude that the transformed RLE cell lines provide a valuable model to further examine the regulatory mechanisms involved in hepatic differentiation of undifferentiated "progenitor-like" RLE cells.

The primary structure of two chlorosome proteins from Chloroflexus aurantiacus

The complete nucleotide sequence of two chlorosome proteins with apparent molecular weights of M(r) 18,000 and M(r) 11,000 from Chloroflexus aurantiacus have been determined. The two polypeptides were 145 and 97 amino acids long and possessed true molecular masses of 15,545 and 10,820 Da, respectively. Protein chemical sequencing was done in parallel to confirm the primary structure deduced from nucleotide sequencing. By Northern blot analysis of RNA isolated from phototrophically grown cells a transcript of 0.95 kb was detected which is the expected length for a mRNA encoding both genes.

IL-2 mRNA levels and degradation rates change with mode of stimulation and phorbol ester treatment of lymphocytes

Transient expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2) in activated T lymphocytes may be due to transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. As incubation of lymphocytes with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) prior to mitogenic stimulation results in decreased levels of IL-2 mRNA, we asked if IL-2 mRNA stability was affected. We found that in TPA-treated cells, IL-2 mRNA was degraded more rapidly than in untreated ones whether the mitogenic stimulus was Concanavalin A (Con A), Con A plus TPA, or TPA plus ionomycin. The degradation was blocked if the TPA pre-incubation included cycloheximide. In contrast, when TPA was included as a co-mitogen, i.e. added at the same time as the mitogen, the IL-2 mRNA levels and stability significantly increased. Compared to the levels found in Con A stimulated cells, TPA plus Con A increased IL-2 mRNA levels by as much as 20-fold and the half-life by 5-fold. TPA plus ionomycin increased the message levels at least 100-fold and half-life by nearly 10-fold. These effects on IL-2 mRNA were not general because IL-2 receptor mRNA stability was not changed even though it also is transiently expressed during the course of lymphocyte activation.

A C-terminal truncation results in high-level expression of the functional photoreceptor sensory rhodopsin I in the archaeon Halobacterium salinarium

Expression of the gene encoding the halobacterial photoreceptor sensory rhodopsin I (SRI), sopI, was studied by means of homologous gene targeting. A sopI- Halobacterium salinarium mutant strain was constructed by homologous replacement of sopI with a novobiocin-resistant gyrB from Haloferax Aa 2.2. Cells bearing gyrB were resistant to novobiocin, indicating that the Haloferax gene is functional in H. salinarium. Complementation of this deletion strain with sopI fused to the bacterio-opsin promoter resulted in the recovery of all phenotypical attributes of SRI. This establishes the first direct correlation between sopI and the function of its gene product. In the complemented deletion strain, functional expression of sopI occurred from the bop locus, where sopI had integrated by homologous recombination. This shows that cotranscription of sopI and the gene encoding the SRI signal transducer, htrI, which is found in the wild type, is not a prerequisite for photosensory activity. Deletion of the last 43 bp at the 3' end of sopI resulted in a 10-fold increase in the amount of SRI, without affecting the activity of the pigment. The mRNA level of the truncated gene was not affected as compared to that of the wild type. We propose that regulation occurs at the protein level, probably through a negative determinant of protein stability located in the C-terminus of SRI. Replacement of the last 28 amino acids of bacteriorhodopsin by the last 29 amino acids of SRI results in a decrease of the bacteriorhodopsin, supporting our observations. The C-terminus of SRI is the first domain with a downregulating influence on protein levels thus far identified in H. salinarium. The system for SRI overexpression we present here greatly facilitates biochemical and biophysical studies on the photoreceptor and allows investigation of the molecular interactions underlying the signal transduction chain of halobacterial phototaxis.

Molecular mechanism of the regulation of expression of plasmid-encoded mouse bacteremia (mba) genes in Salmonella serovar Choleraesuis

The regulation of mouse bacteremia genes (mba genes) encoded by a 6.4 kb region on the 50 kb virulence plasmid (pKDSC50) of Salmonella serovar Choleraesuis was analyzed. The genes mba1, mba2, mba3, and mba4, are arranged in this order, and form a cluster located in the 6.4 kb mba region. We prepared four antibodies, each specific for an individual Mba protein, using synthetic peptides as antigens. Their amino acid sequences were deduced from the DNA sequence of the corresponding mba genes. Each Mba peptide antiserum was able to recognize the corresponding Mba protein produced by Escherichia coli carrying a recombinant plasmid containing individual mba genes. When the recombinant plasmid contained all four mba genes (pMKD601), three Mba proteins (Mba2, Mba3, and Mba4) were identified by Western blotting analysis using Mba antisera. These proteins could not be detected when the recombinant plasmid lacked mba1 (pMKD201). Three species of mRNA for mba2, mba3, and mba4 with different chain length were detected from pMKD601 by Northern blot hybridization, and two start sites were identified by primer extension assay. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrated that Mba1 specifically bound to a fragment containing the start sites of mRNAs. The amino acid sequence of Mba1 had significant homology to the LysR family of DNA binding proteins, possessing a characteristic helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif. The present study provides clear evidence to show that the Mba1 protein binds to the promoter region of mba2, and positively regulates the expression of mba2, mba3, and mba4 genes.

