牛肝TrnaIle的序列分析和二级结构

用随机降解法和Donis-Keller酶分析法,测定了牛肝tRNA^Ile序列.牛肝tRNA^Ile长77个碱基;G5·G69不配对为其显著特征.依据tRNA螺旋区和环区自由能大小及Holley模型,确定了tRNA^Ile的二级结构.     

大肠杆菌等受体tRNALeu的T7 RNA聚合酶转录

用化学方法合成编码 2个大肠杆菌tRNA^Leu(tRNA^Leu₁和tRNA^Leu₂ )的基因和T7启动子 ,分别克隆到pUC1 9载体上 ,并在纯化的T7RNA聚合酶的体外转录系统中转录出不含修饰核苷酸的tRNA^Leu.在T7转录体系中 ,亚精胺对转录有负影响 .在最适转录条件下 ,可以得到有活力的RNA转录物的量是模板DNA的 2 5 0倍左右 .在大肠杆菌亮氨酰 tRNA合成酶的催化下 ,2种经体外转录产生的未修饰等受体tRNA^Leu(tRNA^Leu₁和tRNA^Leu₂ )的亮氨酸接受能力基本相同 ,但只有从体内纯化对应的tRNA^Leu的四分之一左右 ,表明修饰核苷酸在tRNA^Leu氨酰化过程中起着较为重要但非关键的作用 .     

用T7RNA聚合酶体外转录合成大鼠肝tRNA~(Ile)

采用PCR技术从rec M1 3mp1 8中扩增出 1 2 0bp的大鼠肝tRNAIle合成基因片段 ,经限制性内切酶BstNⅠ酶切后作为模板 ,利用T7RNA聚合酶在体外无细胞体系转录由T7启动子带动的大鼠肝tRNAIle基因 ,生成不含修饰碱基的tRNAIle,并对体外转录反应条件进行了优化 ,回收的tRNA产量可达DNA模板量的 4 0倍     

水稻线粒体tRNATrp突变体的克隆和氨酰化活力鉴定

为了研究tRNA^Trp的氨基酸接受茎中除两对半碱基以外的特异性元件,设计并完成了4种水稻线粒体tRNA^Trp向枯草杆菌tRNA^Trp的突变体 (MPB0, G1A和U5G/A68C;MPB1,C2G/G71C;MPB2,C4G/G69C;MPB3,C2G/G71C和C4G/G69C),体外转录并用枯草杆菌和人这两种不同种属来源的色氨酰 tRNA 合成酶(TrpRS)测定了这些 tRNA^Trp 分子的氨酰化活力(K_cat/K_M)．结果表明,这些突变体具有被枯草杆菌TrpRS氨酰化的能力,与野生型水稻线粒体tRNA^Trp相比,MPB0被枯草杆菌TrpRS氨酰化的活力提高了5倍,MPB1和MPB2被枯草杆菌TrpRS氨酰化的活力分别提高了40和53倍,MPB3则提高了140倍,为野生型枯草杆菌tRNA^Trp的34%,而人色氨酰 tRNA合成酶氨酰化这4个突变体的活力都很微弱．揭示了水稻线粒体tRNA^Trp氨基酸接受茎上的2个碱基对C2/G71和C4/G69的突变,对枯草杆菌TrpRS的识别起重要作用,由此推测,接受茎上的2个碱基对C2/G71和C4/G69也是线粒体tRNA^Trp重要的特异性元件．     

大肠杆菌tRNALeu的基因克隆、高效表达和纯化

用化学法合成的tRNA^Leu 和tRNA^Leu ₂的基因分别连接到 pTrc99B质粒载体上 ,转化到大肠杆菌MT10 2中 .DNA测序筛选得到与已知tRNA^Leu₁ 和tRNA^Leu₂ 的基因顺序完全相同的克隆 .对带有tRNA^Leu₁ 和tRNA^Leu₂ 基因的 2个转化子 (MT -Leu1和MT- Leu2 )表达条件进行了优化 ,MT- Leu1和MT- Leu2总tRNA中的亮氨酸接受活力分别达到 810 pmol/A2 6 0 和 5 60 pmol/A2 6 0 :tRNA^Leu₁ 占MT -Leu1总tRNA的5 0 % ;tRNA^Leu₂ 占MT- Leu2总tRNA的 3 0 % .经DEAE Sepharose、BD -纤维素层析柱 ,可分别将MT- Leu1和MT -Leu2的总tRNA纯化到 160 0pmol/A2 6 0 .首次准确地测得了 2种等受体tRNALeu的氨酰化反应动力学常数 .     

