Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding the rat kidney S-adenosylmethionine synthetase.

We previously reported the isolation of a cDNA encoding the liver-specific isozyme of rat S-adenosylmethionine synthetase from a lambda gt11 rat liver cDNA library. Using this cDNA as a probe, we have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones for the rat kidney S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (extrahepatic isoenzyme) from a lambda gt11 rat kidney cDNA library. The complete coding sequence of this enzyme mRNA was obtained from two overlapping cDNA clones. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNAs indicates that this enzyme contains 395 amino acids and has a molecular mass of 43,715 Da. The predicted amino acid sequence of this protein shares 85% similarity with that of rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase. This result suggests that kidney and liver isoenzymes may have originated from a common ancestral gene. In addition, comparison of known S-adenosylmethionine synthetase sequences among different species also shows that these proteins have a high degree of similarity. The distribution of kidney- and liver-type S-adenosylmethionine synthetase mRNAs in kidney, liver, brain, and testis were examined by RNA blot hybridization analysis with probes specific for the respective mRNAs. A 3.4-kilobase (kb) mRNA species hybridizable with a probe for kidney S-adenosylmethionine synthetase was found in all tissues examined except for liver, while a 3.4-kb mRNA species hybridizable with a probe for liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase was only present in the liver. The 3.4-kb kidney-type isozyme mRNA showed the same molecular size as the liver-type isozyme mRNA. Thus, kidney- and liver-type S-adenosylmethionine synthetase isozyme mRNAs were expressed in various tissues with different tissue specificities.     

Characterization and derivation of the gene coding for mitochondrial carbamyl phosphate synthetase I of rat

The nucleotide sequence of rat carbamyl phosphate synthetase I mRNA has been determined from the complementary DNA. The mRNA comprises minimally 5,645 nucleotides and codes for a polypeptide of 164,564 Da corresponding to the precursor form of the rat liver enzyme. The primary sequence of mature rat carbamyl phosphate synthetase I indicates that the precursor is cleaved at one of two leucines at residues 38 or 39. The derived amino acid sequence of carbamyl phosphate synthetase I is homologous to the sequences of carbamyl phosphate synthetase of Escherichia coli and yeast. The sequence homology extends along the entire length of the rat polypeptide and encompasses the entire sequences of both the small and large subunits of the E. coli and yeast enzymes. The protein sequence data provide strong evidence that the carbamyl phosphate synthetase I gene of rat, the carAB gene of E. coli, and the CPA1 and CPA2 genes of yeast were derived from common ancestral genes. Part of the rat carbamyl phosphate synthetase I gene has been characterized with two nonoverlapping phage clones spanning 28.7 kilobases of rat chromosomal DNA. This region contains 13 exons ranging in size from 68 to 195 base pairs and encodes the 453 carboxyl-terminal amino acids of the rat protein. Southern hybridization analysis of rat genomic DNA indicates the carbamyl phosphate synthetase I gene to be present in single copy.     

Isolation of a cDNA encoding the rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase

We have isolated cDNA clones encoding the rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase by means of immunological screening from a phage lambda gt 11 expression library containing cDNA synthesized from adult rat liver poly(A)-RNA. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA indicates that the rat liver enzyme for this protein contains 397 amino acid residues and has a molecular mass of 43697 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence of rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase was 68% similar to those of yeast S-adenosylmethionine synthetases encoded by two unlinked genes SAM1 and SAM2. The rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase also shows 52% similarity with the deduced amino acid sequence of the MetK gene encoding the S-adenosylmethionine synthetase in Escherichia coli.     

Cloning and sequencing of the gltX gene, encoding the glutamyl-tRNA synthetase of Rhizobium meliloti A2.

The gltX gene, coding for the glutamyl-tRNA synthetase of Rhizobium meliloti A2, was cloned by using as probe a synthetic oligonucleotide corresponding to the amino acid sequence of a segment of the glutamyl-tRNA synthetase. The codons chosen for this 42-mer were those most frequently used in a set of R. meliloti genes. DNA sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 484 codons, encoding a polypeptide of Mr 54,166 containing the amino acid sequences of an NH2-terminal and various internal fragments of the enzyme. Compared with the amino acid sequence of the glutamyl-tRNA synthetase of Escherichia coli, the N-terminal third of the R. meliloti enzyme was strongly conserved (52% identity); the second third was moderately conserved (38% identity) and included a few highly conserved segments, whereas no significant similarity was found in the C-terminal third. These results suggest that the C-terminal part of the protein is probably not involved in the recognition of substrates, a feature shared with other aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.     

