Pheromone 4 gene of Euplotes octocarinatus.

We have cloned and sequenced a 1.7 kb macronuclear chromosome encoding the pheromone 4 gene of Euplotes octocarinatus. The sequence of the secreted pheromone is preceded by a 42 amino acid leader peptide, which ends with a lysine residue. The sequence coding for the leader peptide contains information for a putative signal peptide and is interrupted by a 772 bp intron as shown by comparison with a cDNA clone. A 64 bp intron and a 145 bp intron interrupt the sequence coding for the secreted pheromone. The three introns contain typical 5' and 3' splice junctions and a putative branch point site. The small introns have a low GC content. The large intron has a GC content similar to that of the pheromone 4 gene exons. The amino acid sequence of pheromone 4, deduced from both the genomic DNA and the cDNA of pheromone 4, shows that the secreted pheromone consists of 85 amino acids. One of its amino acids is encoded by a UGA codon. Since it has been shown for pheromone 3 of E. octocarinatus that UGA is translated as cysteine, it is assumed that the UGA codon encodes cysteine in pheromone 4 as well. The 164 bp noncoding region upstream of the leader peptide is AT-rich and contains an inverted repeat capable of forming a stem-loop structure with a stem of 11 bp. The 151 bp noncoding region at the 3' end of the chromosome contains a putative polyadenylation sequence and an inverted repeat. The macronuclear molecule is flanked by telomeres and carries the pentanucleotide motif TTGAA, located at a distance of 17 nucleotides from the telomeres. This motif has been suggested to be involved in the formation of macronuclear chromosomes.     

东亚钳蝎毒素BmKT四个同源基因的克隆及基因组织分析

BmKT是从本室构建的cDNA文库中筛选到的1个α钠通道毒素,根据其全长cDNA序列设计引物,采用PCR法以蝎总基因组DNA为模板,获得4个BmKT的同源基因,分别命名为BmKT′和BmKTa、BmKTb、BmKTb′.序列分析表明：BmKT′和BmKTa基因含有大小分别为509 bp和506 bp的内含子,位于信号肽编码区内,插入信号肽-4位残基Gly密码子的第一个碱基G之后;而BmKTb和BmKTb′ 的内含子大小均为418 bp．这4个BmKT的同源基因内含子符合GT/AG拼接规律,其中BmKT′和BmKTa的内含子A+T含量分别为61.7%和61.9%,低于目前已报导的大多数蝎毒素基因A+T含量,大大低于它们第一外显子A+T含量（71.7%）,略高于第二外显子A+T含量（55.5%）;而BmKTb,BmKTb′的内含子A+T含量分别为75.8%和76.1%,与目前已报导的大多数蝎毒素基因A+T含量相似．BmKT′基因的外显子与BmKT基因cDNA所对应氨基酸序列仅在信号肽中-7位有一个氨基残基的差异（BmKT: Leu→BmKTa: Val）;而BmKTa基因外显子所推断的氨基酸序列与BmKT前体比较,则在成熟肽的+54位发生了突变（BmKT: Lys→BmKTa: Asn）,是与BmKT同源的一个新基因．BmKTb基因和BmKTb′基因所编码的前体肽与BmKT基因对应的前体肽同源性约为65%,显然BmKTb和BmKTb′是不同于BmKT的2个新基因（GenBank登录号: BmKT′, AY786186; BmKTa, AY676142; BmKTb, AY676140; BmKTb′, AY676141）     

Cloning and analysis of the nuclear genes for two mitochondrial ribosomal proteins in yeast

Summary Two mitochondrial ribosomal proteins of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were purified and their N-terminal amino acid sequences determined. The sequence data were used for the synthesis of oligonucleotide probes to clone the corresponding genes. Thus, the genes for two proteins, termed YMR-31 and YMR-44, were cloned and their nucleotide sequences determined. From the nucleotide sequence data, the coding region of the gene for protein YMR-31 was found to be composed of 369 nucleotide pairs. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of protein YMR-31 and the one deduced from the nucleotide sequence of its gene suggests that it contains an octapeptide leader sequence. The calculated molecular weight of protein YMR-31 without the leader sequence is 12792 dalton. The gene for protein YMR-44 was found to contain a 147 bp intron which contains two sequences conserved among yeast introns. The length of the two exons flanking the intron totals 294 nucleotide pairs which can encode a protein with a calculated molecular weight of 11476 dalton. The gene for protein YMR-31 is located on chromosome VI, while the gene for protein YMR-44 is located on either chromosome XIII or XVI.     

The structure and evolution of the two nonallelic rat preproinsulin genes.