Strand-specific LINE-1 transcription in mouse F9 cells originates from the youngest phylogenetic subgroup of LINE-1 elements

LINE-1 (L1) is a mammalian family of highly repeated DNA sequences that are members of a class of transposable elements whose movement involves an RNA intermediate. Both structural and evolutionary data indicate that the L1 family consists of a small number of active transposable elements interspersed with a large number of L1 pseudogenes. In the mouse, the longest, characterized L1 sequences span about 7000 base-pairs and contain two long open reading frames. Two subfamilies of mouse L1 elements, A and F, have been defined on the basis of the type of putative transcriptional regulatory sequence found at the 5' end. In order to identify a transcribed subset of L1 elements in mouse F9 teratocarcinoma cells, we have examined the strand-specificity of L1 transcription by Northern analysis and compared the open reading frame-1 sequences of ten A-type cDNAs with fifteen genomic A-type L1 elements. Transcripts containing A-type sequence are far more abundant than those containing F-type sequence. Although the majority of L1 RNA in F9 cells appears to be transcribed non-specifically from both strands, our results provide evidence for a subpopulation of variable length, strand-specific transcripts arising from A-type transcriptional regulatory sequences. F9 cell cDNA sequences, which share greater than 99.5% sequence identity with one another, represent a homogeneous subset of the genomic L1 population. Examination of genomic mouse L1 sequences reveals three types of length polymorphism in a defined segment of the first open reading frame. Phylogenetic analysis shows a correlation between the type of length polymorphism in the first open reading frame and the relative age of an individual A-type genomic L1 element. Comparison of the cDNA and genomic sequences indicates that the youngest subgroup of A-type L1 elements is preferentially transcribed in F9 cells. This subgroup may be currently dominating the L1 dispersal process in mice.

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of tubulin gene expression in Trypanosoma cruzi

We have shown that tubulin mRNA accumulation is regulated at the transcriptional level during metacyclogenesis of Trypanosoma cruzi, although the contribution of post-transcriptional mechanisms is also indicated. mRNA heterogeneity is not restricted to beta-tubulin, and differential regulation of alpha-tubulin mRNAs is observed during this stage of the parasite's life cycle. Treatment of epimastigotes with the microtubule-depolymerizing agent vinblastine resulted in growth inhibition and morphological alterations. Vinblastine also induced a rise in the pool of free tubulin subunits, concomitant with diminished tubulin synthesis and reduced mRNA levels. Tubulin gene transcription remained unaltered during vinblastine treatment, suggesting post-transcriptional control. These observations are in agreement with the autoregulatory model of tubulin gene expression described for a variety of cell types. We conclude that T. cruzi utilizes transcriptional and post-transcriptional control mechanisms for tubulin gene expression.

Sequence requirements for embryonic transcriptional activation of a gastrula-specific actin gene in Xenopus laevis

Cytoskeletal actin genes undergo developmentally timed transcriptional activation at the gastrula stage of embryonic development in the amphibian Xenopus laevis. To study the regulation of this process, a molecularly marked cloned actin gene has been introduced into living embryos by microinjection, and levels of its transcripts (which are distinct from endogenous actin message) have been measured by RNase protection. In vitro mutagenesis of the marked gene, followed by microinjection and transcriptional analysis of various mutants, has been used to search for gene sequences that participate in accurate transcriptional initiation and developmental control. Deletion mutants containing only 90 nucleotides of upstream sequence undergo correct developmental regulation, while deletion to -33 prevents normal activation of the gene. In the presence of sufficient upstream sequence, an actin-globin fusion gene, containing only 564 nucleotides downstream of the actin gene transcription startsite, is correctly activated. Taken together, these results imply that all sequences necessary for correct temporal regulation reside between -90 and +564 nucleotides, with respect to the transcriptional start site of the actin gene. They further suggest that developmental activation of actin gene transcription may involve either (1) interaction of non-DNA binding proteins with basal transcription factors, or (2) the concerted action of ubiquitous promoter-binding factors and factors that interact with downstream regulatory regions.

