The human genome encodes at least three non-allellic G proteins with alpha i-type subunits

The amino acid sequence and composition of alpha-subunits of signal transducing G proteins of the same kind appear to vary by no more than 2% from species to species. Here we isolated a human liver cDNA using an oligonucleotide complementary to the sequences encoding the pertussis toxin (PTX) ADP-ribosylation site of the alpha-subunit of the rat brain G protein called Gi. Its open reading frame characterizes it as an alpha i-type cDNA--as opposed to alpha o-type--but predicts an amino acid composition that differs by 7% and 14%, respectively, from two other human alpha i-type molecules. Together with human brain alpha i (type-1) and human monocyte alpha i (type-2), the new human liver alpha i cDNA (type-3) forms parts of a family of alpha i molecules. Type-3 alpha i cDNA hybridizes to a approximately 3.6 kilobase long mRNA and type-2 alpha i cDNA hybridizes to an mRNA species of approximately 2.7 kilobases. This indicates that the human genome has at least three non-allellic genes encoding non-alpha o-type PTX substrates and provides structural evidence for the hypothesis that distinct effector systems are regulated by similar but nevertheless distinct PTX substrates.     

Molecular cloning of DNA complementary to rat alpha 2-macroglobulin mRNA

Rat alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) is an acute-phase protein synthesized in the liver. Using an in vitro translation system coupled with solid-phase radioimmunoassay, alpha 2M mRNA activity was found to rise to a maximum level in 16-24 h after turpentine injection. Poly(A)+ RNA from turpentine-injected rat liver was converted to cDNA by the method of Okayama-Berg, and about 50,000 transformants were obtained. From these transformants, clones containing alpha 2M cDNA were selected using the following criteria: 1) alpha 2M cDNA should hybridize with synthetic oligonucleotides encoding portions of the alpha 2M amino acid sequence, 2) alpha 2M cDNA should hybridize preferentially with RNA which increases during inflammation, 3) mRNA which hybridizes with alpha 2M cDNA should encode a polypeptide which specifically reacts with antibody against alpha 2M, and 4) the cDNA should contain the nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequences of alpha 2M. We found clones which fulfilled these criteria. Using the cDNA clone as a probe, we demonstrated that the level of alpha 2M mRNA in the liver of inflamed animal markedly increased up to 1000-fold. The size of the alpha 2M mRNA was about 4800 nucleotides in length by Northern analysis.     

Cloning and characterization of a cDNA coding for the alpha-subunit of a stimulatory G protein from Schistosoma mansoni.

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) mediate signals between serotonin receptors and adenylate cyclase in Schistosoma mansoni. A bovine Gs alpha cDNA probe was used to isolate a cDNA clone, SG12, encoding the entire alpha-subunit of a G protein of S. mansoni. The cDNA is 1897 base pairs long, contains an open reading frame of 1137 base pairs, and codes for a deduced protein of 379 amino acids. The putative protein encoded by the clone has an exact amino acid match with bovine Gs alpha of 65% and a 78% match when conserved amino acid substitutions are considered. In contrast, the exact and conserved matches of the schistosome alpha-subunit with bovine Gi are 41 and 61%, respectively. A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of SG12 with a variety of different G alpha proteins indicates that all the major structural features characteristic of a Gs alpha protein are present in the S. mansoni gene. The schistosome clone contains the putative site for ADP-ribosylation by cholera toxin found in Gs alpha but does not contain the ADP-ribosylation site for pertussis toxin present in Gi alpha. The amino acids are completely conserved at the GTP-binding sites. On a Northern blot, the cDNA hybridizes to a major band of 3.1 kilobases in RNA from adult schistosomes. The message appears to be absent in miracidia and cercariae, but a faint 3.1-kilobase band is visible in the early schistosomule stage preceding adulthood. This evidence, when added to previous biochemical data, indicates that the expression of this gene is developmentally controlled.     

CoA-dependent methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, a unique member of the aldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily. cDNA cloning, evolutionary relationships, and tissue distribution.

Three overlapping cDNA clones encoding methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (MMSDH; 2-methyl-3-oxopropanoate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (CoA-propanoylating); EC 1.2.1.27) have been isolated by screening a rat liver lambda gt 11 library with nondegenerate oligonucleotide probes synthesized according to polymerase chain reaction-amplified portions coding for the N-terminal amino acid sequence of rat liver MMSDH. The three clones cover a total of 1942 base pairs of cDNA, with an open reading frame of 1569 base pairs. The authenticity of the composite cDNA was confirmed by a perfect match of 43 amino acids known from protein sequencing. The composite cDNA predicts a 503 amino acid mature protein with M(r) = 55,330, consistent with previous estimates. Polymerase chain reaction was used to obtain the sequence of the 32 amino acids corresponding to the mitochondrial entry peptide. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from several rat tissues showed a single mRNA band of 3.8 kilobases. Relative mRNA levels were: kidney greater than liver greater than heart greater than muscle greater than brain, which differed somewhat from relative MMSDH protein levels determined by Western blot analysis: liver = kidney greater than heart greater than muscle greater than brain. A 1423-base pair cDNA clone encoding human MMSDH was isolated from a human liver lambda gt 11 library. The human MMSDH cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1293 base pairs that encodes the protein from Leu-74 to the C terminus. Human and rat MMSDH share 89.6 and 97.7% identity in nucleotide and protein sequence, respectively. MMSDH clearly belongs to a superfamily of aldehyde dehydrogenases and is closely related to betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase, 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, and class 1 and 2 aldehyde dehydrogenases.     

