Characterization of the cDNA coding for mouse plasminogen and localization of the gene to mouse chromosome 17

A full-length cDNA coding for mouse plasminogen has been isolated and characterized. The cDNA is 2720 bp in length (excluding the poly(A) tail) and contains a 24-bp 5' noncoding region, an open reading frame of 2436 bp, and a 3' noncoding region of 257 bp. The open reading frame codes for 812 amino acids and includes a signal peptide that is likely 19 amino acids in length and the mature protein of 793 amino acids. The calculated Mr of mouse plasminogen is 88,706 excluding carbohydrate. There are two potential N-linked carbohydrate addition sites; one of which is glycosylated in human, bovine, and porcine plasminogens. Mouse plasminogen was found to contain two additional amino acids compared to the human protein. In addition, mouse and human plasminogens were found to be 79 and 76% identical at the protein and DNA levels, respectively. Analysis of the segregation of two allelic forms, Plgb and Plgd, of plasminogen DNA in three sets of recombinant inbred strains has allowed the localization of the mouse plasminogen gene to the proximal end of mouse chromosome 17 within the t complex and close to the locus D17Rp17. The Plg gene is deleted in the semidominant deletion mutant, hair-pintail (Thp).     

Characterization of the cDNA coding for mouse prothrombin and localization of the gene on mouse chromosome 2

A series of overlapping cDNAs coding for mouse prothrombin (coagulation factor II) have been isolated and the composite DNA sequence has been determined. The complete prothrombin cDNA is 1,987 bp in length [excluding the poly(A) tail] and codes for 18 bp of 5' untranslated sequence, an open reading frame coding for 618 amino acids, a stop codon, and a 3' untranslated region of 112 bp followed by a poly(A) tail. The translated amino acid sequence predicts a molecular weight of 66,087, which includes 10 residues of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid. There are five potential N-linked glycosylation sites. Mouse prothrombin is 81.4% and 77.3% identical to the human and bovine proteins, respectively. Comparison of the cDNA coding for mouse prothrombin to the human and bovine cDNAs indicates 79.9% and 76.5% identity, respectively. Amino acid residues important for the structure and function of human prothrombin are conserved in the mouse and bovine proteins. In the adult mouse and rat, prothrombin is primarily synthesized in the liver, where is constitutes 0.07% of total mRNA as determined by solution hybridization analysis. The genetic locus for mouse prothrombin, Cf-2, has been mapped using an interspecies backcross and DNA fragment differences between the two species. The prothrombin locus lies on mouse chromosome 2, 1.8 +/- 1.3 map units proximal to the catalase locus. The gene order in this region is Cen-Acra-Cf-2-Cas-1-A-Tel. This localization extends the proximal boundary of the known region of homology between mouse chromosome 2 and human chromosome 11p from Cas-1 about 2 map units toward the centromere.     

粉拟青霉类枯草杆菌蛋白酶基因的cDNA克隆及其序列和蛋白质分析

粉拟青霉是一种常见的昆虫病原真菌,被广泛用于生物防治。根据GenBank中已登录的淡紫拟青霉,球孢白僵菌和金龟子绿僵菌的类枯草杆菌蛋白酶基因序列的同源性比较,以它们高度保守的核苷酸序列设计一对引物,采用RT-PCR和3’/5’-RACE相结合的方法,首次从粉拟青霉中克隆出完整的类枯草杆菌蛋白酶cDNA基因。其全序列为2060bp,该序列5’-端和3’-端的非编码序列长度分别为209bp和252bp,开放阅读框为1599bp,编码532个氨基酸,信号肽长度为16个氨基酸。成熟蛋白的氨基酸序列和金龟子绿僵菌小孢变种(CAB63913),玉米赤霉菌(EAA68914),金龟子绿僵菌蚱蜢变种(CAC95047)及柄孢壳(AAC03564)的同源性分别为69%、71%、68%和68%。成熟蛋白具有典型的丝氨酸蛋白酶活性位点,同时有5个半胱氨酸,3个潜在的N-糖基化位点和2个可能的O-糖基化位点。该基因在的密码子第三位碱基的使用上,显示出明显的对C的偏爱。     