Characterization of circular mitochondrial plasmids in three Pythium species

Four circular plasmids, with a monomer size ranging from 3.2 to 4.94 kb, have been identified in isolates of P. aphanidermatum (two different plasmids), P. torulosum, and an unidentified echinulate isolate. The mitochondrial location has been confirmed for three of the plasmids. Each fungal isolate contained a single plasmid, present in both monomeric and oligomeric forms; plasmid monomers were present as open circles and as supercoiled forms. Restriction maps of the plasmids were dissimilar. Hybridization studies using cloned plasmids revealed no DNA sequence similarity among the different plasmids or between the plasmids and the nuclear or mitochondrial genome of the isolates from which they were recovered. Hybridization of labeled plasmid DNA to Northern transfers of mitochondrial RNA for two isolates indicate that what appears to be the predominant RNA transcript is unit length in size. For three isolates, the plasmid was retained following subculturing and was present in all asexual and sexual single-spore progeny evaluated. For one isolate of P. aphanidermatum the plasmid was unstable and was lost during subculturing.

Regulation of collagen gene expression by transformed human fibroblasts: decreased type I and type III collagen RNA transcription

The regulation of collagen gene expression in normal diploid human fetal fibroblasts (KMS-6 cells), and fibroblasts immortally transformed by treatment of KMS-6 with Co-60 gamma rays (KMST-6 cells) was compared to that of ones tumorigenically transformed by treatment of KMST-6 cells with Harvey murine sarcoma virus (KMST-6-Ras cells). Synthesized collagenous protein decreased to approximately 30% of that of normal fetal fibroblasts in both transformed cell lines, and the relative rate of collagen synthesis to total protein synthesis decreased about sixfold in KMST-6 cells and twelvefold in KMST-6-Ras cells. The m-RNA levels of type I collagen in both of these cell lines decreased to approximately 20% of that of the control fibroblasts, whereas type III collagen m-RNA levels decreased to only 9% of that of the control. The copy number of the collagen gene in both transformed cell lines was unaltered. The transcriptional rates of collagen alpha 1(I) and collagen alpha 1(III) in both cell lines decreased to 20% and 7% respectively of that of control. These data indicate that collagen synthesis was reduced at the transcriptional level in these transformed human fibroblasts.

Changes in the stability of a human H3 histone mRNA during the HeLa cell cycle

A major component of the regulation of histone protein synthesis during the cell cycle is the modulation of the half-life of histone mRNA. We have uncoupled transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation by using a Drosophila hsp70-human H3 histone fusion gene that produces a marked human H3 histone mRNA upon heat induction. Transcription of this gene can be switched on and off by raising and lowering cell culture temperatures, respectively. HeLa cell lines containing stably integrated copies of the fusion gene were synchronized by double thymidine block. Distinct populations of H3 histone mRNA were produced by heat induction in early S-phase, late S-phase, or G2-phase cells, and the stability of the induced H3 histone mRNA was measured. The H3 histone mRNA induced during early S phase decayed with a half-life of 110 min, whereas the same transcript induced during late S phase had a half-life of 10 to 15 min. The H3 histone mRNA induced in non-S-phase cells is more stable than that induced in late S phase, with a half-life of 40 min. Thus, the stability of histone mRNA is actively regulated throughout the cell cycle. Our results are consistent with an autoregulatory model in which the stability of histone mRNA is determined by the level of free histone protein in the cytoplasm.

Expression of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat/simian virus 40 early region fusion gene in transgenic mice

Three lines of transgenic mice carrying the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat fused to the simian virus 40 early region (HIV-1 Tag) were constructed. Expression of the transgenes was reproducibly observed in the lymphoid tissue and skin of all three transgenic lines studied. Interestingly, cell types other than T cells, i.e., B cells and thymic stromal cells, contributed most of the expression detectable in the lymphoid organs. Each transgenic line also displayed a different but consistent pattern of transgene expression in nonlymphoid organs. These individual patterns probably reflect the effects of particular chromosomal integration sites on transcriptional activity of the HIV-1 promoter.

Changes in the stability of a human H3 histone mRNA during the HeLa cell cycle

A major component of the regulation of histone protein synthesis during the cell cycle is the modulation of the half-life of histone mRNA. We have uncoupled transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation by using a Drosophila hsp70-human H3 histone fusion gene that produces a marked human H3 histone mRNA upon heat induction. Transcription of this gene can be switched on and off by raising and lowering cell culture temperatures, respectively. HeLa cell lines containing stably integrated copies of the fusion gene were synchronized by double thymidine block. Distinct populations of H3 histone mRNA were produced by heat induction in early S-phase, late S-phase, or G2-phase cells, and the stability of the induced H3 histone mRNA was measured. The H3 histone mRNA induced during early S phase decayed with a half-life of 110 min, whereas the same transcript induced during late S phase had a half-life of 10 to 15 min. The H3 histone mRNA induced in non-S-phase cells is more stable than that induced in late S phase, with a half-life of 40 min. Thus, the stability of histone mRNA is actively regulated throughout the cell cycle. Our results are consistent with an autoregulatory model in which the stability of histone mRNA is determined by the level of free histone protein in the cytoplasm.

