Estimating loop-helix interfaces in a polytopic membrane protein by deletion analysis.

Insertions of amino acids into transmembrane helices of polytopic membrane proteins disrupt helix-helix interactions with loss of function, while insertions into loops have little effect on transmembrane helices and therefore little effect on activity [Braun, P., Persson, B., Kaback, H. R., and von Heijne, G. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 29566-29571]. Here the inverse approach, amino acid deletion, is utilized systematically to approximate loop-helix boundaries in the lactose permease of Escherichia coli. Starting with deletion mutants in the periplasmic loop between helices VII and VIII (loop VII/VIII), which has been defined by immunological analysis and nitroxide-scanning electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, it is shown that mutants with single or multiple deletions in the central portion of the loop retain significant transport activity, while deletion of amino acid residues near the loop-helix boundaries or within the flanking helices leads to complete inactivation. Results consistent with hydropathy analysis are obtained with loops VI/VII, VIII/IX, and IX/X and the flanking helices. In contrast, deletion analysis of loops III/IV, IV/V, and V/VI and the flanking helices indicates that this region of the permease differs from hydropathy predictions. More specifically, evidence is presented supporting the contention that Glu126 and Arg144 which are charge paired and critical for substrate binding are within helices IV and V, respectively.     

Identification of a four-base deletion (delTCAT296–299) in the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene with variable clinical expression

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in the breakdown of thymine, uracil, and the widely used antineoplastic drug, 5-fluorouracil. Sequence analysis of the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase cDNA in a Dutch consanguineous family identified a novel four-base deletion (delTCAT_296–299) leading to premature termination of translation. The deletion is located in a TCAT tandem-repeat sequence and most likely results from unequal crossing-over or slipped mispairing. In this family we identified three homozygous individuals for this mutation. Two of these showed convulsive disorders but one was clinically normal. This observation suggests that, at least in this family, there is no clear correlation between the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase genotype and phenotype. Received: 20 January 1997 / Accepted: 10 March 1997     

Identification of a novel regulatory domain in Bcl-X(L) and Bcl-2.

Bcl-X(L), a member of the Bcl-2 family, can inhibit many forms of programed cell death. The three-dimensional structure of Bcl-X(L) identified a 60 amino acid loop lacking defined structure. Although amino acid sequence within this region is not conserved among Bcl-2 family members, structural modeling suggested that Bcl-2 also contains a large unstructured region. Compared with the full-length protein, loop deletion mutants of Bcl-X(L) and Bcl-2 displayed an enhanced ability to inhibit apoptosis. Despite enhanced function, the deletion mutants did not have significant alterations in the ability to bind pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bax. The loop deletion mutant of Bcl-2 also displayed a qualitative difference in its ability to inhibit apoptosis. Full-length Bcl-2 was unable to prevent anti-IgM-induced cell death of the immature B cell line WEHI-231. In contrast, the Bcl-2 deletion mutant protected WEHI-231 cells from death. Substantial differences were observed in the ability of WEHI-231 cells to phosphorylate the deletion mutant of Bcl-2 compared with full-length Bcl-2. Bcl-2 phosphorylation was found to be dependent on the presence of an intact loop domain. These results suggest that the loop domain in Bcl-X(L) and Bcl-2 can suppress the anti-apoptotic function of these genes and may be a target for regulatory post-translational modifications.     

Deletion loop mutagenesis: a novel method for the construction of point mutations using deletion mutants

Deletion loop mutagenesis is a new, general method for site-directed mutagenesis that allows point mutations to the introduced within a sequence of DNA defined by a previously isolated deletion mutant. Wild type and deletion mutant DNA are cloned into a bacterial plasmid and each is cleaved with a different single cut restriction enzyme. Heteroduplexes are formed between the two DNAs to produce circular molecules containing a nick in each strand and a single-stranded deletion loop. The deletion loops are mutagenised using sodium bisulphite and the DNA transfected directly into a uracil repair deficient strain of Escherichia coli. Up to half of the resultant clones contain DNA produced by replication of the wild-type length strand and bear mutations exclusively within the target area. An example is given in which a deletion mutant lacking 21 nucleotides from the region coding for SV40 large-T was used. Eight of the possible nine target cytosine residues were mutagenised. The method described is specific, efficient and simple.     

