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Jhaveri N, van den Berg W, Hwang BJ, Muller HM, Sternberg PW, Gupta BP. Genome annotation of Caenorhabditis briggsae by TEC-RED identifies new exons, paralogs, and conserved and novel operons. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6575897. [PMID: 35485953 PMCID: PMC9258526 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae is routinely used in comparative and evolutionary studies involving its well-known cousin Caenorhabditis elegans. The C. briggsae genome sequence has accelerated research by facilitating the generation of new resources, tools, and functional studies of genes. While substantial progress has been made in predicting genes and start sites, experimental evidence is still lacking in many cases. Here, we report an improved annotation of the C. briggsae genome using the trans-spliced exon coupled RNA end determination technique. In addition to identifying the 5′ ends of expressed genes, we have discovered operons and paralogs. In summary, our analysis yielded 10,243 unique 5′ end sequence tags with matches in the C. briggsae genome. Of these, 6,395 were found to represent 4,252 unique genes along with 362 paralogs and 52 previously unknown exons. These genes included 14 that are exclusively trans-spliced in C. briggsae when compared with C. elegans orthologs. A major contribution of this study is the identification of 492 high confidence operons, of which two-thirds are fully supported by tags. In addition, 2 SL1-type operons were discovered. Interestingly, comparisons with C. elegans showed that only 40% of operons are conserved. Of the remaining operons, 73 are novel, including 12 that entirely lack orthologs in C. elegans. Further analysis revealed that 4 of the 12 novel operons are conserved in Caenorhabditis nigoni. Altogether, the work described here has significantly advanced our understanding of the C. briggsae system and serves as a rich resource to aid biological studies involving this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Jhaveri
- Department of Biology, McMaster University , Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | | | - Byung Joon Hwang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Hans-Michael Muller
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Paul W Sternberg
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Bhagwati P Gupta
- Department of Biology, McMaster University , Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
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2
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Wenzel MA, Müller B, Pettitt J. SLIDR and SLOPPR: flexible identification of spliced leader trans-splicing and prediction of eukaryotic operons from RNA-Seq data. BMC Bioinformatics 2021; 22:140. [PMID: 33752599 PMCID: PMC7986045 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-021-04009-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spliced leader (SL) trans-splicing replaces the 5' end of pre-mRNAs with the spliced leader, an exon derived from a specialised non-coding RNA originating from elsewhere in the genome. This process is essential for resolving polycistronic pre-mRNAs produced by eukaryotic operons into monocistronic transcripts. SL trans-splicing and operons may have independently evolved multiple times throughout Eukarya, yet our understanding of these phenomena is limited to only a few well-characterised organisms, most notably C. elegans and trypanosomes. The primary barrier to systematic discovery and characterisation of SL trans-splicing and operons is the lack of computational tools for exploiting the surge of transcriptomic and genomic resources for a wide range of eukaryotes. RESULTS Here we present two novel pipelines that automate the discovery of SLs and the prediction of operons in eukaryotic genomes from RNA-Seq data. SLIDR assembles putative SLs from 5' read tails present after read alignment to a reference genome or transcriptome, which are then verified by interrogating corresponding SL RNA genes for sequence motifs expected in bona fide SL RNA molecules. SLOPPR identifies RNA-Seq reads that contain a given 5' SL sequence, quantifies genome-wide SL trans-splicing events and predicts operons via distinct patterns of SL trans-splicing events across adjacent genes. We tested both pipelines with organisms known to carry out SL trans-splicing and organise their genes into operons, and demonstrate that (1) SLIDR correctly detects expected SLs and often discovers novel SL variants; (2) SLOPPR correctly identifies functionally specialised SLs, correctly predicts known operons and detects plausible novel operons. CONCLUSIONS SLIDR and SLOPPR are flexible tools that will accelerate research into the evolutionary dynamics of SL trans-splicing and operons throughout Eukarya and improve gene discovery and annotation for a wide range of eukaryotic genomes. Both pipelines are implemented in Bash and R and are built upon readily available software commonly installed on most bioinformatics servers. Biological insight can be gleaned even from sparse, low-coverage datasets, implying that an untapped wealth of information can be retrieved from existing RNA-Seq datasets as well as from novel full-isoform sequencing protocols as they become more widely available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius A Wenzel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK.