Disruption of the cytoskeleton with cytochalasin D induces c-fos gene expression

The treatment of exponentially growing HeLa cells and quiescent WI-38 cells with cytochalasin D, which disrupts the cytoskeletal microfilaments, results in a rapid and marked increase in the transcription of the c-fos protooncogene with a concomitant increase in c-fos mRNA steady-state levels. Transcription of rRNA, HLA-B7, and H4 histone genes was not significantly affected by the drug treatment. These results suggest that the nucleus can respond to signals related to the structural organization of the cytoskeleton and selectively adjust the regulation of gene expression.

Differential association of membrane-bound and non-membrane-bound polysomes with the cytoskeleton

We report here a differential release of specific mRNAs from the cytoskeleton by cytochalasin D treatment. Non-membrane-bound polysomal mRNAs, such as histone mRNA and c-fos mRNA, are readily released from the cytoskeleton of HeLa cells during cytochalasin D treatment. Over 90% of H3 and H4 histone mRNA is associated with the cytoskeleton in control cells and only 25% in cells treated with cytochalasin D (40 micrograms/ml). In contrast, the membrane-bound polysomal mRNAs for HLA-B7 and chorionic gonadotropin-alpha are inefficiently released from the cytoskeletal framework by cytochalasin D alone; approximately 98% of the HLA-B7 mRNA in control cells is associated with the cytoskeleton, whereas approximately 65% of the HLA-B7 mRNA is retained on the cytoskeleton in cells treated with cytochalasin D (40 micrograms/ml). Disruption of polysome structure with puromycin during cytochalasin D treatment results in the efficient release of HLA-B7 mRNA from the cytoskeleton. Under these conditions, only 25% of the HLA-B7 mRNA remains associated with the cytoskeletal framework. Thus, membrane-bound polysomes appear to be attached to the cytoskeleton through a cytochalasin D-sensitive site as well as through association with the nascent polypeptide and/or ribosome. These results demonstrate a complex association of polysomes with the cytoskeleton and elements of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Substrate masking: binding of RNA by EGTA-inactivated micrococcal nuclease results in artifactual inhibition of RNA processing reactions

Inhibition of an RNA processing reaction after treatment with the Ca2(+)-dependent micrococcal nuclease (MN) is often used as a criterion for the presence of a required RNA or ribonucleoprotein component in the system. Following MN digestion, the nuclease is inactivated with EGTA and radiolabeled substrate is added to assay for remaining RNA processing activity. We found previously that inhibition of RNA processing by MN need not involve RNA hydrolysis: EGTA-inactivated MN can suppress RNA processing if the assay is performed in the absence of carrier RNA. We now demonstrate both by native gel electrophoresis and by nitrocellulose filter retention that EGTA-inactivated MN forms a complex with free RNA which can be dissociated by addition of synthetic polynucleotides or heparin. In the absence of Ca2+, nuclease binds to precursor tRNA with an apparent KD congruent to 1.4 x 10(-6) M, comparable to its reported affinity for DNA. In an assay for endonucleolytic tRNA maturation, inactivated MN bound to radiolabeled pre-tRNA physically blocks the sites of endonuclease cleavage and prevents tRNA processing. We call this phenomenon 'substrate masking'. Addition of excess carrier RNA competes with pre-tRNA for MN binding and restores normal processing.

Multiple types of mRNA-cytoskeleton interactions

Nearly all actively translated mRNAs are associated with the cytoskeleton in HeLa cells and the nature of this association is poorly understood. To gain insight into this association, we have examined and compared the cytoskeleton-mRNA interactions of a signal peptide-histone fusion mRNA (membrane-bound polysomal mRNA) to those of endogenous histone mRNA (nonmembrane-bound polysomal mRNA). We report here the detection of a cytoskeleton attachment site within the signal peptide-histone fusion mRNP/mRNA nucleotide sequence that is not present in wild-type histone mRNA or in HLA-B7 and chorionic gonadotropin-alpha membrane-bound polysomal mRNAs. These results support the possibility that there are multiple mechanisms for the attachment of specific classes of mRNAs to the cytoskeleton.