Development of a binary vector system for plant transformation based on the supervirulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain Chry5

This report describes the disarming of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Chry5, a strain highly tumorigenic on soybean. Disarming was achieved by removing an approximately 16.5-kb segment of the 285-kb Ti plasmid pTiChry5, including approximately 4 kb of the oncogenic T-DNA and an extended region right of the T-DNA, and replacing it with a gene for carbenicillin resistance, through homologous recombination. The deletion was confirmed with Southern analysis, and the loss of tumorigenicity was verified in tobacco and tomato plant stem inoculation assays. The deletion mutant, named KYRT1, successfully transferred the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene into tobacco leaf tissue, producing GUS-expressing callus which could be regenerated into viable plants. In a comparative study, the transformation efficiency of A. tumefaciens KYRT1, GV3850, and EHA105 was assayed by inoculating cotyledonary node explants. The results of this study revealed that, in a binary vector system, KYRT1 is equally or more effective than EHA105 or GV3850 at delivering DNA into soybean. Received: 30 January 1997 / Revision received: 10 June 1997 / Accepted: 5 July 1997     

Directed formation of chromosomal deletions in Salmonella typhimurium : targeting of specific genes induced during infection

In vivo expression technology (IVET) has resulted in the isolation of more than 100 Salmonella typhimurium genes that are induced during infection. Many of these in vivo induced (ivi) genes, as well as other virulence genes, are clustered in regions of the chromosome that are specific for Salmonella and are not present in Escherichia coli (e.g., pathogenicity islands). It would be desirable to be able to delete such putative virulence regions of the chromosome, and if the deletion removes genes that play a role in pathogenesis subsequent efforts can then be focused on individual genes that reside within that region. We therefore have developed a strategy for constructing chromosomal deletions which are not limited in size, have defined endpoints with a selectable marker at the joint point, and are not dependent on prior knowledge of sequences contained within the deleted region. Such deletion strategies can be applied to almost any bacterium with homologous recombination and to plasmid-based mutational systems where homologous recombination is not desired or feasible. Received: 6 October 1997 / Accepted: 30 December 1997     

Site-directed mutagenesis of the CP 47 protein of photosystem II: alteration of conserved charged residues which lie within lethal deletions of the large extrinsic loop E

The intrinsic chlorophyll-protein CP 47 is a component of photosystem II which functions in both light-harvesting and oxygen evolution. The large extrinsic loop E of this protein has been shown to interact with the oxygen-evolving site. Previously, Vermaas and coworkers have produced a number of deletions within loop E which yielded mutants which were unable to grow photoautotrophically and which could not evolve oxygen at normal rates. During the course of our site-directed mutagenesis program in Synechocystis 6803, we have altered all of the conserved charged residues which were present within six of these deletions. All ten of these mutants were photoautotrophic and evolved oxygen at normal rates. We speculate that the severe phenotypes of the deletion mutants observed by Vermaas and coworkers in due to large structural perturbations in the extrinsic loop E of CP 47.     

Vegetative propagation and spore-based recruitment in the carrageenophyte Chondracanthus chamissoi (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) in northern Chile

In the present study we compared vegetative and spore‐based propagation for Chondracanthus chamissoi (C. Agardh) Kützing. Monthly field observations were made over a 1‐year period at Puerto Aldea, Tongoy Bay, Chile. Data were collected both outside and within a bed of C. chamissoi. Vegetative propagation was assessed via attachment of drifting fronds to shell‐encrusted concrete blocks at both sites. Germination of spores was recorded on the same shell substrates. Substrate re‐adhesion varied seasonally between sectors. Highest averages occurred within the algal bed between January 1997 and March 1997. The number of sporelings showed two peaks of maximal recruitment in spring and summer months (January‐March 1997 and September 1997‐January 1998). Spore‐based propagation is an important mechanism of seasonal regeneration of biomass in the C. chamissoi bed; however, re‐attachment of fronds may have been important in maintaining production of the bed during the period of maximum biomass accumulation.     

