Human indolethylamine N-methyltransferase: cDNA cloning and expression, gene cloning, and chromosomal localization.

Indolethylamine N-methyltransferase (INMT) catalyzes the N-methylation of tryptamine and structurally related compounds. We recently cloned and characterized the rabbit INMT cDNA and gene as a step toward cloning the cDNA and gene for this enzyme in humans. We have now used a PCR-based approach to clone a human INMT cDNA that had a 792-bp open reading frame that encoded a 263-amino-acid protein 88% identical in sequence to rabbit INMT. Northern blot analysis of 35 tissues showed that a 2.7-kb INMT mRNA species was expressed in most tissues. When the cDNA was expressed in COS-1 cells, the recombinant enzyme catalyzed the methylation of tryptamine with an apparent K(m) value of 2.9 mM. The human cDNA was then used to clone the human INMT gene from a human genomic BAC library. The gene was 5471 bp in length, consisted of three exons, and was structurally similar to the rabbit INMT gene as well as genes for nicotinamide N-methyltransferase and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase in several species. All INMT exon-intron splice junctions conformed to the "GT-AG" rule, and no canonical TATA or CAAT sequences were present within the 5'-flanking region of the gene. Human INMT mapped to chromosome 7p15.2-p15.3 on the basis of both PCR analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Finally, two possible single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified within exon 3, both of which altered the encoded amino acid. The cloning and expression of a human INMT cDNA, as well as the cloning, structural characterization, and mapping of its gene represent steps toward future studies of the function and regulation of this methyltransferase enzyme in humans.     

Human lysosomal acid phosphatase: cloning, expression and chromosomal assignment.

A 2112-bp cDNA clone (lambda CT29) encoding the entire sequence of the human lysosomal acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) was isolated from a lambda gt11 human placenta cDNA library. The cDNA hybridized with a 2.3-kb mRNA from human liver and HL-60 promyelocytes. The gene for lysosomal acid phosphatase was localized to human chromosome 11. The cDNA includes a 12-bp 5' non-coding region, an open reading frame of 1269 bp and an 831-bp 3' non-coding region with a putative polyadenylation signal 25 bp upstream of a 3' poly(A) tract. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals a putative signal sequence of 30 amino acids followed by a sequence of 393 amino acids that contains eight potential glycosylation sites and a hydrophobic region, which could function as a transmembrane domain. A 60% homology between the known 23 N-terminal amino acid residues of human prostatic acid phosphatase and the N-terminal sequence of lysosomal acid phosphatase suggests an evolutionary link between these two phosphatases. Insertion of the cDNA into the expression vector pSVL yielded a construct that encoded enzymatically active acid phosphatase in transfected monkey COS cells.     

Human C1 inhibitor: primary structure, cDNA cloning, and chromosomal localization

The primary structure of human C1 inhibitor was determined by peptide and DNA sequencing. The single-chain polypeptide moiety of the intact inhibitor is 478 residues (52,869 Da), accounting for only 51% of the apparent molecular mass of the circulating protein (104,000 Da). The positions of six glucosamine-based and five galactosamine-based oligosaccharides were determined. Another nine threonine residues are probably also glycosylated. Most of the carbohydrate prosthetic groups (probably 17) are located at the amino-terminal end (residues 1-120) of the protein and are particularly concentrated in a region where the tetrapeptide sequence Glx-Pro-Thr-Thr, and variants thereof, is repeated 7 times. No phosphate was detected in C1 inhibitor. Two disulfide bridges connect cysteine-101 to cysteine-406 and cysteine-108 to cysteine-183. Comparison of the amino acid and cDNA sequences indicates that secretion is mediated by a 22-residue signal peptide and that further proteolytic processing does not occur. C1 inhibitor is a member of the large serine protease inhibitor (serpin) gene family. The homology concerns residues 120 through the C-terminus. The sequence was compared with those of nine other serpins, and conserved and nonconserved regions correlated with elements in the tertiary structure of alpha 1-antitrypsin. The C1 inhibitor gene maps to chromosome 11, p11.2-q13. C1 inhibitor genes of patients from four hereditary angioneurotic edema kindreds do not have obvious deletions or rearrangements in the C1 inhibitor locus. A HgiAI DNA polymorphism, identified following the observation of sequence variants, will be useful as a linkage marker in studies of mutant C1 inhibitor genes.     

Human long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase: structure and chromosomal location.