| | - Berndt Müller
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Jonathan Pettitt
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
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3
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Sun W, Song X, Yan R, Xu L, Li X. Cloning and characterization of a selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase (HC29) from adult Haemonchus contortus. J Vet Sci 2012; 13:49-58. [PMID: 22437536 PMCID: PMC3317457 DOI: 10.4142/jvs.2012.13.1.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The complete coding sequence of Haemonchus (H.) contortus HC29 cDNA was generated by rapid amplification of cDNA ends in combination with PCR using primers targeting the 5'- and 3'-ends of the partial mRNA sequence. The cloned HC29 cDNA was shown to be 1,113 bp in size with an open reading frame of 507 bp, encoding a protein of 168 amino acid with a calculated molecular mass of 18.9 kDa. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the cloned HC29 cDNA contained the conserved catalytic triad and dimer interface of selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase (GPX). Alignment of the predicted amino acid sequences demonstrated that the protein shared 44.7~80.4% similarity with GPX homologues in the thioredoxin-like family. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close evolutionary proximity of the GPX sequence to the counterpart sequences. These results suggest that HC29 cDNA is a GPX, a member of the thioredoxin-like family. Alignment of the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of HC29 with those of the reported selenium-independent GPX of H. contortus showed that HC29 contained different types of spliced leader sequences as well as dimer interface sites, although the active sites of both were identical. Enzymatic analysis of recombinant prokaryotic HC29 protein showed activity for the hydrolysis of H2O2. These findings indicate that HC29 is a selenium-independent GPX of H. contortus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China
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4
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Tian B, Graber JH. Signals for pre-mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2011; 3:385-96. [PMID: 22012871 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Pre-mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation is an essential step for 3' end formation of almost all protein-coding transcripts in eukaryotes. The reaction, involving cleavage of nascent mRNA followed by addition of a polyadenylate or poly(A) tail, is controlled by cis-acting elements in the pre-mRNA surrounding the cleavage site. Experimental and bioinformatic studies in the past three decades have elucidated conserved and divergent elements across eukaryotes, from yeast to human. Here we review histories and current models of these elements in a broad range of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Tian
- UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
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5
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Molecular cloning, expression and characterization of enolase from adult Haemonchus contortus. Res Vet Sci 2011; 92:259-65. [PMID: 21444098 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2011.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2010] [Revised: 03/03/2011] [Accepted: 03/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Enolase represents a multifunctional protein involved in basic energy metabolism. In the present research, the enolase gene of Haemonchus contortus (HcENO) was cloned and characterized. Specific primers for the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) were designed based on the expression sequence tag (EST, GenBank Accession No. BF422728) to amplify the 3'- and 5'-ends of HcENO. The full length of cDNA from this gene was obtained by overlapping the sequences of 3'- and 5'-extremities and amplification by reverse transcription PCR. The biochemical activities of the recombinant protein HcENO, which was expressed in prokaryotic cells and purified by affinity chromatography, were analyzed by assays of enzymatic activity, stability to pH. The results showed that the cloned full length cDNA comprised 1583 bp and encoded a peptide with 434 amino acid residues which showed sequence similarity to several known enolases. The biochemical assay showed that the protein encoded by the HcENO exhibited enzymatic activity, whilst the HcENO was stable between pH 6 and 8. The natural enolase of H. contortus detected by immunoblot assay was approximately 49 kDa in size, and the recombinant HcENO was recognized strongly by serum from experimentally infected goats.
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6
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Morton JJ, Blumenthal T. Identification of transcription start sites of trans-spliced genes: uncovering unusual operon arrangements. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2011; 17:327-337. [PMID: 21156961 PMCID: PMC3022281 DOI: 10.1261/rna.2447111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2010] [Accepted: 11/03/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In Caenorhabditis elegans, the transcripts of many genes are trans-spliced to an SL1 spliced leader, a process that removes the RNA extending from the transcription start site to the trans-splice site, thereby making it difficult to determine the position of the promoter. Here we use RT-PCR to identify promoters of trans-spliced genes. Many genes in C. elegans are organized in operons where genes are closely clustered, typically separated by only ~100 nucleotides, and transcribed by an upstream promoter. The transcripts of downstream genes are trans-spliced to an SL2 spliced leader. The polycistronic precursor RNA is processed into individual transcripts by 3' end formation and trans-splicing. Although the SL2 spliced leader does not appear to be used for other gene arrangements, there is a relatively small number of genes whose transcripts are processed by SL2 but are not close to another gene in the same orientation. Although these genes do not appear to be members of classical C. elegans operons, we investigated whether these might represent unusual operons with long spacing or a different, nonoperon mechanism for specifying SL2 trans-splicing. We show transcription of the entire region between the SL2 trans-spliced gene and the next upstream gene, sometimes several kilobases distant, suggesting that these represent exceptional operons. We also report a second type of atypical "alternative" operon, in which 3' end formation and trans-splicing by SL2 occur within an intron. In this case, the processing sometimes results in a single transcript, and sometimes in two separate mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Jason Morton
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
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7
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Abstract
Trans-splicing is the joining together of portions of two separate pre-mRNA molecules. The two distinct categories of spliceosomal trans-splicing are genic trans-splicing, which joins exons of different pre-mRNA transcripts, and spliced leader (SL) trans-splicing, which involves an exon donated from a specialized SL RNA. Both depend primarily on the same signals and components as cis-splicing. Genic trans-splicing events producing protein-coding mRNAs have been described in a variety of organisms, including Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila. In mammalian cells, genic trans-splicing can be associated with cancers and translocations. SL trans-splicing has mainly been studied in nematodes and trypanosomes, but there are now numerous and diverse phyla (including primitive chordates) where this type of trans-splicing has been detected. Such diversity raises questions as to the evolutionary origin of the process. Another intriguing question concerns the function of trans-splicing, as operon resolution can only account for a small proportion of the total amount of SL trans-splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika L Lasda
- University of Colorado Denver, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics; University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
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9