ΔFlucs: Brighter Photinus pyralis firefly luciferases identified by surveying consecutive single amino acid deletion mutations in a thermostable variant

The bright bioluminescence catalyzed by Photinus pyralis firefly luciferase (Fluc) enables a vast array of life science research such as bio imaging in live animals and sensitive in vitro diagnostics. The effectiveness of such applications is improved using engineered enzymes that to date have been constructed using amino acid substitutions. We describe ΔFlucs: consecutive single amino acid deletion mutants within six loop structures of the bright and thermostable ×11 Fluc. Deletion mutations are a promising avenue to explore new sequence and functional space and isolate novel mutant phenotypes. However, this method is often overlooked and to date there have been no surveys of the effects of consecutive single amino acid deletions in Fluc. We constructed a large semi‐rational ΔFluc library and isolated significantly brighter enzymes after finding ×11 Fluc activity was largely tolerant to deletions. Targeting an “omega‐loop” motif (T352‐G360) significantly enhanced activity, altered kinetics, reduced Km for D‐luciferin_, altered emission colors, and altered substrate specificity for redshifted analog DL‐infraluciferin. Experimental and in silico analyses suggested remodeling of the Ω‐loop impacts on active site hydrophobicity to increase light yields. This work demonstrates the further potential of deletion mutations, which can generate useful Fluc mutants and broaden the palette of the biomedical and biotechnological bioluminescence enzyme toolbox.     

Amino‐acid composition after loop deletion drives domain swapping

Rational engineering of a protein to enable domain swapping requires an understanding of the sequence, structural and energetic factors that favor the domain‐swapped oligomer over the monomer. While it is known that the deletion of loops between β‐strands can promote domain swapping, the spliced sequence at the position of the loop deletion is thought to have a minimal role to play in such domain swapping. Here, two loop‐deletion mutants of the non‐domain‐swapping protein monellin, frame‐shifted by a single residue, were designed. Although the spliced sequence in the two mutants differed by only one residue at the site of the deletion, only one of them (YEIKG) promoted domain swapping. The mutant containing the spliced sequence YENKG was entirely monomeric. This new understanding that the domain swapping propensity after loop deletion may depend critically on the chemical composition of the shortened loop will facilitate the rational design of domain swapping.     

Gross deletions of the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene are predominantly of maternal origin and commonly associated with a learning disability, dysmorphic features and developmental delay

Mutation screening in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) families has long been hampered by the complexity of the NF1 gene. By using a novel multi-track screening strategy, 67 NF1 families (54 two-generation, 13 three-generation) with a de novo mutation in the germline of the first generation were studied with two extragenic and 11 intragenic markers. The pathological lesion was identified in 31 cases. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the affected individual revealed a gross gene deletion in 15 of the two-generation families; in 12 (80%) of them, the deletion was maternally derived. Eleven patients with a gross deletion exhibited developmental delay, ten had dysmorphic features and six manifested a learning disability. No gross deletion was apparent in any of the 13 three-generation families, suggesting that such lesions are subject to more intense selection. In these families, the new mutation was of paternal origin in 11 kindreds and the underlying mutational event could be characterised in three of them. Received: 13 November 1997 / Accepted: 26 January 1998     

Partial deletion of β9 loop in pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 reduces enzyme activity with a larger effect on long acyl chain substrates