Structure of a telomeric expression site for variant specific surface antigens in Trypanosoma brucei

We have studied the organization of the expression site, in which most chromosome-internal variant-specific surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes of Trypanosoma brucei strain 427 are expressed (the dominant expression site) and compared it to the previously characterized VSG 221 expression site. With the exception of a 500 bp segment and a VSG pseudogene, which are absent from the dominant expression site, overall all major sequence elements of the two sites are organized similarly, as judged from their relative mapping positions by UV inactivation of transcription. Transcription is insensitive to 1 mg alpha-amanitin per ml, a characteristic property of VSG gene expression sites analyzed thus far. The sequence elements of the dominant expression site include at least one other expressed gene of unknown function and homologues of at least two other open reading frames. The large internal duplication of the 60-kb 221 expression site appear to be missing from the dominant site, resulting in a shorter, 40-kb transcription unit. As judged from its relative sensitivity to UV inactivation of transcription, a subsidiary promoter, identified by other methods in the dominant expression site appears fully dependent for its activity on the promoter located 40 kb upstream of the VSG gene. We conclude that all VSG gene expression sites may be similarly organized as large polygenic transcription units.

Transcription of a satellite DNA on two Y chromosome loops of Drosophila melanogaster

Primary spermatocyte nuclei of Drosophila melanogaster exhibit three giant lampbrush-like loops formed by the kl-5, kl-3 and ks-1 Y chromosome fertility factors. Detailed mapping of satellite DNA sequences along the Y chromosome has recently shown that AA-GAC satellite repeats are a significant component of the kl-5 and ks-1 loop-forming regions. To determine whether these simple repeated sequences are transcribed on the loop structures we performed a series of DNA-RNA in situ hybridization experiments to fixed loop preparations using as a probe cloned AAGAC repeats. These experiments showed that the probe hybridizes with homologous transcripts specifically associated with the kl-5 and ks-1 loops. These transcripts are detected at all stages of development of these two loops, do not appear to migrate to the cytoplasm and are degraded when loops disintegrate during the first meiotic prophase. Moreover, an examination of the testes revealed that the transcription of the AAGAC sequences is restricted to the loops of primary spermatocytes; the other cell types of D. melanogaster spermatogenesis do not exhibit nuclear or cytoplasmic labeling. These experiments were confirmed by RNA blotting analysis which showed that transcription of the AAGAC sequences occurs in wild-type testes but not in X/O testes. The patterns of hybridization to the RNA blots indicated that the transcripts are highly heterogeneous in size, from large (migration at limiting mobility) to less than 1 kb. We discuss the possible function of the AAGAC satellite transcripts, in the light of the available information on the Y chromosome loops of D. melanogaster.

Role of messenger RNA subcellular localization in the posttranscriptional regulation of human histone gene expression

Histone mRNAs are naturally localized on non-membrane-bound polysomes and selectively destabilized during inhibition of DNA replication. Targeting histone mRNA to membrane-bound polysomes, by incorporating sequences coding for a signal peptide into the message, results in the stabilization of the histone fusion mRNA when DNA synthesis is interrupted (Zambetti et al.: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 84:2683-2687, 1987). A single nucleotide substitution that abolishes the synthesis of the signal peptide results in the localization of the histone fusion mRNA on non-membrane-bound polysomes to the same extent as endogenous histone mRNA and fully restores the coupling of histone fusion mRNA stability to DNA replication. Signal peptide-histone fusion mRNAs containing two point mutations that result in the incorporation of two positively charged amino acids into the hydrophobic domain of the signal peptide are partially retained on non-membrane-bound polysomes and are partially destabilized during inhibition of DNA synthesis. These data indicate that the degree to which the signal peptide-histone fusion mRNAs are associated with non-membrane-bound polysomes is correlated with the extent to which the mRNAs are degraded during inhibition of DNA synthesis. These results suggest that the subcellular location of histone mRNA plays an important role in the posttranscriptional regulation of histone gene expression.

Effects of seven different mutations in the pho1 gene on enzymatic activity, glycosylation and secretion of acid phosphatase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Structural gene mutants of the cell-surface glycoprotein acid phosphatase of Schizosaccharomyces pombe were analysed to define structural determinants that are responsible for enzymatic activity, N-glycosylation and secretion. All seven defined mutations cause a single amino acid substitution in the mature acid phosphatase protein and destroy the enzymatic activity. The mutational lesions are distributed throughout the pho1 gene. A ser to phe substitution at position 349 abolishes enzymatic activity only and does not affect glycosylation and secretion. Two mutations create a new N-glycosylation site by substitution of pro at position 56 by phe and ser, respectively. This new site is apparently used in the mutants. Their core-glycosylated acid phosphatase is slightly larger than that of the wild type. Overglycosylation seems not to affect secretion. Four different mutations (a gly to asp substitution at position 281 and ser to phe substitutions at positions 150, 271 and 277) cause intracellular accumulation of enzymatically inactive core-glycosylated acid phosphatase precursor. These mutational lesions apparently block transport of acid phosphatase from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus.