In the rat, there are two nonallelic genes for preproinsulin. The insulin end products are very similar and are equally expressed. We have isolated clones carrying these genes and their flanking sequences, and characterized them by DNA sequencing and electron microscopic analysis. We have established the primary structure of the preproinsulin mRNAs and the signal peptides of these two proteins. One of the genes contains two introns: a 499 bp intron interrupting the region encoding the connecting peptide and a 119 bp intron interrupting the segment encoding the 5 noncoding region of the mRNA. The introns are transcribed and present in a preproinsulin mRNA precursor. The other gene possesses the smaller, but not the larger, of the two introns. Calculations based on the divergence of the two preproinsulin nucleotide and amino acid sequences indicate that these genes are the products of a recent duplication. Thus one of the genes gained or lost an intron since that time.     

Euplotes crassus has genes encoding telomere-binding proteins and telomere-binding protein homologs.

We have identified two 1.6 kb macronuclear DNA molecules from Euplotes crassus that hybridize to the alpha subunit of the Oxytricha telomere protein. We have shown that one of these molecules encodes the 51 kDa Euplotes telomere protein while the other appears to encode a homolog of the telomere protein. Although this homolog clearly differs in sequence from the Euplotes telomere protein, the two proteins share extensive amino acid sequence identity with each other and with the alpha subunit of the Oxytricha telomere protein. In all three proteins 35-36% of the amino acids are identical, while 54-56% are similar. The most extended regions of sequence conservation map within the N-terminal section; this section has been shown to comprise the DNA-binding domain in the Euplotes telomere protein. Our findings suggest that some of the conserved amino acids may be involved in DNA recognition and binding. The gene encoding the telomere protein homolog contains two introns; one of these introns is only 24 bp in length. This is the smallest mRNA intron reported to date.     

The α- and β-Tubulin Genes of Euplotes octocarinatus

ABSTRACT. The α- and the β-tubulin genes of the hypotrichous ciliate Euplotes octocarinatus were isolated from a size-selected macronuclear DNA library. The α-tubulin gene is located on a 1,587 bp macronuclear DNA molecule and the β-tubulin gene on a 1,524 bp macronuclear DNA molecule. Sequencing revealed that all the cysteine residues of the two genes are encoded by the common cysteine codons UGU and UGC and none by an UGA codon. This is in contrast to the genes of E. octocarinatus sequenced so far, where some of the cysteines are encoded by the opal codon UGA. The tubulin genes end like other Euplotes genes with a TAA. They do not contain introns. The last codon for an amino acid in the α-tubulin gene is a GAA which codes for glutamic acid. This is in contrast to what has been reported for most α-tubulin genes, but it supports findings for other hypotrichous ciliates. No evidence for the existence of more than one type of α- and one type of β-tubulin genes could be obtained.     

Characterization of two genes expressed in the salivary glands of the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say)

Two genes, SSGP-11A1 and SSGP-12A1, have been isolated that encodes proteins with a secretion signal peptide at theN-terminals from the Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor (Say)). The SSGP-11A1 gene contains one small intron (89 bp) and encodes a putative protein with 79 amino acids. The first 18 amino acids constitute a putative secretion signal peptide. The SSGP-12A1 gene contains three small introns and encodes a putative protein with 234 amino acids. The first 19 amino acids constitute a putative secretion signal peptide. Northern blot analysis revealed that both of the genes are primarily expressed in the salivary glands of Hessian fly larvae, the feeding stage of the insect. These observations are consistent with the possibility that the proteins encoded by them are secreted into host plants during feeding. Even though both genes are exclusively expressed in Hessian fly larvae, the expression profiles between them were quite different in insects at different instars. The SSGP-11A1 gene was expressed in all instars of larvae while the SSGP-12A1 gene was almost exclusively expressed in the first instar larvae. The differential expression suggests that the proteins encoded by these two genes may perform different functions. In situ hybridization revealed that the SSGP-11A1 gene is located on the short arm of chromosome A1 while SSGP-12A1 gene is on the long arm of chromosome A2.     