Structural studies on pancreatic lipase have revealed a complex architecture of surface loops surrounding the enzyme active site and potentially involved in interactions with lipids. Two of them, the lid and β9 loop, expose a large hydrophobic surface and are considered as acyl chain binding sites based on their interaction with an alkyl phosphonate inhibitor. While the role of the lid in substrate recognition and selectivity has been extensively studied, the implication of β9 loop in acyl chain stabilization remained hypothetical. The characterization of an enzyme with a natural deletion of the lid, guinea pig pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (GPLRP2), suggests however an essential contribution of the β9 loop in the stabilization of the acyl enzyme intermediate formed during the lipolysis reaction. A GPLRP2 mutant with a seven-residue deletion of β9 loop (GPLRP2-Δβ9) was produced and its enzyme activity was measured using various substrates (triglycerides, monoglycerides, galactolipids, phospholipids, vinyl esters) with short, medium and long acyl chains. Whatever the substrate tested, GPLRP2-Δβ9 activity is drastically reduced compared to that of wild-type GPLRP2 and this effect is more pronounced as the length of substrate acyl chain increases. Changes in relative substrate selectivity and stereoselectivity remained however weak. The deletion within β9 loop has also a negative effect on the rate of enzyme inhibition by alkyl phosphonates. All these findings indicate that the reduced enzyme turnover observed with GPLRP2-Δβ9 results from a weaker stabilization of the acyl enzyme intermediate due to a loss of hydrophobic interactions.     

Zinc metalloproteinase ProA directly activates Legionella pneumophila PlaC glycerophospholipid:cholesterol acyltransferase

Enzymes secreted by Legionella pneumophila, such as phospholipases A (PLAs) and glycerophospholipid:cholesterol acyltransferases (GCATs), may target host cell lipids and therefore contribute to the establishment of Legionnaires disease. L. pneumophila possesses three proteins, PlaA, PlaC, and PlaD, belonging to the GDSL family of lipases/acyltransferases. We have shown previously that PlaC is the major GCAT secreted by L. pneumophila and that the zinc metalloproteinase ProA is essential for GCAT activity. Here we characterized the mode of PlaC GCAT activation and determined that ProA directly processes PlaC. We further found that not only cholesterol but also ergosterol present in protozoa was palmitoylated by PlaC. Such ester formations were not induced by either PlaA or PlaD. PlaD was shown here to possess lysophospholipase A activity, and interestingly, all three GDSL enzymes transferred short chain fatty acids to sterols. The three single putative catalytic amino acids (Ser-37, Asp-398, and His-401) proved essential for all PlaC-associated PLA, lysophospholipase A, and GCAT activities. A further four cysteine residues are important for the PLA/GCAT activities as well as their oxidized state, and we therefore conclude that PlaC likely forms at least one disulfide loop. Analysis of cleavage site and loop deletion mutants suggested that for GCAT activation deletion of several amino acids within the loop is necessary rather than cleavage at a single site. Our data therefore suggest a novel enzyme inhibition/activation mechanism where a disulfide loop inhibits PlaC GCAT activity until the protein is exported to the external space where it is ProA-activated.     

The structural basis for the exo-mode of action in GH74 oligoxyloglucan reducing end-specific cellobiohydrolase

Oligoxyloglucan reducing end-specific cellobiohydrolase (OXG-RCBH) is a unique exo-beta-1,4-glucanase that belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 74. The enzyme recognizes the reducing end of xyloglucan oligosaccharides and releases two glucosyl residue segments from the reducing end of the main chain. Previously, we reported that OXG-RCBH consists of two seven-bladed beta-propeller domains. There is a large cleft between the two domains, and a unique loop encloses one side of the active site cleft. Here, we report the X-ray crystal structure of the OXG-RCBH-substrate complex determined to a resolution of 2.4 A. The substrate bound to the cleft, and its reducing end was arranged near the loop region that is believed to impart OXG-RCBH with its activity. We constructed a deletion mutant of the loop region and conducted a detailed analysis. A deletion mutant of the loop region showed endo-activity with altered substrate recognition. More specifically, cleavage occurred randomly instead of at specific sites, most likely due to the misalignment of the substrate within the subsite. We believe that the loop imparts unique substrate specificity with exo-mode hydrolysis in OXG-RCBH.     

A flexible loop as a functional element in the catalytic mechanism of nucleoside hydrolase from Trypanosoma vivax

The nucleoside hydrolase of Trypanosoma vivax hydrolyzes the N-glycosidic bond of purine nucleosides. Structural and kinetic studies on this enzyme have suggested a catalytic role for a flexible loop in the vicinity of the active sites. Here we present the analysis of the role of this flexible loop via the combination of a proline scan of the loop, loop deletion mutagenesis, steady state and pre-steady state analysis, and x-ray crystallography. Our analysis reveals that this loop has an important role in leaving group activation and product release. The catalytic role involves the entire loop and could only be perturbed by deletion of the entire loop and not by single site mutagenesis. We present evidence that the loop closes over the active site during catalysis, thereby ordering a water channel that is involved in leaving group activation. Once chemistry has taken place, the loop dynamics determine the rate of product release.     

