Molecular cloning of the Candida maltosa ADE1 gene.

The structural gene (ADE1) encoding phosphoribosyl-aminoimidazole-succinocarboxamide synthetase (SAICAR synthetase; EC 6.3.2.6) in Candida maltosa has been isolated by functional complementation of an ade1 strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The gene was localized on a 2.5-kb BamHI DNA fragment. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cloned gene has revealed an open reading frame encoding a protein (SAICAR synthetase) with an Mr of 32,751. The codon bias index, 0.68, indicates that the ADE1 gene is a moderately highly expressed gene. The cloned gene shows 63.5% nt identity and 65.2% deduced amino acid identity with the S. cerevisiae ADE1 gene which encodes the same enzymatic activity. The gene may be used as a convenient genetic marker for construction of a new host-vector system for C. maltosa.     

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequences of cDNAs specific for rat liver ribosomal proteins S17 and L30

cDNA clones coding for rat liver ribosomal proteins S17 and L30 have been isolated by positive hybridization-translation assay from a cDNA library prepared from 8-9S poly(A)+RNA from free polysomes of regenerating rat liver. The cDNA clone specific for S17 protein (pRS17-2) has a 466-bp insert with the poly(A) tail. The complete amino acid (aa) sequence of S17 protein was deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA. S17 protein consists of 134 aa residues with an Mr of 15 377. The N-terminal aa sequence of S17 protein determined by automatic Edman degradation is consistent with the sequence data. The aa sequence of S17 shows strong homology (76.9%) to that of yeast ribosomal protein 51 [Teem and Rosbash, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80 (1983) 4403-4407] in the two-thirds N-terminal region. The cDNA clone specific for L30 protein (pRL30) has a 394-bp insert. The aa sequence of L30 protein was deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA. The protein consists of 114 aa residues with an Mr of 12 652. When compared with the N-terminal aa sequence of rat liver L30 protein [Wool, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 48 (1979) 719-754], pRL30 was found not to contain the initiation codon and 5'-noncoding region. The cDNA showed twelve silent changes in the coding region, one point mutation and one base deletion in the 3'-noncoding region, compared with mouse genomic DNA for L30 protein [Wiedemann and Perry, Mol. Cell Biol. 4 (1984) 2518-2528].     

Asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli has significant sequence homologies with yeast aspartyl-tRNA synthetase

The Escherichia coli asnS gene codes for asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (NRSEC). We have sequenced the asnS region, including 382 bp of the 5'-untranslated region, 1398 bp of the coding region and 280 bp of the 3'-untranslated region. The DNA-derived NRSEC amino acid (aa) sequence was confirmed by direct aa sequencing of the N-terminal parts of the native protein and of a 28-kDa internal fragment generated by trypsin digestion. The asnS gene product has been purified to homogeneity using three chromatographic steps. Sequence comparison of the deduced NRSEC sequence with all aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase sequences showed significant homologies with the yeast aspartyl-tRNA synthetase and weaker relationships with other aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases for aa with an XAX codon.     

Nucleotide sequence of the glnA-glnL intercistronic region of Escherichia coli

The nucleotide (nt) sequence of a 682-bp fragment containing the 3' end of the glnA gene, the region between the glnA and glnL genes, and the 5' end of the glnL gene from Escherichia coli was determined. This segment contains the region coding for the last 107 amino acids (aa) of glutamine synthetase, including the adenylylation site of this enzyme. The analysis of this sequence revealed two REP sequences, a Rho-independent terminator, the putative glnL promoter and the possible binding site for the glnG product, NRI.     

Expression of cDNAs encoding barley alpha-amylase 1 and 2 in yeast and characterization of the secreted proteins

Amylolytic strains of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were constructed by transformation with expression plasmids containing cDNAs encoding either AMY1 (clone E) or AMY2 (clone pM/C). The alpha-amylases were efficiently secreted into the culture medium directed by their own signal peptides. When clone E without its 5'-noncoding region was expressed from the yeast PGK promoter, AMY1 was produced as 1% of total cell protein and was thus the major protein secreted, whereas a similar construct derived from pM/C produced much less AMY2. This level is the highest reported for a plant protein secreted by yeast as mediated by the endogenous signal peptide. Production of AMY1 increased 25-fold when the 5'-noncoding part of clone E which contains a 12-bp dG.dC homopolymer tail had been removed. Moreover, expression was one to two orders of magnitude higher when genes encoding AMY1 or AMY2 were inserted between promoter and terminator of the yeast PGK gene in comparison to expression directed from the ADC1 or GAL1 promoters. Recombinant AMY1 and AMY2 had the same Mr and N-terminal sequence as the corresponding barley malt enzymes. Furthermore, none of the enzymes were found to be N-glycosylated. Isoelectric focusing indicated that transformed yeast cells secreted one major form of AMY2 and four dominant forms of AMY1. One AMY1 form corresponded to one of the major forms found in malt while the others, having either low activity or unusually high pI, probably reflect inefficient/incorrect processing. Enzyme kinetic properties and pH activity-dependence of recombinant AMY2 were essentially identical to those of malt AMY2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Nucleotide sequence of the chicken cardiac alpha actin gene: absence of strong homologies in the promoter and 3'-untranslated regions with the skeletal alpha actin sequence