A complementary DNA clone encoding the entire human long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase was isolated and the total 698-amino acid sequence was deduced. The amino acid sequence of human long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase shows 84.9% identity to that of rat long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase. The nucleotide sequences of the protein coding regions between human and rat long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase mRNAs are highly conserved (85.6%), whereas those of the 3' untranslated regions are less conserved (72%). The location of the human long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase gene was identified on chromosome 4 by spot hybridization of flow-sorted chromosomes. Computer-assisted homology search revealed a significant similarity of the enzyme with the enzymes of the luciferase family. Based on this similarity, the structure of human long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase can be divided into five domains: the N-terminus, two domains similar to those in enzymes of the luciferase family, a long gap region between the similar domains and the C-terminus.     

Human profilin. Molecular cloning, sequence comparison, and chromosomal analysis

Profilin is an ubiquitous 12-15-kDa actin monomer-binding protein, the amino acid sequence of which was previously reported for the cow and Acanthamoeba. In the latter species, two isoforms of profilin have been identified. We have isolated full-length profilin cDNA clones from a human HepG2 library. All clones have the same nucleotide sequence, and Northern blot and RNase protection analyses of human tissues indicate that all tissues have the same approximately 850 base message, and provide no evidence of alternative message splicing. This result strongly implies a single profilin isoform in human cells, although differential post-translational modifications have not been excluded. Northern blot analysis extends the tissue distribution of profilin to include epithelial, muscle, and renal tissues. Comparison of the predicted human profilin amino acid sequence with that of published bovine profilin indicates 90% identity with a single 3-residue deletion in the human sequence. Southern blot analysis of somatic cell hybrid DNA indicates at least four dispersed genetic loci in the human genome hybridize with the profilin cDNA as well as untranslated region fragments, suggesting several of these loci represent pseudogenes of recent evolutionary origin. In addition, 5' and 3' untranslated regions are conserved between humans and rodents, implying a functional role for these regions of the profilin gene.     

Plasma cell membrane glycoprotein PC-1. cDNA cloning of the human molecule, amino acid sequence, and chromosomal location

The murine cell membrane glycoprotein PC-1 is a homodimer with restricted tissue distribution, being first characterized in plasma cells. We now describe the isolation of cDNA clones encoding the human homolog of the murine PC-1 protein, its complete amino acid sequence, and its chromosomal location. Overall, the amino acid sequence of the human protein is about 80% identical to the murine protein, although the extent of homology varies in different domains. It had not been possible to assign a definitive amino terminus to the murine protein. Comparison of the murine and human sequence necessitates reassignment of the amino terminus, resulting in a cytoplasmic tail of 24 amino acids rather than 58 amino acids as previously published for the mouse. The sequence of several independently obtained cDNA clones indicates that the 3' end of the mRNA is subject to alternative splicing. Southern blots suggest a single copy gene. In situ chromosomal hybridization localizes the gene for human PC-1 to chromosome 6q22-q23, a common site for deletions in human lymphoid neoplasia.     

Molecular cloning,chromosomal location and expression pattern of porcine CIDEa and CIDEc

Cell death-inducing DFF45-like effectors a and c (CIDEa and CIDEc) are two members of the novel CIDE family of apoptosis-inducing factors. Except as pro-apoptotic proteins, it has been reported that CIDEa and CIDEc could be involved in lipid or fat metabolism. Here we first reported the cDNA cloning, chromosome mapping and expression analysis of CIDEa and CIDEc in pigs. Sequence analysis showed that porcine CIDEa contains an open reading frame of 660 bp, which encodes 219 amino acids, and CIDEc contains a coding region of 717 bp that encodes 238 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of porcine CIDEa and CIDEc shows high similarities to their corresponding human and mouse homologues. Radiation hybrid mapping demonstrated that porcine CIDEa and CIDEc are located at chromosome 6q21-26 and 13q31 respectively, syntenic with the loci of their corresponding homologues on human chromosomes. Tissue distribution analysis indicated that porcine CIDEa and CIDEc mRNAs are co-expressed in various tissues. Both of them were highly expressed in white adipose tissue, and CIDEc mRNA was also expressed at relatively high level in porcine small intestine, lymph and brain. Furthermore, CIDEa and CIDEc mRNA level in white adipose tissues and liver were significantly higher in obese pigs than in their lean counterparts. Our studies provide basic molecular information useful for the further investigation on the function of the two genes, which will be helpful in better understanding of the roles of CIDEs in lipid metabolism.