Cytogenetic analysis of sperm from a man heterozygous for a pericentric inversion, inv (3) (p25q21).

Human sperm chromosomes were studied in a man heterozygous for a pericentric inversion of chromosome 3(p25q21). The pronuclear chromosomes were analyzed after in vitro penetration of golden hamster eggs. A total of 144 sperm were examined: 69.2% were chromosomally balanced and 30.8% were recombinant. Of the balanced complements, the proportion with a normal chromosome 3 (37.6%) was approximately equal to the proportion with an inverted 3 (31.6%). Of the recombinant complements, the proportion of sperm with a duplication q/deletion p (17.3%) was approximately equal to the reciprocal event of duplication p/deletion q (13.5%). The recombinant chromosome 3 with a duplication q and deletion p has been observed in several abnormal children, but the duplication p/deletion q has never been reported. My results demonstrate that both recombinant chromosomes are produced as expected from an unequal number of crossovers within an inversion loop. In all likelihood the duplication p/deletion q chromosome is an early embryonic lethal because of the amount of genetic material deleted. The proportions of X-bearing (48.9%) and Y-bearing sperm (51.1%) were not significantly different from the expected 1:1 ratio. There was no evidence for an interchromosomal effect. Of the three inversions studied by human sperm chromosome analysis, recombinant chromosomes have been observed only in this case.     

Comparative mapping of the DiGeorge syndrome region in mouse shows inconsistent gene order and differential degree of gene conservation

We have constructed a comparative map in mouse of the critical region of human 22q11 deleted in DiGeorge (DGS) and Velocardiofacial (VCFS) syndromes. The map includes 11 genes potentially haploinsufficient in these deletion syndromes. We have localized all the conserved genes to mouse Chromosome (Chr) 16, bands B1-B3. The determination of gene order shows the presence of two regions (distal and proximal), containing two groups of conserved genes. The gene order in the two regions is not completely conserved; only in the proximal group is the gene order identical to human. In the distal group the gene order is inverted. These two regions are separated by a DNA segment containing at least one gene which, in the human DGS region, is the most proximal of the known deleted genes. In addition, the gene order within the distal group of genes is inverted relative to the human gene order. Furthermore, a clathrin heavy chain-like gene was not found in the mouse genome by DNA hybridization, indicating that there is an inconsistent level of gene conservation in the region. These and other independent data obtained in our laboratory clearly show a complex evolutionary history of the DGS-VCFS region. Our data provide a framework for the development of a mouse model for the 22q11 deletion with chromosome engineering technologies. Received: 8 July 1997 / Accepted 11 August 1997     

Deletion of L4 domains reveals insights into the importance of ribosomal protein extensions in eukaryotic ribosome assembly

Numerous ribosomal proteins have a striking bipartite architecture: a globular body positioned on the ribosomal exterior and an internal loop buried deep into the rRNA core. In eukaryotes, a significant number of conserved r-proteins have evolved extra amino- or carboxy-terminal tail sequences, which thread across the solvent-exposed surface. The biological importance of these extended domains remains to be established. In this study, we have investigated the universally conserved internal loop and the eukaryote-specific extensions of yeast L4. We show that in contrast to findings with bacterial L4, deleting the internal loop of yeast L4 causes severely impaired growth and reduced levels of large ribosomal subunits. We further report that while depleting the entire L4 protein blocks early assembly steps in yeast, deletion of only its extended internal loop affects later steps in assembly, revealing a second role for L4 during ribosome biogenesis. Surprisingly, deletion of the entire eukaryote-specific carboxy-terminal tail of L4 has no effect on viability, production of 60S subunits, or translation. These unexpected observations provide impetus to further investigate the functions of ribosomal protein extensions, especially eukaryote-specific examples, in ribosome assembly and function.