The occurrence of long ribosomal transcripts homologous to type I insertions in bobbed mutants of Drosophila melanogaster

In Drosophila melanogaster up to two thirds of the rDNA genes contain insertion sequences of two types in the 28S coding region. Comparison of the ribosomal insertion transcripts in the wild type and in two bobbed mutants reared at two temperatures showed that the level of type I transcripts is dependent on both the number of genes with type I insertions in the bobbed loci and the intensity of bobbed phenotype. Importantly, a long transcript of 8.7 kb hybridized to the ribosomal probe, the INS I probe and also to the restriction fragment of the rDNA downstream of the point of insertion was found in one bobbed mutant. This result and also those from sandwich hybridization indicate that some interrupted ribosomal genes are functional.

Reversion of the attenuated and temperature-sensitive phenotypes of the Sabin type 3 strain of poliovirus in vaccinees

Isolates of type 3 poliovirus from vaccine-recipients were characterized in terms of virulence, sensitivity of growth to high temperatures, and differences in genome structure from the Sabin type 3 vaccine strain. These included point mutations in the region of the genome coding for the structural proteins and in the 5' noncoding region, and the presence of type 1 or type 2 poliovirus genomic sequences resulting from intertypic recombination. Isolates from healthy vaccinees resembled those from vaccine-associated cases of poliomyelitis in all of these properties. Suppression of the temperature-sensitive phenotype was strictly correlated with reversion to virulence in nonrecombinant type 3 strains. Recombinant isolates were more attenuated than expected, even when they had lost all mutations known to attenuate the type 3 vaccine strain.

Transcriptional regulation of two cytotoxic T lymphocyte-specific serine protease genes

The expression of two serine proteases is induced by antigenic stimulation in cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Using nuclear run-on analysis the increase in steady state mRNA level has been shown to correspond to transcriptional activation. However, the two genes appear to be sequentially rather than coordinately induced. Both genes were shown to be more sensitive to DNase I digestion than a beta-globin gene in cytotoxic T cells. In addition, for the cytotoxic cell protease 1 gene the 5' region of the gene was more sensitive than the 3' end. Two DNaseI hypersensitive sites were seen in the 5' flanking sequences of both genes. The DNA sequences of the upstream regions of both genes were determined and compared. Although the two flanking sequences are overall quite dissimilar, there are short regions which are shared between the two CTL-protease genes. A number of these have been implicated in regulating the expression of other T cell genes.

Isolation and sequence of four small nuclear U RNA genes of Trypanosoma brucei subsp. brucei: identification of the U2, U4, and U6 RNA analogs

Trypanosomes use trans splicing to place a common 39-nucleotide spliced-leader sequence on the 5' ends of all of their mRNAs. To identify likely participants in this reaction, we used antiserum directed against the characteristic U RNA 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG) cap to immunoprecipitate six candidate U RNAs from total trypanosome RNA. Genomic Southern analysis using oligonucleotide probes constructed from partial RNA sequence indicated that the four largest RNAs (A through D) are encoded by single-copy genes that are not closely linked to one another. We have cloned and sequenced these genes, mapped the 5' ends of the encoded RNAs, and identified three of the RNAs as the trypanosome U2, U4, and U6 analogs by virtue of their sequences and structural homologies with the corresponding metazoan U RNAs. The fourth RNA, RNA B (144 nucleotides), was not sufficiently similar to known U RNAs to allow us to propose an identify. Surprisingly, none of these U RNAs contained the consensus Sm antigen-binding site, a feature totally conserved among several classes of U RNAs, including U2 and U4. Similarly, the sequence of the U2 RNA region shown to be involved in pre-mRNA branchpoint recognition in yeast, and exactly conserved in metazoan U2 RNAs, was totally divergent in trypanosomes. Like all other U6 RNAs, trypanosome U6 did not contain a TMG cap and was immunoprecipitated from deproteinized RNA by anti-TMG antibody because of its association with the TMG-capped U4 RNA. These two RNAs contained extensive regions of sequence complementarity which phylogenetically support the secondary-structure model proposed by D. A. Brow and C. Guthrie (Nature [London] 334:213-218, 1988) for the organization of the analogous yeast U4-U6 complex.

