Identification and characterization of a nitrate reductase gene from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) containing four introns

A structural gene encoding nitrate reductase (NR) in bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) has been cloned and sequenced. The NR gene encodes a protein of 890 amino acids with a molecular mass of 100 kDa. Comparison to the other known NR gene from bean reveals 76% amino acid identity and comparison to NRs from other species shows amino acid identities ranging from 67 to 77%. At three positions the amino acid sequence displays differences from residues conserved in all other known NR proteins. The coding sequence is interrupted by four introns. Three of them are located at conserved positions in the region encoding the molybdenum cofactor-binding domain. The fourth intron is located in the hinge region between the heme and the FAD domain. This is the only example in which more than three introns have been found in a higher plant NR gene. The mRNA cap site was identified as an adenosine 79 nucleotides (nt) upstream of the ATG translation start codon. Northern analysis shows that the gene is nitrate inducible and highly expressed in trifoliolate leaves of 20-day-old bean plants and only weakly expressed in roots. The gene is also induced by light and sucrose in leaves of dark-adapted plants. The mRNA displays diurnal oscillation under the control of a circadian rhythm. Putative conserved GATA motifs in the promoter are discussed.     

Sequence of the bovine CD18-encoding cDNA: comparison with the human and murine glycoproteins.

The bovine cDNA (CD18) encoding CD18, a cell-surface glycoprotein involved in multiple leukocyte functions, was sequenced and compared with the human and murine sequences. Portions of the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions of the nucleotide sequences are conserved among the three species, including a 3' A+T-rich region believed to regulate mRNA stability and translational efficiency. The 2833-bp bovine sequence coded for a protein of 769 amino acids (aa). Overall, the deduced aa sequences were greater than 80% identical among the three species. The aa 96-389 and those in the cytoplasmic domain were very highly conserved with approx. 95% aa identity. All Cys residues and potential Asn-glycosylation sites present in the bovine sequence were also present in the human and murine sequences. The aa identity was also found in those regions where mutations were found to cause the genetic disease, leukocyte adhesion deficiency. These data identify functionally important regions of the CD18 mRNA and protein.     

Isolation of cDNA from Jacaratia mexicana encoding a mexicain-like cysteine protease gene

Cysteine proteases (CPs) from the C1 family, which are similar to papain, can be found in animals and plants, as well as some viruses and prokaryotes. These enzymes have diverse physiological functions and are thus very attractive for science and industry. Jacaratia mexicana, a member of the Caricaceae plant family, contains several CPs, the principal being mexicain, found to favorably compete against papain for many industrial applications due to its high stability and specific activity. In this study, leaves of J. mexicana were used to isolate a CP-coding gene, similar to those that code for mexicain and chymomexicain. By using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) as well as oligonucleotide design from papain-like conserved amino acids (aa), a sequence of 1404 bp consisting of a 5' terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 153 bp, a 3' terminal UTR of 131 bp, with a polyadenylation (poly(A)) signal sequence and a poly(A) tail, and an open reading frame (ORF) of 1046 bp, was obtained by overlapping three partial sequences. Two full-length cDNA sequences that encode for mexicain-like proteases were cloned from mRNA (JmCP4 and JmCP5). JmCP4 is predicted to have an ORF of 1044 bp, which codifies for polypeptides that have a 26 aa signal peptide region, a 108 aa propeptide region and a mature enzyme of 214 aa. A 969 bp fragment (JmCP5) encodes for a partial sequence of a CP gene, without the signal peptide region but with a full-length propeptide region. The sequence analysis showed that this protease presented a high similarity to other plant CPs from J. mexicana, Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis, Vasconcellea stipulata, and Carica papaya, among others, mainly at the conserved catalytic site. Obtaining the sequence of this CP gene from J. mexicana provides an alternative for production in a standard system and could be an initial step towards the commercialization of this enzyme.     

A leucine-rich repeat region is conserved in pollen extensin-like (Pex) proteins in monocots and dicots

We previously isolated a pollen-specific gene encoding a pollen tube wall-associated glycoprotein with a globular domain and an extensin domain from maize (mPex1). To evaluate which protein domains might be important for function, we isolated a second monocot gene (mPex2) and a dicot gene (tPex). Each gene encodes a signal sequence, an N-terminal globular domain comprised of a variable region, a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) with an adjacent cysteine-rich region, a transition region and an extensin-like C-terminal domain. The LRRs of the maize and tomato Pex proteins are highly conserved. Although the extensin domains in the maize and tomato proteins vary in length and in amino acid sequence, they are likely to be structurally conserved. Additional putative Pex gene sequences were identified by either GenBank search (Arabidopsis) or PCR (sorghum and potato); all encode conserved LRRs. The presence of a conserved LRR in the known and potential Pex proteins strongly suggests that this motif is involved in the binding of a specific ligand during pollen tube growth. Gene expression studies using RNA and protein blotting as well as promoter-reporter gene fusions in transient and stable transformation indicate that the tomato Pex gene is pollen-specific.     