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Allen MA, Hillier LW, Waterston RH, Blumenthal T. A global analysis of C. elegans trans-splicing. Genome Res 2010; 21:255-64. [PMID: 21177958 DOI: 10.1101/gr.113811.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Trans-splicing of one of two short leader RNAs, SL1 or SL2, occurs at the 5' ends of pre-mRNAs of many C. elegans genes. We have exploited RNA-sequencing data from the modENCODE project to analyze the transcriptome of C. elegans for patterns of trans-splicing. Transcripts of ∼70% of genes are trans-spliced, similar to earlier estimates based on analysis of far fewer genes. The mRNAs of most trans-spliced genes are spliced to either SL1 or SL2, but most genes are not trans-spliced to both, indicating that SL1 and SL2 trans-splicing use different underlying mechanisms. SL2 trans-splicing occurs in order to separate the products of genes in operons genome wide. Shorter intercistronic distance is associated with greater use of SL2. Finally, increased use of SL1 trans-splicing to downstream operon genes can indicate the presence of an extra promoter in the intercistronic region, creating what has been termed a "hybrid" operon. Within hybrid operons the presence of the two promoters results in the use of the two SL classes: Transcription that originates at the promoter upstream of another gene creates a polycistronic pre-mRNA that receives SL2, whereas transcription that originates at the internal promoter creates transcripts that receive SL1. Overall, our data demonstrate that >17% of all C. elegans genes are in operons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ann Allen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
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10
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Cloning, expression and characterization of NAD+-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of adult Haemonchus contortus†. J Helminthol 2010; 85:421-9. [DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x10000763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractGlyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) regulates a wide range of biological processes, including pathogen evasion. In the present research, the GAPDH gene of Haemonchus contortus (HcGAPDH) was cloned and characterized. Specific primers for the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) were designed based on the expressed sequence tag (EST, AW670737) to amplify the 3′ and 5′ ends of HcGAPDH. The full length of cDNA from this gene was obtained by overlapping the sequences of 3′ and 5′ extremities and amplification by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The biochemical activities of the recombinant protein HcGAPDH, which was expressed in prokaryotic cells and purified by affinity chromatography, were analysed by assays of enzymatic activity, thermal stability and pH. The results showed that the cloned full-length cDNA comprised 1303 bp and encoded a peptide with 341 amino acid residues which showed sequence similarity to several known GAPDHs. The biochemical assay showed that the protein encoded by the HcGAPDH exhibited enzymatic activity with NAD+ as a cofactor. HcGAPDH was stable between pH 5 and 9 and maintained activity at high temperatures of up to 75°C. The natural GAPDH of Haemonchus contortus detected by immunoblot assay was approximately 38 kDa in size, and the recombinant HcGAPDH was recognized strongly by serum from naturally infected goats.
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11
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Sinclair J, Hamza I. A novel heme-responsive element mediates transcriptional regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:39536-43. [PMID: 20938051 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.167619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemes are prosthetic groups that participate in diverse biochemical pathways across phylogeny. Although heme can also regulate broad physiological processes by directly modulating gene expression in Metazoa, the regulatory pathways for sensing and responding to heme are not well defined. Caenorhabditis elegans is a heme auxotroph and relies solely on environmental heme for sustenance. Worms respond to heme availability by regulating heme-responsive genes such as hrg-1, an intestinal heme transporter that is up-regulated by >60-fold during heme depletion. To identify the mechanism for the heme-dependent regulation of hrg-1, we interrogated the hrg-1 promoter. Deletion and mutagenesis studies of the hrg-1 promoter revealed a 23-bp heme-responsive element that is both necessary and sufficient for heme-dependent regulation of hrg-1. Furthermore, our studies show that the heme regulation of hrg-1 is mediated by both activation and repression in conjunction with ELT-2 and ELT-4, transcription factors that specify intestinal expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Sinclair
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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12
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Chew DS, Mah AK, Baillie DL. Characterizing the transcriptional regulation of let-721, a Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of human electron flavoprotein dehydrogenase. Mol Genet Genomics 2009; 282:555-70. [PMID: 19774399 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-009-0485-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2009] [Accepted: 09/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
LET-721 is the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of electron-transferring flavoprotein dehydrogenase (ETFDH). We are studying this protein in C. elegans in order to establish a tractable model system for further exploration of ETFDH structure and function. ETFDH is an inner mitochondrial membrane localized enzyme that plays a key role in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids and catabolism of amino acids and choline. ETFDH accepts electrons from at least twelve mitochondrial matrix flavoprotein dehydrogenases via an intermediate dimer protein and transfers the electrons to ubiquinone. In humans, ETFDH mutations result in the autosomal recessive metabolic disorder, multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency. Mutants of let-721 in C. elegans are either maternal effect lethals or semi-sterile. let-721 is transcribed in the pharynx, body wall muscle, hypoderm, intestine and somatic gonad. In addition, the subcellular localization of LET-721 agrees with predictions that it is localized to mitochondria. We identified and confirmed three cis-regulatory sequences (pha-site, rep-site, and act-site). Phylogenetic footprinting of each site indicates that they are conserved between four Caenorhabditis species. The pha-site mapped roughly 1,300 bp upstream of let-721's translational start site and is necessary for expression in pharyngeal tissues. The rep-site mapped roughly 830 bp upstream of the translational start site and represses expression of LET-721 within pharyngeal tissues. The act-site mapped roughly 800 bp upstream of the translational start site and is required for expression within spermatheca, body wall muscle, pharynx, and intestine. Taken together, we find that LET-721 is a mitochondrially expressed protein that is under complex transcriptional controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek S Chew
- Department Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
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13
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Functional analysis of putative operons in Brugia malayi. Int J Parasitol 2009; 40:63-71. [PMID: 19631652 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2009] [Revised: 07/06/2009] [Accepted: 07/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Operons are a common mode of gene organization in Caenorhabditis elegans. Similar gene arrangements suggest that functional operons may exist in Brugia malayi. To definitively test this hypothesis, a bicistronic reporter vector consisting of an upstream firefly luciferase gene and a downstream renilla luciferase gene was constructed. The genome was then surveyed to identify 15 gene pairs that were likely to represent operons. Two of four domains upstream of the 5' gene from these clusters exhibited promoter activity. When constructs replicating the promoter and intergenic arrangement found in the native putative operon were transfected into embryos, both firefly and renilla activities were detected, while constructs with the promoter alone or intergenic region alone produced no activity from the downstream reporter. These data confirm that functional operons exist in B. malayi. Mutation of three U-rich element homologues present in one of the operons resulted in a decrease in downstream renilla reporter activity, suggesting that these were important in mRNA maturation. Hemi-nested reverse transcriptase-PCR assays demonstrated that while the mRNA encoding the native downstream open reading frame of one operon contained an SL1 spliced leader at its 5' end, the renilla gene mRNA produced from the corresponding transgenic construct did not.