Structure of the carboxyl-terminal half of human alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor deduced from that of cDNA

A 1.7 kilobase cDNA clone isolated from a human liver cDNA library contained 822 nucleotides encoding the carboxyl-terminal 274 amino acid sequence of alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor, a stop codon and a 3' noncoding region of 0.9 kilobases. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA shows 29-31% homology with those of other plasma protease inhibitors. The inhibitor's putative reactive-site peptide bond was Met-Ser, and the Met residue was located at the 91st position from the carboxyl-terminal end. The plasminogen binding site was located in the carboxyl-terminal region.     

Molecular cloning and primary structure of rat alpha 1-antitrypsin

A cDNA clone encoding rat alpha 1-antitrypsin has been isolated from a lambda gt-11 rat liver cDNA library using an antigen-overlay immunoscreening method. The nucleotide sequence of this cDNA clone is 1306 base pairs in length and has a coding region of 1224 base pairs which can be translated into an alpha 1-antitrypsin precursor protein consisting of 408 amino acid residues. The cDNA sequence contains a termination codon, TAA, at position 1162 and a polyadenylation signal sequence, AATAAT, at position 1212. The calculated molecular weight of the translated mature protein is 43,700 with 387 amino acid residues; this differs from purified rat alpha 1-antitrypsin's apparent molecular weight of 54,000 because of glycosylation. Five potential glycosylation sites were identified on the basis of the cDNA sequence. The translated mature protein sequence from the cDNA clone matches completely with the N-terminal 33 amino acids of purified rat alpha 1-antitrypsin, which has an N-terminal Glu. The cDNA encoding rat alpha 1-antitrypsin shares 70% and 80% sequence identity with its human and mouse counterparts, respectively. The reactive center sequence of rat alpha 1-antitrypsin is highly conserved with respect to human alpha 1-antitrypsin, both having Met-Ser at the P1 and P1' residues. Genomic Southern blot analysis yielded a simple banding pattern, suggesting that the rat alpha 1-antitrypsin gene is single-copy. Northern blot analysis using the cDNA probe showed that rat alpha 1-antitrypsin is expressed at high levels in the liver and at low levels in the submandibular gland and the lung.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Structural characterization of a follicle-stimulating hormone action inhibitor in porcine ovarian follicular fluid. Its identification as the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein.

Recently, an inhibitory polypeptide that could block the follicle-stimulating hormone-induced estradiol and progesterone production in rat ovary granulosa cells has been isolated from porcine ovarian follicular fluid. Amino-terminal sequence analysis of the purified inhibitor suggests that it could be the porcine congener of the 53-kDa subunit of the growth hormone-dependent insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGF-BP3). Using amino acid sequence information derived from the purified inhibitor to construct oligonucleotide probes, we have now identified the complementary deoxyribonucleic acids (cDNAs) encoding the inhibitory polypeptide from a porcine liver and a porcine ovary library. The nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences revealed that the cDNAs indeed encode the porcine homolog of the recently characterized human IGF-BP3. The mature polypeptide consists of 266 amino acids, which is 2 amino acids longer than the human sequence. Between the two species, there are 42 amino acid substitutions, but the 18 cysteines and the three Asn-linked glycosylation sites are totally conserved. A single mRNA species of 2.6 kilobases encoding the IGF-BP3 was detected in porcine gonadal, brain, and liver tissues by Northern analysis.     

Identification of cDNA clones encoding different domains of the basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan

We have used antibodies to the basement membrane proteoglycan to screen lambda gt11 expression vector libraries and have isolated two cDNA clones, termed BPG 5 and BPG 7, which encode different portions of the core protein of the heparan sulfate basement membrane proteoglycan. These clones hybridize to a single mRNA species of approximately 12 kilobases. Amino acid sequences obtained on peptides derived from protease digests of the core protein were found in the deduced sequence, confirming the identity of these clones. BPG 5 spanned 1986 base pairs and has an open reading frame of 662 amino acids. The amino acid sequence deduced from BPG 5 contains two cysteine-rich domains and two internally homologous domains lacking cysteine. The cysteine-rich domains show homology to the cysteine-rich domains of the laminin chains. A globule-rod structure, similar to that of the short arms of the laminin chains, is proposed for this region of the proteoglycan. The other clone, BPG 7, is 2193 base pairs long and has an open reading frame of 731 amino acids. The deduced sequence contains eight internal repeats with 2 cysteine residues in each repeat. These repeats show homology to the neural-cell adhesion molecule N-CAM and the plasma alpha 1B-glycoprotein. Looping structures similar to these proteins and to other proteins of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily are proposed for this region of the proteoglycan. The sequence DSGEY was found four times in this domain and could be heparan sulfate attachment sites.     