番茄中Rpi-blb2同源基因的挖掘与鉴定

番茄晚疫病是番茄生产中的主要病害之一,经常会造成较大的经济损失。晚疫病生理小种的变异和进化常会导致番茄品种原有的遗传抗性丧失,因此不断挖掘新的抗性基因,改良番茄晚疫病抗性是番茄抗病育种的长期任务。该研究采用BLAST同源比对的方法,以马铃薯野生近缘种的晚疫病抗性蛋白序列Rpi-blb2为种子序列,在NCBI蛋白质序列数据库中检索得到11条番茄蛋白质序列,这些序列与种子序列相似性为78%~83%,属于番茄疾病抗性蛋白家族,并对该家族成员进行了基因结构、基因定位、序列保守结构域和进化关系等分析。结果表明:该家族中10条序列分布在第Ⅵ条染色体上,1条分布在第Ⅴ染色体上;6号染色体上的10序列呈现2个抗病基因簇分布,在染色体上分别占据2个和3个基因位点;10条同源蛋白是Rpi-blb2的共同垂直同源蛋白,但不具有平行同源关系,大多数成员定位于细胞质。按照蛋白质保守结构域和基因定位的不同可分为三类,第一类共4条系列,包含有DUF3542和NB-ARC两个保守结构域特征序列;第二类共6条序列,与马铃薯Rpi-blb2蛋白一样,仅包含NB-ARC保守结构域特征序列,在这2类蛋白序列的NB-ARC结构域均位于序列中部;第三类(仅包含XP_004239406.1)虽然也具有与第一类蛋白相似的DUF3542和NB-ARC结构域,但在结构域两端的非保守区序列较短,且位于5号染色体上,因此将其单独归为1类。前两类蛋白成员相应的基因具有1~2个内含子,第3类蛋白不含内含子。该研究结果为利用生物技术选育番茄抗性品种提供了理论基础。     

Sequence analysis of the pyr-4 (orotidine 5'-P decarboxylase) gene of Neurospora crassa

The pyr-4 gene of Neurospora crassa encodes orotidine-5' -phosphate decarboxylase, which catalyses the sixth step in the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway. The complete nucleotide sequence of a 1.8-kb genomic fragment containing the pyr-4 gene has been determined. Using transposon mutagenesis, the coding region has been identified, and the amino acid (aa) sequence deduced. Comparison of the pyr-4 aa sequence with URA3, the equivalent gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, showed extensive blocks of homology, with non-homologous sequences between these blocks being generally much longer in Neurospora than in yeast. Computer-predicted protein secondary structure of pyr-4 and URA3 was conserved within equivalent blocks. Upstream sequences of pyr-4 were compared with other sequenced Neurospora genes and possible promoter sequences identified.     

Nucleotide sequence of the engXCA gene encoding the major endoglucanase of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

The nucleotide sequence of the gene (engXCA) encoding the major extracellular endoglucanase (ENGXCA) of the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (X. c. campestris) was determined and compared with the N-terminal amino acid (aa) sequence of the purified enzyme. An open reading frame of 1479 bp encoding 493 aa was identified, of which the N-terminal 25 aa represent a potential signal peptide. Determination of the exact position of a Tn5 insertion within engXCA, which did not reduce the encoded enzyme activity, indicated that the C-terminal region of the protein is not crucial for ENGXCA activity. Comparison of the complete deduced aa sequence with those deduced from other endoglucanase- and exoglucanase-encoding genes revealed a region with a high degree of homology, located towards the C terminus of the protein. These data indicate that the X. c. campestris ENGXCA may have a domain structure similar to that of many other bacterial and fungal cellulolytic enzymes. Hydrophobic cluster analysis was performed on the deduced aa sequence. Comparison of this analysis with those of 30 other cellulase sequences belonging to six different families indicated that the X. c. campestris enzyme can be classified in family A. The two aa residues which had previously been identified as 'potentially catalytic' within this family of cellulases, are conserved in the X. c. campestris ENGXCA.     