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14
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Graber JH, Salisbury J, Hutchins LN, Blumenthal T. C. elegans sequences that control trans-splicing and operon pre-mRNA processing. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2007; 13:1409-26. [PMID: 17630324 PMCID: PMC1950753 DOI: 10.1261/rna.596707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2007] [Accepted: 05/17/2007] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Many mRNAs in Caenorhabditis elegans are generated through a trans-splicing reaction that adds one of two classes of spliced leader RNA to an independently transcribed pre-mRNA. SL1 leaders are spliced mostly to pre-mRNAs from genes with outrons, intron-like sequences at the 5'-ends of the pre-mRNAs. In contrast, SL2 leaders are nearly exclusively trans-spliced to genes that occur downstream in polycistronic pre-mRNAs produced from operons. Operon pre-mRNA processing requires separation into individual transcripts, which is accomplished by 3'-processing of upstream genes and spliced leader trans-splicing to the downstream genes. We used a novel computational analysis, based on nonnegative matrix factorization, to identify and characterize significant differences in the cis-acting sequence elements that differentiate various types of functional site, including internal versus terminal 3'-processing sites, and SL1 versus SL2 trans-splicing sites. We describe several key elements, including the U-rich (Ur) element that couples 3'-processing with SL2 trans-splicing, and a novel outron (Ou) element that occurs upstream of SL1 trans-splicing sites. Finally, we present models of the distinct classes of trans-splicing reaction, including SL1 trans-splicing at the outron, SL2 trans-splicing in standard operons, competitive SL1-SL2 trans-splicing in operons with large intergenic separation, and SL1 trans-splicing in SL1-type operons, which have no intergenic separation.
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15
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McMiller TL, Sims D, Lee T, Williams T, Johnson CM. Molecular characterization of the Caenorhabditis elegans REF-1 family member, hlh-29/hlh-28. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 1769:5-19. [PMID: 17258327 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbaexp.2006.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2006] [Revised: 12/11/2006] [Accepted: 12/12/2006] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Members of the Caenorhabditis elegans REF-1 family of bHLH proteins are atypical in that each protein contains two bHLH domains. In this study we describe a functional and molecular characterization of the REF-1 family members, hlh-29/hlh-28. 5'-RACE results confirm the presence of two bHLH domain coding regions in a single transcript and quantitative PCR (qPCR) shows that hlh-29/hlh-28 mRNA is detected in wild-type animals throughout development. A promoter fusion of hlh-29 to the green fluorescent protein shows post-embryonic reporter activity in cells of the vulva, the somatic gonad, the intestine and in neuronal cells of the head and tail. Loss of hlh-29/hlh-28 function via RNA interference (RNAi) results in multiple phenotypes including late embryonic lethality, yolk protein accumulation, everted vulva, bordering behavior, and alter chemosensory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracee L McMiller
- Department of Biology, School of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, Morgan State University, 1700 E. Coldspring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA
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Satou Y, Hamaguchi M, Takeuchi K, Hastings KEM, Satoh N. Genomic overview of mRNA 5'-leader trans-splicing in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Nucleic Acids Res 2006; 34:3378-88. [PMID: 16822859 PMCID: PMC1488885 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkl418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although spliced leader (SL) trans-splicing in the chordates was discovered in the tunicate Ciona intestinalis there has been no genomic overview analysis of the extent of trans-splicing or the make-up of the trans-spliced and non-trans-spliced gene populations of this model organism. Here we report such an analysis for Ciona based on the oligo-capping full-length cDNA approach. We randomly sampled 2078 5'-full-length ESTs representing 668 genes, or 4.2% of the entire genome. Our results indicate that Ciona contains a single major SL, which is efficiently trans-spliced to mRNAs transcribed from a specific set of genes representing approximately 50% of the total number of expressed genes, and that individual trans-spliced mRNA species are, on average, 2-3-fold less abundant than non-trans-spliced mRNA species. Our results also identify a relationship between trans-splicing status and gene functional classification; ribosomal protein genes fall predominantly into the non-trans-spliced category. In addition, our data provide the first evidence for the occurrence of polycistronic transcription in Ciona. An interesting feature of the Ciona polycistronic transcription units is that the great majority entirely lack intercistronic sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Satou
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto UniversitySakyo, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +81-75-753-4095; Fax: +81-75-705-1113;
| | - Makoto Hamaguchi
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto UniversitySakyo, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Keisuke Takeuchi
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto UniversitySakyo, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Kenneth E. M. Hastings
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Department of Biology, McGill University3801 University St. Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B4
| | - Nori Satoh
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto UniversitySakyo, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
- CREST, Japan Science Technology AgencyKawaguchi, Saitama, 330-0012, Japan