The entire nucleotide sequence of the chicken cardiac alpha-actin (CC alpha A) gene has been determined. This is the first complete sequence of a cardiac actin gene that includes the promoter region, cap site, all the introns, and the polyadenylation site. The gene contains six introns, five of which interrupt the coding region at amino acids (aa) 41, 150, 204, 267, and 327. The first intron is in the 5'-noncoding region and is 438 bp in length. The CC alpha A gene encodes an mRNA of approx. 1400 bp with 5'- and 3'-untranslated region of 59 and 184 nucleotides (nt), respectively. Like the chicken skeletal alpha-actin gene, the CC alpha A gene has the codon for the aa cysteine between the initiator ATG and the codon for the N-terminal aspartic acid residue of the mature protein. There are no strong homologies (less than 13 consecutive nt) in the promoter or 3'-untranslated regions between the CC alpha A and chicken skeletal alpha-actin genes even though both are expressed in skeletal muscle during development. However, the 3'-untranslated region of the CC alpha A gene demonstrates significant sequence homology (76% over a 200-nt region) with the same region in the partial sequence of the human cardiac gene. The conservation of these sequence homologies between identical isoforms rather than the different alpha actin genes suggests these conserved regions may have a role in regulation rather than tissue-specific expression, as previously proposed.     

Nucleotide sequence of the ADE 1 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast ADE 1 gene has been cloned and sequenced. The primary structure deduced from the nucleotide sequence demonstrated that phosphoribosylaminoimidazole-succinocarboxamide synthetase is a protein with molecular weight of 34 500 D.     

Sequence analysis of the pyr-4 (orotidine 5'-P decarboxylase) gene of Neurospora crassa

The pyr-4 gene of Neurospora crassa encodes orotidine-5' -phosphate decarboxylase, which catalyses the sixth step in the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway. The complete nucleotide sequence of a 1.8-kb genomic fragment containing the pyr-4 gene has been determined. Using transposon mutagenesis, the coding region has been identified, and the amino acid (aa) sequence deduced. Comparison of the pyr-4 aa sequence with URA3, the equivalent gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, showed extensive blocks of homology, with non-homologous sequences between these blocks being generally much longer in Neurospora than in yeast. Computer-predicted protein secondary structure of pyr-4 and URA3 was conserved within equivalent blocks. Upstream sequences of pyr-4 were compared with other sequenced Neurospora genes and possible promoter sequences identified.     

A lignin peroxidase-encoding cDNA from the white-rot fungus Phlebia radiata: characterization and expression in Trichoderma reesei

The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA coding for a lignin peroxidase (Lgp) of the white-rot fungus, Phlebia radiata, has been determined. By amino acid (aa) sequencing, it has been shown that the protein product of this gene is the LIII Lgp of Pb. radiata. The isolated gene and the putative aa sequence are about 60% homologous to published Lgp sequences from the fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The aa thought to be involved in the catalysis of LIII are revealed by comparison with the yeast cytochrome c peroxidase. The P. radiata Lgp-encoding gene (lgp3) was expressed in the fungus, Trichoderma reesei, under the cellobiohydrolase-encoding cbh1 gene promoter. Lgp3 mRNA was produced by the T. reesei transformants. No Lgp protein, however, could be detected.     

RT-PCR- and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry-Based Identification and Discrimination of Isoforms Homologous to Pufferfish Saxitoxin- and Tetrodotoxin-Binding Protein in the Plasma of Non-Toxic Cultured Pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes)

The ADE1 gene from Candida utilis CA(u)-37, a strain used for commercially producing enzymes, was cloned by complementation of the ade1 mutation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It was composed of 903 bp, and the deduced amino acid sequence was 70% homologous to those of the ADE1 genes of S. cerevisiae and Candida maltosa. The highly preserved region of SAICAR synthetase, the ADE1 gene product, was also found by a homology search.     

Structure and chromosomal localization of the gene encoding barley seed peroxidase BP 2A.

A clone, lambda Prx6.1, coding for a barley seed peroxidase (BP; EC 1.11.1.7), was isolated from a genomic library using a cDNA coding for the barley seed peroxidase, BP 1, as a probe. The nucleotide sequence coded for a BP showing 73% amino acid (aa) sequence identity with BP 1 and less than 50% similarity with other sequenced plant peroxidases. The aa composition is 92% identical to that determined for BP 2 purified from mature barley grains, and therefore the gene product is named BP 2A. The alignment suggests that the coding region is interrupted by a 76-bp intron having the consensuses GT and AG, at the 5' and 3' ends, respectively. Alignment with BP 1 suggests that BP 2A has a leader peptide of 36 aa and the mature protein is 319 aa. Alanine and leucine account for 50% of the residues of the leader peptide. Of the codons used 90% have a C or G in the third position. The promoter shows a putative abscisic acid-response element, 5'-GTACGTGTC, 115 bp upstream from the start codon. The BP 2A-encoding gene was RFLP-mapped on barley chromosome 3, and we suggest for this peroxidase locus the name Prx6.     

Cloning and sequencing of the cDNA encoding tyrosinase of the Japanese pond frog, Rana nigromaculata.

We cloned and sequenced the cDNA encoding tyrosinase (TYN) of the Japanese pond frog, Rana nigromaculata. The 3511-bp cDNA contained a 54-bp 5'-noncoding region, a 1596-bp open reading frame encoding TYN of 532 amino acids (aa), and a 1861-bp 3'-noncoding region. The aa sequence of frog TYN predicted from the cDNA sequence was homologous to that of mouse and human TYNs. The aa sequence including the copper-binding domain, which is likely the active center of TYN, was highly conserved among these three species and Neurospora crassa, Streptomyces antibioticus, and S. glaucescens. The frog TYN also contains possible glycosylation sites and conserved Cys at sites similar to those in the mouse and human TYNs. There are two hydrophobic regions at the N-terminus and near the C-terminus, which are likely the signal (leader) peptide and a transmembrane domain, respectively.