Cloning and characterization of the aldA gene of Aspergillus nidulans

We have cloned and sequenced the aldA (encoding aldehyde dehydrogenase) gene of Aspergillus nidulans. The gene contains two introns which are similar in size and structure to other fungal introns. The amino acid sequence of aldehyde dehydrogenase (497 residues) shows a significant level of homology with analogous sequences in other organisms. Comparison of the primary structure of the active sites of the mammalian cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes shows that the Aspergillus enzyme closely resembles the mammalian mitochondrial enzyme. Analysis of the 5' non-coding region of the aldA gene shows a TATA-like sequence located 90 bp upstream from the initiation codon. Two messenger-RNA start points are located 36 and 42 bp upstream from the start codon.     

The actin gene in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: 5'' and 3'' end mapping, flanking and putative regulatory sequences

The 5' and 3' flanking regions of the yeast actin gene have been sequenced and the ends of the actin mRNA were determined by the single-strand nuclease mapping procedure. The mRNA starts with a pyrimidine residue 141 (or 140) nucleotides upstream from the initiation codon. The actin gene lacks a typical "TATA" box 30 base pairs upstream from the mRNA start site but it contains a region homologous to the canonical sequence 5'-GGCTCAATCT-3' which is found in several eukaryotic genes 70 to 80 bp upstream from the mRNA cap site. Judging from the S1 nuclease mapping, there are two populations of actin mRNA terminating 98 and 107 nucleotides downstream from the stop codon. The 3' termini are preceded by three AATAAA sequences found in most eukaryotic polyadenylated mRNAs.     

Promoter analysis of tumor suppressor gene PTEN: identification of minimum promoter region

Mutations of PTEN, a tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome 10, which encodes a protein-tyrosine and lipid-phosphatase, are prevalent in various human cancers, including glioblastoma. Despite extensive characterization of PTEN mutations in human cancers and a relatively good understanding of the molecular roles of PTEN in the control of cellular processes, little is known about modes of PTEN regulation. To understand the regulation of expression of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN, we isolated a 2212 bp fragment from the human BAC clone 46B12 DNA. The 3' end of this fragment starts at the Not I site of -745 relative to the first translation codon ATG (+1) and ends at the Sal I site of -2957 at the 5' end. Using classical 5'RACE and primer extension techniques, nine start sites were observed between -817 and -984 upstream of the ATG start site. We located a 137 bp fragment (-958/-821) as the minimum promoter region using promoter deletion and luciferase assays. A 704 bp fragment (-33/-737) downstream of the 2212 bp fragment was also cloned. As indicated by luciferase assays, the data show that this region possesses no promoter function. Interestingly, a p53 binding sequence is located within the 599 bp fragment (-1344/-745), although p53 expression had a minimal effect on PTEN, demonstrating its insignificant role in PTEN gene expression.     

柞蚕核型多角体病毒(ApNPV)转移载体质粒pAp M2614的组建

自从美国科学家G.Smith等首次建立苜蓿尺蠖核型多角体病毒(AcNPV)转移载体表达系统以来,已被广泛用于外源基因的表达,成为世界上一新的具有巨大潜力的载体表达系统。为了进一步提高表达产量,降低成本,日本科学家前田进建立了家蚕核型多角体病毒(BmNPV)载体表达系统,并获得了高效表达。柞蚕是我国特产,以蛹滞育越冬,保存时间长,个体大,可工厂化生产。因此,组建柞蚕NPV转移载体,进而建立该载体表达系统,是目前利用昆虫活体为宿主进行外源基因表达较理想的昆虫杆状病毒载体表达系统。