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Towers PR, Edwards B, Richmond JE, Sattelle DB. The Caenorhabditis elegans lev-8 gene encodes a novel type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha subunit. J Neurochem 2005; 93:1-9. [PMID: 15773900 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2004.02951.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We have cloned Caenorhabditis elegans lev-8 and demonstrated that it encodes a novel nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit (previously designated ACR-13), which has functional roles in body wall and uterine muscles as part of a levamisole-sensitive receptor. LEV-8 is an alpha subunit and is the first to be described from the ACR-8-like group, a new class of nAChR with atypical acetylcholine-binding site (loop C) and channel-lining motifs. A single base pair change in the first intron of lev-8 in lev-8(x15) mutants leads to alternative splicing and the introduction of a premature stop codon. lev-8(x15) worms are partially resistant to levamisole-induced egg laying and paralysis, phenotypes rescued by expression of the wild-type gene. lev-8(x15) worms also show reduced rates of pharyngeal pumping. Electrophysiological recordings from body wall muscle show that currents recorded in response to levamisole have reduced amplitude in lev-8(x15) compared with wild-type animals. Consistent with these phenotypic observations, green fluorescent protein fused to LEV-8 is expressed in body wall and uterine muscle, motor neurons and epithelial-derived socket cells. Thus, LEV-8 is a levamisole receptor subunit and exhibits the most diverse expression pattern of any invertebrate nAChR subunit studied to date.
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MESH Headings
- Action Potentials/drug effects
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Antinematodal Agents/pharmacology
- Behavior, Animal
- Blotting, Northern/methods
- Body Size/genetics
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology
- Caenorhabditis elegans
- Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/chemistry
- Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/metabolism
- Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/physiology
- Cloning, Molecular/methods
- Electrophysiology/methods
- Epithelial Cells/physiology
- Feeding Behavior/physiology
- Gene Expression
- Genomics/methods
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism
- Levamisole/pharmacology
- Movement/drug effects
- Movement/physiology
- Muscles/drug effects
- Muscles/physiology
- Mutation
- Neuromuscular Junction/drug effects
- Neuromuscular Junction/physiology
- Neurons/metabolism
- Nicotine/pharmacology
- Nicotinic Agonists/pharmacology
- Pharynx/drug effects
- Pharynx/physiology
- Phenotype
- Pyridines/pharmacology
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Nicotinic/chemistry
- Receptors, Nicotinic/metabolism
- Receptors, Nicotinic/physiology
- Reproduction/drug effects
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Transgenes
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula R Towers
- MRC Functional Genetics Unit, Department of Human Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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18
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Dong J, Song MO, Freedman JH. Identification and characterization of a family of Caenorhabditis elegans genes that is homologous to the cadmium-responsive gene cdr-1. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 1727:16-26. [PMID: 15652154 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbaexp.2004.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2004] [Revised: 11/03/2004] [Accepted: 11/09/2004] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Six Caenorhabditis elegans genes that are homologous to the novel, cadmium-responsive gene cdr-1 have been identified and characterized. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparisons among the CDR family, which includes cdr-1, cdr-2, cdr-3, cdr-4, cdr-5, cdr-6, and cdr-7, reveals a high degree of identity among the seven members in this family. There are high levels of amino acid and nucleotide sequence similarity in the lengths of the open reading frames, predicted sizes, and protein characteristics. The seven proteins are predicted to be extremely hydrophobic, and are classified as integral membrane proteins. Structural analysis of the predicted proteins suggests that they may have similar biological functions. In response to cadmium exposure, cdr-1, cdr-2, cdr-3, and cdr-4 transcription significantly increases. In contrast, the levels of cdr-5, cdr-6, and cdr-7 transcription are not significantly affected or inhibited by cadmium exposure. Further, in non-exposed C. elegans, cdr-2, cdr-4, cdr-6, and cdr-7 are constitutively expressed. When CDR-1 expression was inhibited using RNAi, numerous fluid droplets were observed throughout the nematode body cavity. This phenotype became more pronounced in the presence of hypotonic stress. This suggests that CDR-1 may function in osmoregulation to maintain salt balance in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Dong
- Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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19
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Cohen LS, Mikhli C, Friedman C, Jankowska-Anyszka M, Stepinski J, Darzynkiewicz E, Davis RE. Nematode m7GpppG and m3(2,2,7)GpppG decapping: activities in Ascaris embryos and characterization of C. elegans scavenger DcpS. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2004; 10:1609-24. [PMID: 15383679 PMCID: PMC1370647 DOI: 10.1261/rna.7690504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2004] [Accepted: 06/24/2004] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
A spliced leader contributes the mature 5'ends of many mRNAs in trans-splicing organisms. Trans-spliced metazoan mRNAs acquire an m3(2,2,7)GpppN cap from the added spliced leader exon. The presence of these caps, along with the typical m7GpppN cap on non-trans-spliced mRNAs, requires that cellular mRNA cap-binding proteins and mRNA metabolism deal with different cap structures. We have developed and used an in vitro system to examine mRNA degradation and decapping activities in nematode embryo extracts. The predominant pathway of mRNA decay is a 3' to 5' pathway with exoribonuclease degradation of the RNA followed by hydrolysis of resulting mRNA cap by a scavenger (DcpS-like) decapping activity. Direct decapping of mRNA by a Dcp1/Dcp2-like activity does occur, but is approximately 15-fold less active than the 3' to 5' pathway. The DcpS-like activity in nematode embryo extracts hydrolyzes both m7GpppG and m3(2,2,7)GpppG dinucleoside triphosphates. The Dcp1/Dcp2-like activity in extracts also hydrolyzes these two cap structures at the 5' ends of RNAs. Interestingly, recombinant nematode DcpS differs from its human ortholog in its substrate length requirement and in its capacity to hydrolyze m3(2,2,7)GpppG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah S Cohen
- Department of Biology, City univiersity of new york, Graduate Center, Staten Island, 10314, USA