The valyl-tRNA synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus has considerable sequence homology with the isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli

We report the DNA sequence of the valS gene from Bacillus stearothermophilus and the predicted amino acid sequence of the valyl-tRNA synthetase encoded by the gene. The predicted primary structure is for a protein of 880 amino acids with a molecular mass of 102,036. The molecular mass and amino acid composition of the expressed enzyme are in close agreement with those values deduced from the DNA sequence. Comparison of the predicted protein sequence with known protein sequences revealed a considerable homology with the isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase of Escherichia coli. The two enzymes are identical in some 20-25% of their amino acid residues, and the homology is distributed approximately evenly from N-terminus to C-terminus. There are several regions which are highly conservative between the valyl- and isoleucyl-tRNA synthetases. In one of these regions, 15 of 20 amino acids are identical, and in another, 10 of 14 are identical. The valyl-tRNA synthetase also contains a region HLGH (His-Leu-Gly-His) near its N-terminus equivalent to the consensus HIGH (His-Ile-Gly-His) sequence known to participate in the binding of ATP in the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase. This is the first example of extensive homology found between two different aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.     

Primary structure of human poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase as deduced from cDNA sequence

Human poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase consists of three proteolytically separable domains, the first for binding of DNA, the second for automodification, and the third for binding of the substrate, NAD (Ushiro, H., Yokoyama, Y., and Shizuta, Y. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 2352-2357). We have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones for the enzyme using synthesized oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes based on the partial amino acid sequence of the protein. The open reading frame determined encodes a protein of 1,013 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 113,203. The deduced amino acid sequence is consistent with the partial amino acid sequences of tryptic or alpha-chymotryptic peptides and the total amino acid composition of the purified enzyme. The native enzyme is relatively hydrophilic as judged from the hydrophilicity profile of the total amino acid sequence. The net charge of the NAD binding domain is neutral but the DNA binding domain and the automodification domain are considerably rich in lysine residue and quite basic. The DNA binding domain involves a homologous repeat in the sequence and exhibits a sequence homology with localized regions of transforming proteins such as c-fos and v-fos. Furthermore, this domain contains a unique sequence element which resembles the essential peptide sequences for nuclear location of SV40 and polyoma virus large T antigens. These facts suggest the possibility that the physiological function of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase lies in its ability to bind to DNA and to control transformation of living eukaryotic cells like the cases of those oncogene products.     

Cloning and sequencing of the gene encoding the large subunit of glutathione synthetase of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The gene for the large subunit of glutathione synthetase (EC 6.3.2.3) of Schizosaccharomyces pombe was cloned from a S. pombe genomic DNA library by complementation of cadmium hypersensitivity of a glutathione synthetase deficient mutant of S. pombe. A long open reading frame was found in the cloned DNA sequence. Amino acid sequence predicted from the long open reading frame coincided with amino acid sequences of peptides obtained by V8 protease digestion of the large subunit of the purified glutathione synthetase. The glutathione synthetase deficient mutant which harbored plasmids containing the glutathione synthetase large subunit gene exhibited glutathione synthetase activity higher than the activity in the wild type strain, though the plasmid did not contain the gene for the small subunit of the enzyme.     

Depression in gene expression for poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase during the interferon-gamma-induced activation process of murine macrophage tumor cells

A 2.7-kb cDNA clone coding for bovine poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase was isolated from a lambda gt11 expression library by direct immunological screening with an antiserum to the enzyme. The cDNA hybridizes to an approximately 3.8-kb bovine thymus polyadenylated RNA, which translates an immunoprecipitable 120-kDa protein with the antibody to the enzyme. The partial DNA sequence of the cDNA was determined and portions of the predicted amino acid sequence matched the sequence of 26 amino acids at the N terminal of the 41-kDa alpha-chymotryptic fragment and two cyanogen-bromide-cleaved peptides of the enzyme. A subcloned fragment from the coding region of the cDNA was used as a probe to estimate the level of mRNA for the enzyme during the interferon-gamma-induced activation process of the murine macrophage tumor P388D1 cell line. The amount of mRNA for the enzyme decreased nearly completely within 24 h after incubation in a medium containing interferon-gamma, while mRNA of the Ia antigen, one of the major histocompatibility gene products, was increased in the macrophage tumor cells by interferon-gamma as confirmed by the I-A beta cDNA as a probe. These results suggest that the gene expression for poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase is depressed during the interferon-gamma-induced activation process of macrophage tumor cells.     

Purification, characterization, and mass spectrometric sequencing of a medium chain acyl-CoA synthetase from mouse liver mitochondria and comparisons with the homologues of rat and bovine

Medium chain acyl-CoA synthetases catalyze the first reaction of amino acid conjugation of many xenobiotic carboxylic acids and fatty acid metabolism. This paper reports studies on purification, characterization, and the partial amino acid sequence of mouse liver enzyme. The medium chain acyl-CoA synthetase was isolated from mouse liver mitochondria. The purified enzyme catalyzes this reaction not only for straight medium chain fatty acids but also for aromatic and arylacetic acids. Maximal activity was found with hexanoic acid. High activities were obtained with benzoic acid having methyl, pentyl, and methoxy groups in the para- or meta-positions of the benzene ring. However, the enzyme was less active with valproic acid and ketoprofen. Salicylic acid exhibited no activity. The medium chain acyl-CoA synthetases from mouse and bovine liver mitochondria were subjected to in-gel tryptic digestion, followed by LC-MS/MS sequence analysis. The amino acid sequence of each tryptic peptide of mouse liver mitochondrial medium chain acyl-CoA synthetase differed from that from bovine liver mitochondria only in one or two amino acids. LC-MS/MS analysis provided the information about these differences in amino acid sequences. In addition, we compared the properties of this protein with the homologues from rat and bovine.     