肝癌细胞AFP基因高水平的转录是受核蛋白成分的促进

利用大鼠甲胎蛋白(AFP)基因片段作为模板,分析大鼠肝癌细胞核蛋白成分对体外转录活性的影响,发现大鼠肝癌含有促进AFP基因体外转录的核蛋白。作为对照．没有发现任何成年大鼠肝核蛋白可以促进AFP基因的体外转录。为了确定促进AFP基因体外转录的核蛋白作用部位,对AFP基因模板5＇端上游序列进行了不同程度的删除,进一步分析核蛋白对删掉5’端上游序列后的模板体外转录的影响,结果表明,AFP基因转录的起始点到255bp这段DNA序列是大鼠肝癌核蛋白促进AFP基因转录必不可少的。以SV40DNA经Pst I酶酶切所得的DNA片段(1216bp和4027bp)代替AFP基因片段作为模板,不存在核蛋白促进体外转录的现象。用AFP基因转录的起始点到 255bp这段的DNA为探针,进行Southwestm印迹分析,结果发现了8种与探针结合的核蛋白。     

酵母tRNAAla中修饰核苷酸T54,Ψ55的生物功能

酵母tRNA^Ala的3′半分子与一个11聚的DNA片段(5′GGAATCGAACC3′)杂交后用RNase H酶解,该酶能在Ψ₅₅的3′侧定点剪切,这样就制备得片段C₃₆-Ψ₅₅该片段经1～2个高碘酸氧化和β-消去得片段C₃₆-T₅₄和C₃₆-G₅₃机器合成了3个酵母tRNA^Ala的片段,分别j是片段C₅₆-A₇₆,U₅₅-A₇₆(以U替代Ψ₅₅)和U₅₄-A₇₆(以UU替代T₅₄Ψ₅₅).合成和制备的片段以适当的组合用T₄RNA连接酶连接,产物是酵母tRNAtRNA^Ala的3′半分子或其类似物.3种3′半分子或其类似物分别与天然5′半分子连接得重组天然酵母tRNA^Ala(tRNAr)和2个酵母tRNA^Ala的类似物:(1)tRNAa(以U替代Ψ₅₅),(2)tRNAb(以UU替代T₅₄Ψ₅₅).体外测定了它们的丙氨酸接受活力和参入活力,发现酵母tRNA^Ala的类似物tRNAa和tRNAb与天然重组酵母tRNA^Ala相比,它们的氨基酸接受活力分别降低了25%和55%,参入活力分别降低了35%和30%.说明酵母tRNA^Ala中的修饰核苷酸T₅₄和Ψ₅₅对该tRNA的功能有重要的影响.     

背瘤丽蚌F型线粒体基因组全序列分析

部分双壳贝类的线粒体遗传方式是特殊的双重单亲遗传方式:F型存在于雌性体细胞组织和性腺中,M型仅存在于雄性个体的性腺中。通过LA-PCR扩增、SHOT-GUN测序、软件拼接获得背瘤丽蚌(Lamprotula leai)F型线粒体基因组全序列。线粒体基因组全长为16530 bp,包括13个蛋白质编码基因,22个tRNA其中包括2个tRNA^Ser和2个tRNA^Leu,2个SrRNA及27个长度不等的非编码区,最长的两个非编码区分别为969 bp、228 bp。比较分析已登录到GenBank中的淡水蚌类F型线粒体结构特征,结果显示背瘤丽蚌F型A+T含量为60.28%,表现出A+T偏好性,淡水蚌类线粒体基因组长度的差异主要表现为非编码区长度的差异。此外,背瘤丽蚌mtDNA的COⅡ-12S rRNA区域基因排列存在差异,是ND3、tRNA^His、tRNA^Ala、tRNA^Ser1、tRNA^Ser2、tRNA^Glu、ND2、tRNA^Met 8个基因发生重排造成。F型线粒体序列构建的系统进化树中,淡水蚌类和海水双壳贝类分别聚为一支。研究结果为进一步研究淡水珍珠蚌的DUI线粒体遗传方式和种质资源保护奠定基础,为双壳贝类mtDNA基因重排提供依据。     