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20
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Ganot P, Kallesøe T, Reinhardt R, Chourrout D, Thompson EM. Spliced-leader RNA trans splicing in a chordate, Oikopleura dioica, with a compact genome. Mol Cell Biol 2004; 24:7795-805. [PMID: 15314184 PMCID: PMC507004 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.24.17.7795-7805.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
trans splicing of a spliced-leader RNA (SL RNA) to the 5' ends of mRNAs has been shown to have a limited and sporadic distribution among eukaryotes. Within metazoans, only nematodes are known to process polycistronic pre-mRNAs, produced from operon units of transcription, into mature monocistronic mRNAs via an SL RNA trans-splicing mechanism. Here we demonstrate that a chordate with a highly compact genome, Oikopleura dioica, now joins Caenorhabditis elegans in coupling trans splicing with processing of polycistronic transcipts. We identified a single SL RNA which associates with Sm proteins and has a trimethyl guanosine cap structure reminiscent of spliceosomal snRNPs. The same SL RNA, estimated to be trans-spliced to at least 25% of O. dioica mRNAs, is used for the processing of both isolated or first cistrons and downstream cistrons in a polycistronic precursor. Remarkably, intercistronic regions in O. dioica are far more reduced than those in either nematodes or kinetoplastids, implying minimal cis-regulatory elements for coupling of 3'-end formation and trans splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Ganot
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, Bergen High Technology Centre, Thormøhlensgt. 55, N-5008 Bergen, Norway
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21
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De Gaudenzi JG, D'Orso I, Frasch ACC. RNA recognition motif-type RNA-binding proteins in Trypanosoma cruzi form a family involved in the interaction with specific transcripts in vivo. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:18884-94. [PMID: 12637517 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m301756200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomes, protozoan parasites from the order Kinetoplastida, have to deal with environmental changes during the interaction with their hosts. Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease, uses post-transcriptional mechanisms to regulate gene expression. However, few RNA-binding proteins involved in mRNA turnover control have been identified to date. In this work, an RNA recognition motif (RRM)-type RNA-binding protein family named T. cruzi RNA-binding protein (TcRBP) and composed of at least six members was identified. The genomic organization of four members revealed a head to tail arrangement within a region of 15 kilobase pairs. TcRBP members have a common RRM and different auxiliary domains with a high content of glycine, glutamine, and histidine residues within their N- and C-terminal regions. TcRBPs differ in their expression patterns as well as in their homoribopolymer binding interaction in vitro, although they preferentially recognize poly(U) and poly(G) RNAs. An interesting observation was the relaxed RNA-binding interactions with several trypanosome transcripts in vitro. In contrast, co-immunoprecipitation experiments of TcRBP-containing ribonucleoprotein complexes formed in vivo revealed a highly restricted binding interaction with specific RNAs. Several TcRBP-containing complexes are stage-specific and, in some cases, bear the poly(A)-binding protein TcPABP1. Altogether, these results suggest that TcRBPs might be modulated in vivo, to favor or preclude the interaction with specific transcripts in a developmentally regulated manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier G De Gaudenzi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús, CONICET-UNSAM, 1650 San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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22
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Abstract
A recent report by Blumenthal et al. provides convincing evidence that at least 15% of Caenorhabditis elegans genes are co-transcribed within over a thousand operons. Polycistronic transcription of gene clusters is very rare in eukaryotes. The widespread occurrence of operons in C. elegans thus raises some interesting questions about the origin and function of these multigenic transcriptional units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Nimmo
- Genetics Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, UK
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23
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Blumenthal T, Evans D, Link CD, Guffanti A, Lawson D, Thierry-Mieg J, Thierry-Mieg D, Chiu WL, Duke K, Kiraly M, Kim SK. A global analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans operons. Nature 2002; 417:851-4. [PMID: 12075352 DOI: 10.1038/nature00831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 265] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans and its relatives are unique among animals in having operons. Operons are regulated multigene transcription units, in which polycistronic pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA coding for multiple peptides) is processed to monocistronic mRNAs. This occurs by 3' end formation and trans-splicing using the specialized SL2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle for downstream mRNAs. Previously, the correlation between downstream location in an operon and SL2 trans-splicing has been strong, but anecdotal. Although only 28 operons have been reported, the complete sequence of the C. elegans genome reveals numerous gene clusters. To determine how many of these clusters represent operons, we probed full-genome microarrays for SL2-containing mRNAs. We found significant enrichment for about 1,200 genes, including most of a group of several hundred genes represented by complementary DNAs that contain SL2 sequence. Analysis of their genomic arrangements indicates that >90% are downstream genes, falling in 790 distinct operons. Our evidence indicates that the genome contains at least 1,000 operons, 2 8 genes long, that contain about 15% of all C. elegans genes. Numerous examples of co-transcription of genes encoding functionally related proteins are evident. Inspection of the operon list should reveal previously unknown functional relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Blumenthal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Box B121, 4200 E. 9th Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA.