cDNA sequence and chromosomal localization of the mouse parvalbumin gene, Pva

In the homozygous condition, the mutation adr (arrested development of righting response) of the mouse causes a myotonia and a drastic reduction of the Ca2+-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) in fast muscles. Using a rat PV probe, a mouse cDNA clone was isolated from a lambda gt11 wild-type fast-muscle library and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The protein coding and the 3' nontranslated regions of the mouse gene show extensive homology with the rat PV gene. The result of Southern blot hybridization is consistent with a single copy gene for parvalbumin. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) between Mus musculus domesticus (e.g. C57BL/6) and Mus spretus (SPE) were detected with the enzymes Eco RI, Pst I, and Sst I. The restriction fragment patterns of DNA samples from 65 individual offspring of (C57BL/6 x SPE)F1 x C57BL/6 backcrosses were tested with the PV probe and matched, for linkage detection, to pre-existing patterns established with various RFLP probes on the same samples. A co-distribution of PV-RFLPs with Pvt-1 and Mlvi-2, which had been localized on chromosome 15, was detected. Thus, the structural gene for PV, designated Pva, maps to chromosome 15 of the mouse whereas the adr mutation shows no linkage with markers on this chromosome. Gene locus homology between chromosome 15 of the mouse and chromosome 22 of man (which carries the human PV gene) is discussed.     

Characterization, cDNA cloning, and functional expression of mouse ileal sodium-dependent bile acid transporter

Mouse ileal sodium dependent bile acid transporter (ISBT) was characterized using isolated enterocytes. Only enterocytes from the most distal portion showed Na+-dependent [3H]taurocholate uptake. Northern blot analysis using a probe against mouse ISBT revealed the expression of mouse ISBT mRNA to be restricted to the distal ileum. The Km and Vmax for Na+-dependent [3H]taurocholate transport into isolated ileocytes were calculated as 27 microM and 360 pmol/mg protein/min, respectively. Uptake of [3H]taurocholate was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide. We have cloned ISBT cDNA from mouse ileum. The cDNA included the entire open reading frame coding 348 amino acid protein with seven hydrophobic segments and two N-glycosylation sites. COS-7 cells transfected with the expression vector containing this cDNA expressed Na+-dependent [3H]taurocholate uptake activity with a Km of 34 microM.     

Characterization of the gene encoding mouse mast cell protease 8 (mMCP-8), and a comparative analysis of hematopoietic serine protease genes

Serine proteases are important granule constituents in several of the major hematopoietic cell lineages. We present here the nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding mouse mast cell protease 8 (mMCP-8). mMCP-8 was initially isolated as a cDNA from a mouse mast cell line, but has recently been found to be expressed primarily by mouse basophils. mMCP-8 and its rat homologues, rMCP-8, -9, and -10, form a new group of mast cell/basophil proteases, which are more closely related to the T-cell granzymes and neutrophil cathepsin G than to the mast cell tryptases and chymases. A dot matrix comparison of the mMCP-8 gene with other closely related hematopoietic serine protease genes shows detectable homology only in the exonic regions of the genes. No indication for conservation in the promoter region or introns was observed. This latter finding indicates that the upstream regulatory region has evolved at a relatively high rate. However, despite the low degree of direct sequence conservation, no major differences in the sizes of introns or exons were observed between mMCP-8 and genes for the closest related hematopoietic serine proteases, the mouse T-cell granzymes and cathepsin G, indicating that after evolutionary separation from the T-cell granzymes and cathepsin G, the majority of mutations primarily involved single base pair substitutions or short insertions or deletions.     