高山被孢霉ATCC16266Δ6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在酿酒酵母中的表达

Δ⁶-脂肪酸脱氢酶是形成γ-亚麻酸的关键酶。从含有高山被孢霉Δ⁶-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的重组质粒pTMACL6中,酶切出14kb的目的片段,亚克隆到大肠杆菌和酿酒酵母的穿梭表达载体pYES2.0,在大肠杆菌中筛选到含有目的基因的重组质粒pYMAD6,用醋酸锂方法转化到酿酒酵母的缺陷型菌株INCSc1中,在SC-Ura合成培养基中,选择得到酿酒酵母工程株YMAD6。在合适的培养基及培养条件下,加入外源底物亚油酸,经半乳糖诱导后,收集菌体。通过GC-MS对酵母工程株进行脂肪酸色谱分析,结果表明,产生了31.6%的γ-亚麻酸。这是迄今为止,国内外Δ⁶-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在酿酒酵母中表达量最高的报道。     

HLA-A*2402-BSP在大肠杆菌中的优化表达及其四聚体的制备和鉴定

HLA-A^*2402是中国人群中最常见的等位基因之一,为研究该基因型人群的人巨细胞病毒（HCMV）特异性细胞毒T细胞（CTL）免疫应答,需要制备负载相应抗原肽的HLA-A^*2402四聚体。以RT-PCR方法克隆HLA-A^*2402重链基因的cDNA,并构建了羧基端融合生物素化酶BirA底物肽(BSP)的HLA-A^*2402重链胞外域融合蛋白（HLA-A^*2402-BSP）的表达载体,但该载体不能在大肠杆菌(E. coli)中有效表达HLA-A^*2402-BSP融合蛋白;通过对氨基端（N端）区域编码区的密码子进行优化,构建了同义突变的HLA-A^*2402-BSP表达载体,融合蛋白在E. coli中获得了高效表达。进而制备了负载HLA-A^*2402限制性HCMV pp65_341-349抗原肽(QYDPVAALF, QYD)的可溶性HLA-A^*2402-QYD单体分子和四聚体,获得的四聚体具有与HLA-A24⁺供者抗原特异性CTL的结合活性,特异性CTL的频率为总CD8⁺T细胞的0.09％～0.37％。这些结果为进一步研究HLA-A^*2402限制性的特异性CTL免疫应答规律奠定基础。     

A N-H nuclear magnetic resonance study on the interaction between isoleucine tRNA and isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli

Imino ¹⁵N and ¹H resonances of Escherichia coli tRNA_l^Ile were observed in the absence and presence of E coli isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase. Upon complex formation of tRNA_l^Ile with isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase, some imino ¹⁵N-¹H resonances disappeared, and some others were significantly broadened and/or shifted in the ¹H chemical shift, while the others were observed at the same ¹⁵H-¹H chemical shifts. It was indicated that the binding of tRNA_l^Ile with IleRS affect the following four regions: the anticodon stem, the junction of the acceptor and T stems, the middle of the D stem, and the region where the tertiary base pair connects the T, D, and extra loops. This result is consistent with those of chemical footprinting and site-directed mutagenesis studies. Taken together, these three independent results reveal the recognition mechanism of tRNA_l^Ile by IleRS: IleRS recognizes all the identity determinants distributed throughout the tRNA_l^Ile molecule, which induces changes in the secondary and tertiary structures of tRNA_l^Ile.     