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24
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Kato Y, Aizawa T, Hoshino H, Kawano K, Nitta K, Zhang H. abf-1 and abf-2, ASABF-type antimicrobial peptide genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biochem J 2002; 361:221-30. [PMID: 11772394 PMCID: PMC1222302 DOI: 10.1042/0264-6021:3610221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Two genes encoding the ASABF (Ascaris suum antibacterial factor)-type antimicrobial peptide, abf-1 and abf-2, were identified in Caenorhabditis elegans. Recombinant ABF-2 exhibited potent microbicidal activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and yeasts. The tissue-specific distribution estimated by immunofluorescence staining and transgenic analysis of a gfp fusion gene (where GFP corresponds to green fluorescent protein) suggested that ABF-2 contributes to surface defence in the pharynx. abf-1 contains a single intron at a conserved position, suggesting that asabf and abf originated from a common ancestor. Both transcripts for abf-1 and abf-2 were detected as two distinct forms, i.e. spliced leader (SL)1-trans-spliced with a long 5'-untranslated region (UTR) and SL-less with a short 5'-UTR. A polycistronic precursor RNA encoding ABF-1 and ABF-2 was detected, suggesting that these genes form an operon. An 'opportunistic operon' model for regulation of abf genes, including the generation of short SL-less transcripts, is proposed. In conclusion, C. elegans should have an immune defence system due to the antimicrobial peptides. C. elegans can be a novel model for innate immunity. Furthermore, the combination of biochemical identification in Ascaris suum and homologue hunting in C. elegans should be a powerful method of finding rapidly evolved proteins, such as some immune-related molecules in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Kato
- Department of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Oowashi 1-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan.
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25
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Berman K, McKay J, Avery L, Cobb M. Isolation and characterization of pmk-(1-3): three p38 homologs in Caenorhabditis elegans. MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS : MCBRC 2001; 4:337-44. [PMID: 11703092 PMCID: PMC4460246 DOI: 10.1006/mcbr.2001.0300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
p38, a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) superfamily, is activated in response to a variety of cellular stresses and ligands. Since the genome of the nematode C. elegans has been sequenced, we sought to identify and characterize the nematode homolog of mammalian p38. By sequence analysis and RT-PCR, we isolated cDNAs encoding three kinases, PMK-1, PMK-2, and PMK-3, which we call p38 map kinases due to their high sequence identity with p38. The three genes are contiguous on chromosome IV and comprise an operon. By use of a GFP reporter, we found that the promoter of the pmks is active throughout the intestine. An active form of MAPK/ERK kinase 6 (MEK6) phosphorylated and activated recombinant PMK-1 and PMK-2 in vitro. PMK-1 and PMK-2 phosphorylated activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2), indicating an activity similar to mammalian p38. When transfected into mammalian cells, these kinases, like p38, are stimulated by osmotic stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Berman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Jim McKay
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Leon Avery
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Melanie Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390
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26
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Koh K, Rothman JH. ELT-5 and ELT-6 are required continuously to regulate epidermal seam cell differentiation and cell fusion inC. elegans. Development 2001; 128:2867-80. [PMID: 11532911 DOI: 10.1242/dev.128.15.2867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The C. elegans epidermis is a simple epithelium comprised of three major cell types, the seam, syncytial and P cells. While specification of all major epidermal cells is known to require the ELT-1 GATA transcription factor, little is known about how the individual epidermal cell types are specified. We report that elt-5 and -6, adjacent genes encoding GATA factors, are essential for the development of the lateral epidermal cells, the seam cells. Inhibition of elt-5 and -6 function by RNA-mediated interference results in penetrant late embryonic and early larval lethality. Seam cells in affected animals do not differentiate properly: the alae, seam-specific cuticular structures, are generally absent and expression of several seam-specific markers is blocked. In addition, elt-3, which encodes another GATA factor normally expressed in non-seam epidermis, is often ectopically expressed in the seam cells of affected animals, demonstrating that ELT-5 and -6 repress elt-3 expression in wild-type seam cells. Seam cells in affected animals often undergo inappropriate fusion with the epidermal syncytia. Interference of elt-5 and -6 function during larval development can cause fusion of all seam cells with the surrounding syncytia and pronounced defects in molting. elt-5 and -6 are both expressed in seam cells and many other cells, and are apparently functionally interchangeable. Their expression is controlled by separable tissue-specific regulatory elements and the apportionment of monocistronic versus dicistronic transcription of both genes appears to be subject to cell-type-specific regulation. Collectively, these findings indicate that elt-5 and -6 function continuously throughout C. elegans development to regulate seam cell differentiation and cell fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Koh
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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27