Isolation and characterization of chitinases from Verticillium lecanii

Degenerate PCR primers corresponding to conserved domains of fungal chitinases were designed, and PCR was performed on genomic DNA of the entomogenous fungus Verticillium lecanii (Zimmermann) Viegas. Two distinct PCR fragments, chf1 and chf2, were isolated and used to identify two DNA contigs. Analyses of these two contigs revealed that we had obtained the full-length DNA sequence including the promoter, 5' untranslated region, open reading frame (ORF), and 3' untranslated regions for two distinct chitinase-like genes. These two genomic DNA sequences exhibited 51% identity at the amino acid (aa) level and were designed as acidic (chi1) and basic (chi2) chitinase-like genes. The isolated cDNA for chi1 gene is 1110 bp with a predicted protein of 370 aa and molecular mass of 40.93 kDa, and its ORF was uninterrupted in its corresponding genomic DNA sequence. The cDNA for the chi2 gene is 1269 bp, a predicted ORF of 423 aa and molecular mass of 45.95 kDa. In contrast, the ORF was interrupted by three introns in its corresponding genomic DNA. The basic chitinase gene (chi2) was successfully expressed in the Pichia pastoris system; optimum enzymatic activity was observed at 22 degrees C and at pH 7.5. CHI1 and CHI2 were clustered into two different phylogenetic groups according to their sequence alignments with 28 other fungal chitinases. A chitin-binding domain, comprising two sub-domains that exhibit similarities at the aa level to chitin binding domains in bacteria, was identified in 30 fungal chitinase sequences examined.     

Identification and characterization of a chlorate-resistant mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana with mutations in both nitrate reductase structural genes NIA1 and NIA2

Mutant plants defective in the assimilation of nitrate can be selected by their resistance to the herbicide chlorate. In Arabidopsis thaliana, mutations at any one of nine distinct loci confer chlorate resistance. Only one of the CHL genes, CHL3, has been shown genetically to be a nitrate reductase (NR) structural gene (NIA2) even though two NR genes (NIA1 and NIA2) have been cloned from the Arabidopsis genome. Plants in which the NIA2 gene has been deleted retain only 10% of the wildtype shoot NR activity and grow normally with nitrate as the sole nitrogen source. Using mutagenized seeds from the NIA2 deletion mutant and a modified chlorate selection protocol, we have identified the first mutation in the NIA1 NR structural gene. nia1, nia2 double mutants have only 0.5% of wild-type shoot NR activity and display very poor growth on media with nitrate as the only form of nitrogen. The nial-1 mutation is a single nucleotide substitution that converts an alanine to a threonine in a highly conserved region of the molybdenum cofactor-binding domain of the NR protein. These results show that the NIA1 gene encodes a functional NR protein that contributes to the assimilation of nitrate in Arabidopsis.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF DIATOM (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) NITRATE REDUCTASE GENES AND THEIR DETECTION IN MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES1

The complete assimilatory nitrate reductase (NR) gene from the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum triconutum Bohlin was sequenced from cDNA and compared with NR sequences from fungi, green algae, vascular plants, and the recently sequenced genome of the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle and Heimdal CCMP1335. In all the major eukaryotic nitrate reductase (Euk‐NR) functional domains, diatom NR gene sequences are generally 50%–60% identical to plant and alga sequences at the amino acid level. In the less conserved N‐terminal, hinge 1, and hinge 2 regions, homology to other NR sequences is weak, generally<30%. Two PCR primer sets capable of amplifying Euk‐NR from plants, algae, and diatoms were designed. One primer set was used to amplify a 750‐base pair (bp) NR fragment from the cDNA of five additional diatom strains. The PCR amplicon spans part of the well‐conserved dimer interface region, the more variable hinge 1 region, and part of the conserved cytochrome b heme binding region. The second primer set, targeted to the dimer region, was used to amplify an approximately 400‐bp fragment of the NR gene from DNA samples collected in Monterey Bay, California and in central New Jersey inner continental shelf (LEO‐15 site) waters. Only diatom‐like NR sequences were recovered from Monterey Bay samples, whereas LEO‐15 samples yielded NR sequences from a range of photosynthetic eukaryotes. The prospect of using DNA‐ and RNA‐based methods to target the NR genes of diatoms specifically is a promising approach for future physiological and ecological experiments.     

The MADS box gene family in tomato: temporal expression during floral development, conserved secondary structures and homology with homeotic genes from Antirrhinum and Arabidopsis.

Five genes with homology to the floral homeotic genes deficiens of Antirrhinum and agamous of Arabidopsis were isolated from tomato. Each of the five genes is unique in the genome and could be localized to a different chromosome by RFLP mapping. Four of the tomato genes (hereafter TM) are flower-specific with distinguishable temporal expression. TM4 and TM8 are 'early', while TM5 and TM6 are 'late' genes. TM4 is homologous to squamous and TM6 is similar to deficiens, which are, respectively, 'early' and 'late' bona fide homeotic genes in Antirrhinum. The proteins encoded by the five tomato genes, like several known homeotic genes from other plants, contain within their N-terminus a highly conserved DNA-binding domain, the MADS box. All known plant MADS box genes also share, however, other properties. They all contain a central, moderately conserved, and rather basic domain, and a highly divergent or even missing C-terminal domain. Furthermore, molecular modelling predicts the presence of a conserved amphipatic alpha helix, at a constant distance from the MADS box in each of these proteins. The common properties of eight MADS box proteins from three plant families indicate that all their domains were coded for by the same ancestor gene. The sequence homology between pairs of MADS genes from different species indicates that the MADS ancestor gene multiplied and diverged in an ancestor plant common to several dicotyledon families.     