Asymmetric maturation of a dimeric transfer RNA precursor

Six of the eight transfer RNAs coded by bacteriophage T4 are synthesized via three dimeric precursor molecules. The sequences of two of these have been determined. Both of these precursors give rise to equimolar amounts of the cognate tRNA molecules in vivo. In contrast, even in wild-type infections, tRNA^Ile is present in ≤ 30% the amount of tRNA^Thr, with which it is processed from a common dimeric precursor.We have now determined the sequence of this dimer. In addition to the nucleotides present in tRNA^Thr and tRNA^Ile, it contains nine precursor-specific residues, located at the 5′ and 3′ termini and at the interstitial junction of the two tRNA sequences. While the three dimers share the majority of structural features in common, pre-tRNA^{Thr + Ile} is the only case in which an encoded tRNA 3′ -C-C-A terminus is present in the interstitial region.The processing of this dimer in various biosynthetic mutants has been analyzed in vivo and in vitro and shown to be anomalous in several respects. These results suggest that the apparent underproduction of tRNA^Ile can be explained by a novel processing pathway that generates a metabolically unstable tRNA^Ile product. Data from DNA sequence analysis of the T4 tRNA gene cluster (Fukada & Abelson, 1980) support the conclusion that the asymmetric maturation of this precursor is a consequence of the unique disposition of the -C-C-A sequence. These results argue that gene expression can be modulated at the level of RNA processing. The biological significance of this phenomenon is discussed in relation to evidence that tRNA^Ile has a unique physiological role.     

PHYLOGENY AND GENETIC VARIANCE IN TERRESTRIAL MICROCOLEUS (CYANOPHYCEAE) SPECIES BASED ON SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF THE 16S rRNA GENE AND ASSOCIATED 16S–23S ITS REGION1

Thirty‐one strains of Microcoleus were isolated from desert soils in the United States. Although all these taxa fit the broad definition of Microcoleus vaginatus (Vaucher) Gomont in common usage by soil algal researchers, sequence data for the 16S rRNA gene and 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region indicated that more than one species was represented. Combined sequence and morphological data revealed the presence of two morphologically similar taxa, M. vaginatus and Microcoleus steenstrupii Boye‐Petersen. The rRNA operons of these taxa were sufficiently dissimilar that we suspect the two taxa belong in separate genera. The M. vaginatus clade was most similar to published sequences from Trichodesmium and Arthrospira. When 16S sequences from the isolates we identified as M. steenstrupii were compared with published sequences, our strains grouped with M. chthonoplastes (Mertens) Zanardini ex Gomont and may have closest relatives among several genera in the Phormidiaceae. Organization within the 16S–23S ITS regions was variable between the two taxa. Microcoleus vaginatus had either two tRNA genes (tRNA^Ile and tRNA^Ala) or a fragment of the tRNA^Ile gene in its ITS regions, whereas M. steenstrupii had rRNA operons with either the tRNA^Ile gene or no tRNA genes in its ITS regions. Microcoleus vaginatus showed no subspecific variation within the combined morphological and molecular characterizations, with 16S similarities ranging from 97.1% to 99.9%. Microcoleus steenstrupii showed considerable genetic variability, with 16S similarities ranging from 91.5% to 99.4%. In phylogenetic analyses, we found that this variability was not congruent with geography, and we suspect that our M. steenstrupii strains represent several cryptic species.     

Temperature dependence of the aminoacylation of tRNA by Bacillus stearothermophilus aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

Valine specific transfer RNA (tRNA^Val) was isolated from Bacillus stearothermophilus and Escherichia coli by chromatography on benzoylated DEAE–cellulose (BD–cellulose). Likewise isoleucine specific transfer RNA (tRNA^Ile) was isolated from B. stearothermophilus and from Mycoplasma sp. Kid. The thermal denaturation profiles (melting curves) of the two tRNA^Val species in the presence of Mg^{+ +} were nearly identical. However, the T_m for the Kid tRNA^Ile was about 10°C lower than that for the B. stearothermophilus tRNA^Ile. A nuclease and tRNA-free aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (AA-tRNA synthetase) preparation from B. stearothermophilus was able to function efficiently at temperatures up to 80°C in the aminoacylation of all four tRNA species. Determination of the amino acid-acceptor activity of each tRNA species as a function of temperature of the aminoacylation reaction showed in each case a strong correlation between the loss of acceptor activity and the thermal denaturation profile of the tRNA. Evidence is presented that the loss in acceptor activity is most likely due to a change in structure of the tRNA as opposed to denaturation of the enzyme. These results further support the idea that correct secondary and/or tertiary structure must be maintained for tRNA to be active as a substrate for the AA-tRNA synthetase.     