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Liu Y, Huang T, MacMorris M, Blumenthal T. Interplay between AAUAAA and the trans-splice site in processing of a Caenorhabditis elegans operon pre-mRNA. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2001; 7:176-81. [PMID: 11233975 PMCID: PMC1370076 DOI: 10.1017/s1355838201002333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
About half of Caenorhabditis elegans genes have a 1-2 bp mismatch to the canonical AAUAAA hexamer that signals 3' end formation. One rare variant, AGUAAA, is found at the 3' end of the mai-1 gene, the first gene in an operon also containing gpd-2 and gpd-3. When we expressed this operon under heat shock control, 3' end formation dependent on the AGUAAA was very inefficient, but could be rescued by a single bp change to create a perfect AAUAAA. When AGUAAA was present, most 3' ends formed at a different site, 100 bp farther downstream, right at the gpd-2 trans-splice site. Surprisingly, 3' end formation at this site did not require any observable match to the AAUAAA consensus. It is possible that 3' end formation at this site occurs by a novel mechanism--trans-splicing-dependent cleavage--as deletion of the trans-splice site prevented 3' end formation here. Changing the AGUAAA to AAUAAA also influenced the trans-splicing process: with AGUAAA, most of the gpd-2 product was trans-spliced to SL1, rather than SL2, which is normally used at downstream operon trans-splice sites. However, with AAUAAA, SL2 trans-splicing of gpd-2 was increased. Our results imply that (1) the AAUAAA consensus controls 3' end formation frequency in C. elegans; (2) the AAUAAA is important in determining SL2 trans-splicing events more than 100 bp downstream; and (3) in some circumstances, 3' end formation may occur by a trans-splicing-dependent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA
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28
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Lawrence J. Selfish operons: the evolutionary impact of gene clustering in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Curr Opin Genet Dev 1999; 9:642-8. [PMID: 10607610 DOI: 10.1016/s0959-437x(99)00025-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The Selfish Operon Model postulates that the organization of bacterial genes into operons is beneficial to the constituent genes in that proximity allows horizontal cotransfer of all genes required for a selectable phenotype; eukaryotic operons formed for very different reasons. Horizontal transfer of selfish operons most probably promotes bacterial diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Lawrence
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15260, USA. jlawrenc+@pitt.edu
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29
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Bosher JM, Dufourcq P, Sookhareea S, Labouesse M. RNA interference can target pre-mRNA: consequences for gene expression in a Caenorhabditis elegans operon. Genetics 1999; 153:1245-56. [PMID: 10545456 PMCID: PMC1460805 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/153.3.1245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In nematodes, flies, trypanosomes, and planarians, introduction of double-stranded RNA results in sequence-specific inactivation of gene function, a process termed RNA interference (RNAi). We demonstrate that RNAi against the Caenorhabditis elegans gene lir-1, which is part of the lir-1/lin-26 operon, induced phenotypes very different from a newly isolated lir-1 null mutation. Specifically, lir-1(RNAi) induced embryonic lethality reminiscent of moderately strong lin-26 alleles, whereas the lir-1 null mutant was viable. We show that the lir-1(RNAi) phenotypes resulted from a severe loss of lin-26 gene expression. In addition, we found that RNAi directed against lir-1 or lin-26 introns induced similar phenotypes, so we conclude that lir-1(RNAi) targets the lir-1/lin-26 pre-mRNA. This provides direct evidence that RNA interference can prevent gene expression by targeting nuclear transcripts. Our results highlight that caution may be necessary when interpreting RNA interference without the benefit of mutant alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Bosher
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/ULP, 67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
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30
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Hough RF, Lingam AT, Bass BL. Caenorhabditis elegans mRNAs that encode a protein similar to ADARs derive from an operon containing six genes. Nucleic Acids Res 1999; 27:3424-32. [PMID: 10446229 PMCID: PMC148583 DOI: 10.1093/nar/27.17.3424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans T20H4.4 open reading frame (GenBank accession no. U00037) predicted by Genefinder encodes a 367 amino acid protein that is 32-35% identical to the C-terminal domain of adenosine deaminases that act on RNA. We show that T20H4.4 cDNAs (GenBank accession no. AF051275) encode a larger 495 amino acid protein that is extended at its N-terminus to include a single double-stranded RNA-binding motif, and that T20H4.4 occupies the second position in a six-gene operon (5'-T20H4.5, T20H4.4, R151.8A, R151.8B, R151.7, R151.6-3'). Ten different spliced-leader (SL) sequences were found attached to T20H4.4 mRNAs, including SL1, SL2 and eight SL2-like leaders that include two new variants. Characterization of cDNAs derived from all six genes confirmed the essential features of C.elegans operons: intercistronic distances in the range of 104-257 nt between the upstream polyadenylation sites and the downstream trans -splice sites; SL2, or SL2-like leaders, attached to the downstream mRNAs. Polycistronic mRNA fragments revealed a 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) >705 nt. The 5'-UTR is removed in mature mRNAs from the first gene (T20H4.5) and replaced primarily by SL1, and to a lesser extent by SL2. Our study provides new information regarding operons and how they are processed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R F Hough
- Department of Biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
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