翘嘴鲌胰岛素样生长因子-Ⅰ的克隆及序列分析

为探讨胰岛素样生长因子-Ⅰ(Insulin like growth factor-Ⅰ, IGF-Ⅰ)对于翘嘴鲌(Culter alburnus)生长性状的影响, 对其DNA序列进行了克隆。翘嘴鲌IGF-Ⅰ全长14567 bp, 由5个外显子和4个内含子组成。其5个外显子长度分别为298、160、182、36 和1360 bp。推测的阅读框为486 bp, 编码由161个氨基酸组成的IGF-Ⅰ前体蛋白。前体肽由信号肽、成熟肽、E肽三部分组成, 其中信号肽44个氨基酸, 成熟肽70个氨基酸, E肽47个氨基酸。成熟肽由B、C、A、D四个区域组成, 其中B结构域和A结构域的保守性最高, 在这2个区域包含由6个半胱氨酸残基形成的3个二硫键。翘嘴鲌B区域还包含保守的IGF-Ⅰ受体识别序列(PheB23-TyrB24-PheB25)。E肽的长度表明翘嘴鲌IGF-Ⅰ属Ea-2型。同源性分析表明翘嘴鲌与鲤科鱼类的IGF-Ⅰ编码氨基酸同源性较高, 为94%—100%, 但在聚类分析中翘嘴鲌并不是首先和鲌亚科的鱼类聚集在一起。Real-time qPCR组织特异性表达结果显示IGF-Ⅰ mRNA在肝脏组织中的表达量最高, 脾、心脏、精巢、脑次之, 肾、鳃、胃和卵巢中表达量较低。翘嘴鲌IGF-Ⅰ基因4个内含子长度分别为1170、9364、251 和1746 bp。相对外显子来说, 种间内含子变异较大, 其中第三内含子变异最大。翘嘴鲌IGF-Ⅰ基因中包含6个微卫星, (GATG)₅AATAT (ATAG)₁₁位于第一内含子中, (CT)₈、(TTA)₅、(AC)₁₃、(TG)₁₂和(ATT)₅位于第二内含子中。其中4个微卫星位点具有多态性, 将它们在120尾同塘养殖的翘嘴鲌中进行基因型与生长性状的关联性分析, 均未达到显著水平(P>0.05)。结果为进一步研究该基因的表达、功能及其转录调控特征奠定了分子基础。     

Nucleotide sequence and intron structure of the apocytochrome b gene of Neurospora crassa mitochondria

The sequence of the apocytochrome b (cob) gene of Neurospora crassa has been determined. The structural gene is interrupted by two intervening sequences of approximately 1260 bp each. The polypeptide encoded by the exons shows extensive homology with the cob proteins of Aspergillus nidulans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (79% and 60%, respectively). The two introns are, however, located at sites different from those of introns in the cob genes of A. nidulans and S. cerevisiae (which contain highly homologous introns at the same site within the gene). The introns share several short regions of sequence homology (10-12 bp long) with each other and with other fungal mitochondrial introns. Moreover, the second intron contains a 50 nucleotide long sequence that is highly homologous with sequences within every ribosomal intron of fungal mitochondria sequenced to date. The conserved sequences may allow the formation of a core secondary structure, which is nearly identical in many mitochondrial introns. The conserved secondary structure may be required for intron splicing. The second intron contains an open reading frame, continuous with the preceding exon, of approximately 290 codons. Two stretches of 10 amino acid residues, conserved in many introns, are present in the open reading frame.     

Cloning, genomic sequence, and chromosome mapping of Scyb11, the murine homologue of SCYB11 (alias betaR1/H174/SCYB9B/I-TAC/IP-9/CXCL11)

A T-cell attracting CXC chemokine phylogenetically related to MIG and SCYB10 was recently characterized and termed SCYB11 (alias betaR1/H174/SCYB9B/I-TAC/IP-9/CXCL11). Here, we cloned the cDNA of the murine homologue of this protein, Scyb11, from interferon-gamma/lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 mouse macrophage-like cells. The nucleotide sequence of Scyb11 shares 63% identity with its human counterpart. It encodes a 100 amino acid immature protein of 11,265 Da which contains a putative signal peptide of 21 amino acids. The molecular mass of the mature protein was calculated to be 9,113 Da. Sequence identity of the murine and human SCYB11 proteins is 68%. Phylogenetic tree analysis of mouse CXC chemokines places SCYB11 together with the murine homologues of MIG and SCYB10 (Crg-2/muIP-10) on an individual branch. A genomic sequence was obtained by genome walking and subcloning DNA fragments from a BAC clone containing Scyb11. Like human SCYB11, Scyb11 contains 4 exons with intron/exon boundaries at positions comparable to the human gene. Whereas introns 2 and 3 are of similar length in the murine and human genes, intron 1 of Scyb11 contains 1,260 bp more than intron 1 of the human gene. Intron 1 of Scyb11 is also characterized by a 201-bp stretch with repetitive sequences of high cryptic simplicity. Using a BAC clone containing Scyb11, this gene could be mapped to chromosome 5 at position 5E3. Since human SCYB11 is localized on 4q21.2, this result confirms the mouse/human homology of the two chromosome regions.     

Cloning and characterization of a laccase gene from the white-rot basidiomycete <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus ostreatus</Emphasis>

 The gene lccK encoding a laccase of the white-rot basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus wild-type strain collected in Japan has been cloned, sequenced, and characterized. The isolated gene consists of 2929 bp with the coding region interrupted by 19 introns and flanked by an upstream region in which putative CAAT and TATA elements were identified. Two putative N-glycosylation sites and four putative copper-binding sites found in other fungal laccase are conserved in lccK. The cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1599 bp and the gene encodes 533 amino acids preceded by a signal peptide of 23 amino acids. The nucleotide sequence of the lccK cDNA showed high homology with those of laccases of other basidiomycetes. Received: August 22, 2002 / Accepted: October 9, 2002 Present address: Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Shimoshinjo-nakano, Akita 010-0195, Japan Correspondence to:K. Okamoto