Evolution of the plastid ribosomal RNA operon in a nongreen parasitic plant: Accelerated sequence evolution,altered promoter structure,and tRNA pseudogenes

The nucleotide sequence of a 7.4 kb region containing the entire plastid ribosomal RNA operon of the nongreen parasitic plant Epifagus virginiana has been determined. Analysis of the sequence indicates that all four rRNA genes are intact and almost certainly functional. In contrast, the split genes for tRNA^Ile and tRNA^Ala present in the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region have become pseudogenes, and deletion upstream of the 16S rRNA gene has removed a tRNA^Val gene and most of the promoter region for the rRNA operon. The rate of nucleotide substitution in 16S and 23S rRNAs is several times higher in Epifagus than in tobacco, a related photosynthetic plant. Possible reasons for this, including relaxed translational constraints, are discussed.     

Discovery and characterization of tRNA lysidine synthetase (TilS)

In the bacterial decoding system, the AUA codon is deciphered as isoleucine by tRNA^Ile bearing lysidine (L, 2-lysyl-cytidine) at the wobble position. Lysidine is an essential modification that determines both the codon and amino acid specificities of tRNA^Ile. We identified an enzyme named tRNA^Ile lysidine synthetase (TilS) that catalyzes lysidine formation by using lysine and ATP as substrates. Biochemical studies revealed a molecular mechanism of lysidine formation that consists of two consecutive reactions involving the adenylated tRNA intermediate. In addition, we deciphered how Escherichia coli TilS specifically discriminates between tRNA^Ile and the structurally similar tRNA^Met, which bears the same anticodon loop. Recent structural studies unveiled tRNA recognition by TilS, and a molecular basis of lysidine formation at atomic resolution.     

Evidence for Late Resolution of the AUX Codon Box in Evolution

Recognition strategies for tRNA aminoacylation are ancient and highly conserved, having been selected very early in the evolution of the genetic code. In most cases, the trinucleotide anticodons of tRNA are important identity determinants for aminoacylation by cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. However, a degree of ambiguity exists in the recognition of certain tRNA^Ile isoacceptors that are initially transcribed with the methionine-specifying CAU anticodon. In most organisms, the C34 wobble position in these tRNA^Ile precursors is rapidly modified to lysidine to prevent recognition by methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MRS) and production of a chimeric Met-tRNA^Ile that would compromise translational fidelity. In certain bacteria, however, lysidine modification is not required for MRS rejection, indicating that this recognition strategy is not universally conserved and may be relatively recent. To explore the actual distribution of lysidine-dependent tRNA^Ile rejection by MRS, we have investigated the ability of bacterial MRSs from different clades to differentiate cognate tRNA_CAU^Met from near-cognate tRNA_CAU^Ile. Discrimination abilities vary greatly and appear unrelated to phylogenetic or structural features of the enzymes or sequence determinants of the tRNA. Our data indicate that tRNA^Ile identity elements were established late and independently in different bacterial groups. We propose that the observed variation in MRS discrimination ability reflects differences in the evolution of genetic code machineries of emerging bacterial clades.     

Sequence analysis of three tRNAPhe nuclear genes and a mutated gene,and one gene for tRNAAla from Arabidopsis thaliana

Three genes and one mutant gene for tRNA^Phe (GAA) and one gene for tRNA^Ala (UGC) were isolated from a whole-cell DNA library of Arabidopsis thaliana. All three tRNA^Phe genes are identical in their nucleotide sequence, but differ in their 5 and 3 flanking regions. The mutant tRNA^Phe (GAA) gene differs from the other three genes by one nucleotide change from highly conserved G to C at the 57th nucleotide position. The primary structure of the first tRNA^Ala gene was also determined in this experiment.