Human B cell lines can be triggered to secrete an interleukin 2-like molecule

To determine whether human B cells can be triggered to secrete interleukin 2 (IL-2), 19 tumor cell lines derived from patients with undifferentiated lymphomas of Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's types and 6 normal lymphoblastoid cell lines were tested. Cells were grown in the presence or absence of the new tumor promoter teleocidin, and culture supernatants were assayed for IL-2 activity using the standard CTLL-2 assay. Teleocidin (10 ng/ml) triggered IL-2 secretion in 7/8 (87%) EBV-negative lymphoma cell lines of American origin and in 6/6 (100%) normal lymphoblastoid cell lines, but in only 1/6 (16%) EBV-positive tumor cell lines of American origin. Teleocidin had no effect on 5/5 (0%) African Burkitt's cell lines. IL-2 secretion was not detected in control supernatants. IL-2 secretion correlated with the induction of IgM secretion and was linked to both EBV status and karyotype. The following similarities in the functional biological characteristics of T cell and B cell IL-2 suggest that B cell IL-2 is not a factor which mimics IL-2 activity in the CTLL-2 assay: (i) neutralization of IL-2 by anti-IL-2 monoclonal antibody (DMS-1); (ii) elution of IL-2 following its adsorption to CTLL-2 cells; (iii) determination of the MW of IL-2 by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis; and (iv) ability of B cell IL-2 to support T cell proliferation and blocking of this activity by anti-tac monoclonal antibody. cDNA probes for T cell IL-2, however, did not detect IL-2 mRNA in B cells. The cell lines were also found to constitutively express IL-2 receptors detected by anti-tac monoclonal antibody, and to secrete soluble IL-2 receptors measured by ELISA. Our results imply that under certain circumstances, B cells can be triggered to secrete IL-2 or an IL-2-like molecule and thus influence T cell activation and proliferation.

The mitochondrial plasmid from Neurospora intermedia strain Labelle-1b contains a long open reading frame with blocks of amino acids characteristic of reverse transcriptases and related proteins

We have determined the DNA sequence of the 4070 base pair mitochondrial plasmid from the Labelle-1b strain of Neurospora intermedia. Analysis of the sequence revealed that the plasmid contains a long open reading frame (ORF) that could encode a protein of up to 1151 amino acids. Codon usage in the long ORF shows no clear relationship to Neurospora mitochondrial genes, nuclear genes, nor to the ORF of a different Neurospora mitochondrial plasmid. The long ORF contains regions of similarity to yeast mitochondrial RNA polymerase as well as blocks of amino acids that are characteristic of reverse transcriptases and the ORFs of certain group II mtDNA introns (Michel and Lang, (1985) Nature 316,641). The plasmid gives rise to specific transcripts, some of which may be unit length, and which carry the information for expression of the long ORF. The genetic organization and content of the plasmid suggest that it is related to mobile genetic elements.

Isolation and sequence of four small nuclear U RNA genes of Trypanosoma brucei subsp. brucei: identification of the U2, U4, and U6 RNA analogs

Trypanosomes use trans splicing to place a common 39-nucleotide spliced-leader sequence on the 5' ends of all of their mRNAs. To identify likely participants in this reaction, we used antiserum directed against the characteristic U RNA 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG) cap to immunoprecipitate six candidate U RNAs from total trypanosome RNA. Genomic Southern analysis using oligonucleotide probes constructed from partial RNA sequence indicated that the four largest RNAs (A through D) are encoded by single-copy genes that are not closely linked to one another. We have cloned and sequenced these genes, mapped the 5' ends of the encoded RNAs, and identified three of the RNAs as the trypanosome U2, U4, and U6 analogs by virtue of their sequences and structural homologies with the corresponding metazoan U RNAs. The fourth RNA, RNA B (144 nucleotides), was not sufficiently similar to known U RNAs to allow us to propose an identify. Surprisingly, none of these U RNAs contained the consensus Sm antigen-binding site, a feature totally conserved among several classes of U RNAs, including U2 and U4. Similarly, the sequence of the U2 RNA region shown to be involved in pre-mRNA branchpoint recognition in yeast, and exactly conserved in metazoan U2 RNAs, was totally divergent in trypanosomes. Like all other U6 RNAs, trypanosome U6 did not contain a TMG cap and was immunoprecipitated from deproteinized RNA by anti-TMG antibody because of its association with the TMG-capped U4 RNA. These two RNAs contained extensive regions of sequence complementarity which phylogenetically support the secondary-structure model proposed by D. A. Brow and C. Guthrie (Nature [London] 334:213-218, 1988) for the organization of the analogous yeast U4-U6 complex.

Induction of the copper resistance operon from Pseudomonas syringae

Cupric sulfate induced mRNA specific to the copper resistance gene cluster previously cloned from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato PT23. mRNA from each of the four genes of this cluster responded in a similar manner to induction over time and with different concentrations of cupric sulfate. Promoter fusion constructs indicated the presence of a single copper-inducible promoter upstream from the first open reading frame.