Isolation of the human gene for bone gla protein utilizing mouse and rat cDNA clones.

cDNAs which encode bone gla protein (BGP), an abundant gamma-carboxylated protein of bone, have been cloned from rat and mouse osteosarcoma cell lines. DNA sequence analysis indicates that the cDNAs code for both the 50 (rat) or 46 (mouse) amino acids of the mature proteins and a 49 amino acid leader peptide. The leader peptide of each BGP includes the expected hydrophobic signal sequence and an apparent pro sequence. Although there is no homology between the mature forms of BGP and the gamma-carboxylated clotting factors, we note that there is some homology between their leader peptides. These cDNAs have been used to examine the modulation of BGP mRNA levels by osteoblastic cells in response to hormones. The cDNAs have also allowed isolation of the human BGP gene; analysis of this gene indicates the presence of four exons. Comparison of the exon structure of the BGP gene and the Factor IX (a gamma-carboxylated clotting factor) gene suggests that the exons encoding the part of the leader peptides presumably directing gamma-carboxylation arose from a common ancestral sequence.     

Hepsin, a cell membrane-associated protease. Characterization, tissue distribution, and gene localization

Hepsin, a putative membrane-bound serine protease, was originally identified as a human liver cDNA clone (Leytus, S.P., Loeb, K.R., Hagen, F.S., Kurachi, K., and Davie, E.W. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 1067-1074). In the present study the human hepsin gene was localized to chromosome 19 at q11-13.2. The messenger RNA of hepsin is 1.85 kilobases in size and present in most tissues, with the highest level in liver. Hepsin is synthesized as a single polypeptide chain, and its mature form of 51 kDa was found in various mammalian cells including HepG2 cells and baby hamster kidney cells. It is present in the plasma-membrane in a molecular orientation of type II membrane-associated proteins, with its catalytic subunit (carboxyl-terminal half) at the cell surface, and its amino terminus facing the cytosol. Hepsin is found neither in cytosol nor in culture media. The results obtained suggest that hepsin has an important role(s) in cell growth and function.     

Characterization of the protein Z-dependent protease inhibitor interactive-sites of protein Z

Background

Protein Z (PZ) has been reported to promote the inactivation of factor Xa (FXa) by PZ-dependent protease inhibitor (ZPI) by about three orders of magnitude. Previously, we prepared a chimeric PZ in which its C-terminal pseudo-catalytic domain was grafted on FX light-chain (Gla and EGF-like domains) (PZ/FX-LC). Characterization of PZ/FX-LC revealed that the ZPI interactive-site is primarily located within PZ pseudo-catalytic domain. Nevertheless, the cofactor function and apparent K_d of PZ/FX-LC for interaction with ZPI remained impaired ~ 6–7-fold, suggesting that PZ contains a ZPI interactive-site outside pseudo-catalytic domain. X-ray structural data indicates that Tyr-240 of ZPI interacts with EGF2-domain of PZ. Structural data further suggests that 3 other ZPI surface loops make salt-bridge interactions with PZ pseudo-catalytic domain. To identify ZPI interactive-sites on PZ, we grafted the N-terminal EGF2 subdomain of PZ onto PZ/FX-LC chimera (PZ-EGF2/FX-LC) and also generated two compensatory charge reversal mutants of PZ pseudo-catalytic domain (Glu-244 and Arg-212) and ZPI surface loops (Lys-239 and Asp-293).

Methods

PZ chimeras were expressed in mammalian cells and ZPI derivatives were expressed in Escherichia coli.

Results

The PZ EGF2 subdomain fusion restored the defective cofactor function of PZ/FX-LC. The activities of PZ and ZPI mutants were all impaired if assayed individually, but partially restored if the compensatory charge reversal mutants were used in the assay.

Conclusions

PZ EGF2 subdomain constitutes an interactive-site for ZPI. Data with compensatory charge reversal mutants validates structural data that the identified residues are part of interactive-sites.

General significance

Insight is provided into mechanisms through which specificity of ZPI–PZ–FXa complex formation is determined.