Molecular cloning and expression of rat liver 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

Complementary DNA clones encoding 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 alpha HSD) were isolated from a rat liver cDNA lambda gt11 expression library using monoclonal antibodies as probes. The sizes of the cDNA inserts ranged from 1.3-2.3 kilobases. Sequence analysis indicated that variation in the DNA size was due to heterogeneity in the length of 3' noncoding sequences. A full-length cDNA clone of 1286 basepairs contained an open reading frame encoding a protein of 322 amino acids with an estimated mol wt of 37 kDa. When expressed in E. coli, the encoded protein migrated to the same position on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels as the enzyme purified from rat liver cytosols. The protein expressed in bacteria was highly active in androsterone reduction in the presence of NAD as cofactor, and this activity was inhibited by indomethacin, a potent inhibitor of 3 alpha HSD. The predicted amino acid sequence of 3 alpha HSD was related to sequences of several other enzymes, including bovine prostaglandin F synthase, human chlordecone reductase, human aldose reductase, human aldehyde reductase, and frog lens epsilon-crystalline, suggesting that these proteins belong to the same gene family.     

Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of the alpha subunit of yeast pyruvate dehydrogenase

A 413-base cDNA insert encoding a portion of the alpha subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1 alpha; EC 1.2.4.1) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was isolated from a lambda gt11 cDNA library by immunoscreening and by hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe which corresponded to the amino acid sequence around the phosphorylation site of E1 alpha. This cDNA was subcloned, sequenced and used as a probe to isolate two additional cDNA inserts which were subcloned and sequenced. These overlapping clones comprised the carboxyl-terminal part of E1 alpha. To identify the missing nucleotide sequence, the polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify yeast genomic DNA with synthetic oligonucleotide primers based on the amino-terminal sequence of E1 alpha and the 5' end of one of the cDNA clones. Three DNA fragments were isolated and sequenced. The composite nucleotide sequence has an open reading frame of 1260 nucleotides encoding a putative presequence of 33 amino acids and a mature protein of 387 amino acids (Mr = 42,703). Hybridization analysis showed that the size of the mRNA is about 1.4 kilobases.     

Complementary DNA and derived amino acid sequence of the beta subunit of human complement protein C8: identification of a close structural and ancestral relationship to the alpha subunit and C9

A cDNA clone encoding the beta subunit (Mr 64,000) of the eighth component of complement (C8) has been isolated from a human liver cDNA library. This clone has a cDNA insert of 1.95 kilobases (kb) and contains the entire beta sequence [1608 base pairs (bp)]. Analysis of total cellular RNA isolated from the hepatoma cell line HepG2 revealed the mRNA for beta to be approximately 2.5 kb. This is similar to the message size for the alpha subunit of C8 and confirms the existence of different mRNAs for alpha and beta. This finding supports genetic evidence that alpha and beta are encoded at different loci. Analysis of the derived amino acid sequence revealed several membrane surface seeking segments that may facilitate beta interaction with target membranes during complement-mediated cytolysis. Determination of the carbohydrate composition indicated 1 or 2 asparagine-linked but no O-linked oligosaccharide chains. Comparison of the beta sequence to that reported for alpha in the preceding paper [Rao, A. G., Howard, O. M. Z., Ng, S. C., Whitehead, A. S., Colten, H. R. & Sodetz, J. M. (1987) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)] and to that of human C9 revealed a striking homology between all three proteins. For beta and alpha, the overall homology is 33% on the basis of identity and 53% when conserved substitutions are allowed. For beta and C9, the values are 26% and 47%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The cloning and sequencing of alpha 1(VIII) collagen cDNAs demonstrate that type VIII collagen is a short chain collagen and contains triple-helical and carboxyl-terminal non-triple-helical domains similar to those of type X collagen

We have isolated two overlapping cDNA clones covering 2425 base pairs encoding a short type VIII collagen chain synthesized by rabbit corneal endothelial cells. The cDNAs encode an open reading frame of 744 amino acid residues containing a triple-helical domain of 454 residues flanked by 117- and 173-residue amino and carboxyl non-triple-helical domains (called NC2 and NC1, respectively). Based on the identity between the DNA-derived amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence of a type VIII collagen CNBr peptide obtained from rabbit corneal Descemet's membrane, we conclude that the cDNAs code for a type VIII collagen chain. We give this chain the designation alpha 1(VIII). The alpha 1(VIII) triple-helical domain contains eight imperfections in the Gly-X-Y repeated structure with Gly-X instead of a full triplet. The length of the triple-helical domain and number and relative locations of these imperfections are remarkably similar to those of chicken alpha 1(X) collagen. The amino acid sequence of the carboxyl three-quarters of the NC1 domain has high sequence similarity to that of alpha 1(X) collagen. These data suggest that the triple-helix coding portions and carboxyl three-quarters of the NC1 domains of the alpha 1(VIII) and alpha 1(X) genes have a common evolutionary origin.