Expression and stability of c-sis mRNA in human glioblastoma cells

The production of platelet-derived growth factor like (PDGF-like) material by glioblastomas may be involved in the conversion of normal cells to tumor cells. In an investigation of this problem, we have examined some of the properties of the platelet-derived growth factor B-chain mRNA (c-sis mRNA) by a sensitive and quantitative RNA-RNA solution hybridization method. In 5 out of 8 human glioblastoma cell lines, c-sis mRNA was present, and in the line with the highest level, there were approximately 4-10 molecules per cell. The half-lives of the c-sis mRNA in two glioblastoma cell lines were 2.6 and 3.4 h, while in human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) and bladder carcinoma (T24) cells they were 1.6 and 2.5 h, respectively. Inhibiting protein synthesis produced no significant alteration of the c-sis mRNA half-lives in the glioblastoma or HUVE cells. The A-U-rich sequence at the 3' end of the c-sis mRNA therefore does not appear to affect the mRNA stability in the presence of cycloheximide as it does in other transcripts. The similarity of the c-sis mRNA half-lives in normal and tumor cells suggests that regulation of stability of c-sis mRNA is not a major factor in tumorigenesis in the glioblastoma cell lines examined.

Detection of glia-derived nexin in the olfactory system of the rat

Glia-derived nexin (GDN) is a 43 kd cell-secreted protease inhibitor with neurite promoting activity. We have raised specific polyclonal antisera to rat GDN. These antibodies stain a single band at 43 kd on immunoblots of concentrated C6 glioma-conditioned medium and have been used to demonstrate that GDN is present in the olfactory system of the rat. One band at 43 kd is recognized by the GDN antibodies on immunoblots of olfactory bulb homogenate. Immunohistochemistry shows that GDN occurs predominantly in the olfactory nerve layer of the olfactory bulb and in the olfactory submucosa. Comparative studies with antibodies against vimentin, GFAP, and fibronectin suggest that anti-GDN recognizes cells associated with the olfactory system, but not exclusively the olfactory neurons themselves. Data from the immunohistochemical studies were confirmed by RNA blots and GDN mRNA expression throughout development of the olfactory bulb. The high levels of GDN in the rat olfactory system may be related to the continuous degeneration and regeneration phenomena taking place in these structures.

Post-transcriptional control of the differential expression of phosphoglycerate kinase genes in Trypanosoma brucei

The genes for the cytosolic and glycosomal phosphoglycerate kinases (PGK) of Trypanosoma brucei are found in a compact tandem array together with a third PGK-related gene, expressed at low level. Expression of the two PGK genes is differentially regulated in the life cycle of T. brucei: the glycosomal PGK and its mRNA are abundant in the mammalian stage of the cycle but not in the insect stage, whereas the reverse is found for the cytosolic PGK and its mRNA. Nevertheless, our experiments indicate that the mRNAs for both isoenzymes are derived from a common precursor. Nuclease protection experiments using fragments cloned into single-stranded DNA vectors show the presence of low abundance RNA species running through one gene into the next. Indeed minor RNA species larger than the mature mRNAs are visible in overexposed RNA blots. Analysis of nascent RNA in a nuclear run-on assay indicates that the entire PGK gene array is transcribed at an equal rate throughout in both life cycle stages. We conclude that the PGK genes are part of one large multicistronic transcription unit, which is processed to yield the individual mRNAs with concomitant addition of the 5' 35-nucleotide mini-exon sequence, characteristic of all trypanosome mRNAs. It follows that the steady-state levels of the PGK mRNAs are controlled post-transcriptionally.

Changes in the expression of collagen genes show two stages in chondrocyte differentiation in vitro

This report deals with the quantitation of both mRNA and transcription activity of type I collagen gene and of three cartilage-specific collagens (types II, IX, and X) during in vitro differentiation of chick chondrocytes. Differentiation was obtained by transferal to suspension culture of dedifferentiated cells passaged for 3 wk as adherent cells. The type I collagen mRNA, highly represented in the dedifferentiated cells, rapidly decreased during chondrocyte differentiation. On the contrary, types II and IX collagen mRNAs sharply increased within the first week of suspension culture, peaked in the second week, and thereafter began to decrease. This decrease was particularly significant for type IX collagen mRNA. The level of type X collagen mRNA progressively increased during the course of the culture, reached its maximal value after 3-4 wk, and decreased only at a later stage of cell differentiation. As determined by in vitro run-off transcription assays, all these changes in collagen mRNA levels could be attributed to parallel modifications in the relative rate of transcription of the corresponding collagen genes. We suggest that chicken chondrocyte differentiation proceeds through at least two different steps: (a) first, transition from a stage characterized by a high level of type I collagen mRNA to a stage characterized by predominance of types II and IX collagen mRNAs; (b) later, transition to a stage characterized by the highest level of type X collagen mRNA.

Efficient utilization and operation of the gluconate-inducible system of the promoter of the Bacillus subtilis gnt operon in Escherichia coli

A DNA fragment containing the promoter of the Bacillus subtilis gluconate (gnt) operon and its first gene (gntR) was cloned into Escherichia coli. E. coli recognized this promoter efficiently and precisely. Moreover, the gluconate-inducible system of this operon operated even in E. coli.