Identification and characterization of a chlorate-resistant mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana with mutations in both nitrate reductase structural genes NIA1 and NIA2

Mutant plants defective in the assimilation of nitrate can be selected by their resistance to the herbicide chlorate. In Arabidopsis thaliana, mutations at any one of nine distinct loci confer chlorate resistance. Only one of the CHL genes, CHL3, has been shown genetically to be a nitrate reductase (NR) structural gene (NIA2) even though two NR genes (NIA1 and NIA2) have been cloned from the Arabidopsis genome. Plants in which the NIA2 gene has been deleted retain only 10% of the wildtype shoot NR activity and grow normally with nitrate as the sole nitrogen source. Using mutagenized seeds from the NIA2 deletion mutant and a modified chlorate selection protocol, we have identified the first mutation in the NIA1 NR structural gene. nia1, nia2 double mutants have only 0.5% of wild-type shoot NR activity and display very poor growth on media with nitrate as the only form of nitrogen. The nial-1 mutation is a single nucleotide substitution that converts an alanine to a threonine in a highly conserved region of the molybdenum cofactor-binding domain of the NR protein. These results show that the NIA1 gene encodes a functional NR protein that contributes to the assimilation of nitrate in Arabidopsis.     

The chicken dystrophin cDNA: striking conservation of the C-terminal coding and 3'' untranslated regions between man and chicken.

Dystrophin is a very large muscle protein (approximately 400 kd) the deficiency of which is responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Its function is unknown at present. In order to know whether different domains of the protein are differentially conserved during evolution, we have cloned and sequenced the chicken dystrophin cDNA. The protein coding sequence has almost the same size as in man. The N-terminal region that resembles the actin binding domain of alpha actinin, as well as the large spectrin like domain show 80% and 75% conservation respectively between chicken and man. In contrast, the C-terminal region shows 95% identity over 627 aa suggesting that it is an important region of interaction with other proteins. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of this C-terminal region to other protein sequences shows only marginally significant similarities. Finally we have found a striking conservation of three segments of the 3' untranslated sequence (85% homology over a total of 920 nt) between chicken and man. These also appear to be conserved in other mammals. This high conservation is not linked to open reading frames.     

Identification by mutational analysis of four critical residues in the molybdenum cofactor domain of eukaryotic nitrate reductase

The nucleotide sequence of the nitrate reductase (NR) molybdenum cofactor (MoCo) domain was determined in four Nicotiana plumbaginifolia mutants affected in the NR apoenzyme gene. In each case, missense mutations were found in the MoCo domain which affected amino acids that were conserved not only among eukaryotic NRs but also in animal sulfite oxidase sequences. Moreover an abnormal NR molecular mass was observed in three mutants, suggesting that the integrity of the MoCo domain is essential for a proper assembly of holo-NR. These data allowed to pinpoint critical residues in the NR MoCo domain necessary for the enzyme activity but also important for its quaternary structure.     

Genetic relatedness of human DNA polymerase beta and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase

The Protein Identification Resource (PIR) protein sequence data bank was searched for sequence similarity between known proteins and human DNA polymerase beta (Pol beta) or human terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT). Pol beta and TdT were found to exhibit amino acid sequence similarity only with each other and not with any other of the 4750 entries in release 12.0 of the PIR data bank. Optimal amino acid sequence alignment of the entire 39-kDa Pol beta polypeptide with the C-terminal two thirds of TdT revealed 24% identical aa residues and 21% conservative aa substitutions. The Monte Carlo score of 12.6 for the entire aligned sequences indicates highly significant aa sequence homology. The hydropathicity profiles of the aligned aa sequences were remarkably similar throughout, suggesting structural similarity of the polypeptides. The most significant regions of homology are aa residues 39-224 and 311-333 of Pol beta vs. aa residues 191-374 and 484-506 of TdT. In addition, weaker homology was seen between a large portion of the 'nonessential' N-terminal end of TdT (aa residues 33-130) and the first region of strong homology between the two proteins (aa residues 31-128 of Pol beta and aa residues 183-280 of TdT), suggestive of genetic duplication within the ancestral gene. On the basis of nucleotide differences between conserved regions of Pol beta and TdT genes (aligned according to optimally aligned aa sequences) it was estimated that Pol beta and TdT diverged on the order of 250 million years ago, corresponding roughly to a time before radiation of mammals and birds.