Nucleolytic activities in Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NCDO 497

A plasmid known to be associated with mupirocin resistance of Staphylococcus aureus has been isolated and a restriction enzyme map constructed. An EcoRI fragment of 4.05 kb from this plasmid has been cloned into an Escherichia coli-Staphylococcus aureus shuttle vector and shown to carry the gene for resistance to mupirocin. The DNA sequence of a small section of the gene has been determined and the derived amino acid sequence compared with a data bank. The amino acid sequence is identical for eight amino acids with the sequence of isoleucyl tRNA synthetase of E. coli. This finding adds to the evidence that mupirocin resistance is the result of a modified isoleucyl tRNA synthetase.     

Cloning and characterization of the gene coding for cytoplasmic seryl-tRNA synthetase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have screened a Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression library with antibodies against seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS) from baker's yeast. In this way we obtained clones which contain serS, the structural gene for seryl-tRNA synthetase. Genomic Southern blots show that the serS gene resides on a 5.0 kb SalI fragment. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the genes revealed a single open reading frame from which we deduced the amino acid sequence of the enzyme consistent with that of two peptides isolated from SerRS. The enzyme is comprised of 462 amino acids consistent with earlier determinations of its molecular weight. The codon usage of serS is typical of abundant yeast proteins. Nuclease S1 analysis of serS mRNA defined the RNA initiation site 20-40 bases downstream from an AT rich sequence containing the TATA box and 21-39 nucleotides upstream of the translation initiation codon. Yeast strains transformed with the cloned gene overproduce seryl-tRNA synthetase in vivo.     

Primary structure of chicken liver acetyl-CoA carboxylase deduced from cDNA sequence

The complete amino acid sequence of acetyl-CoA carboxylase from chicken liver has been deduced by cloning and sequence analysis of DNA complementary to its messenger RNA. The results were confirmed by Edman degradation of peptide fragments obtained by digestion of the enzyme polypeptide with Achromobacter proteinase I or staphylococcal serine proteinase. Chicken liver acetyl-CoA carboxylase is predicted to be composed of 2,324 amino acid residues, having a calculated molecular weight of 262,706. The biotin carboxyl carrier protein domain is located in the middle region of the enzyme polypeptide. The amino-terminal portion of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase has been found to exhibit a homologous primary structure to that of carbamyl phosphate synthetase. Localization of possible functional domains including biotin carboxylase subsite in the acetyl-CoA carboxylase polypeptide is discussed.     

Cloning and characterisation of a peroxiredoxin from the swine roundworm Ascaris suum

Antioxidant enzymes in parasites play an important role in protection against the oxygen radicals by generating during aerobic metabolism, as well as in defence against host immune cell assault. Here we report the cloning and characterisation of a cDNA encoding peroxiredoxin from Ascaris suum (AsPrx). AsPrx is 776bp long and contains the nematode 22bp splice leader sequence at the 5' end and polyadenylation signal followed by poly(A) tail at the 3' end. AsPrx codes a full-length protein with a predicted molecular mass of 22. 6kDa, and possesses two cysteine residues at amino acid 49 and 168 that are conserved among Prx proteins. GenBank() analysis showed that the deduced amino acid sequence had significant similarity to parasite and mammalian Prx at the amino acid level. DNA nicking revealed that Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant AsPrx (rAsPrx) is enzymatically inhibited to form oxidative-nicking of supercoiled plasmid DNA. Two-dimensional immunoblot analysis with mouse anti-rAsPrx serum reacted two major constituent protein spots in extracts of adult female worms, suggesting that the native AsPrx might be function as a major antioxidant enzyme in Ascaris suum.     

Purification, properties, and genetic location of Escherichia coli cytidine 5'-monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase

N-Acetylneuraminic acid cytidylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.43) (CMP-NeuAc synthetase) catalyzes the formation of cytidine monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid. We have purified CMP-NeuAc synthetase from an Escherichia coli O18:K1 cytoplasmic fraction to apparent homogeneity by ion exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography on CDP-ethanolamine linked to agarose. The enzyme has a specific activity of 2.1 mumol/mg/min and migrates as a single protein and activity band on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme has a requirement for Mg2+ or Mn2+ and exhibits optimal activity between pH 9.0 and 10. The apparent Michaelis constants for the CTP and NeuAc are 0.31 and 4 mM, respectively. The CTP analogues 5-mercuri-CTP and CTP-2',3'-dialdehyde are inhibitors. The purified CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase has a molecular weight of approximately 50,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The gene encoding CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase is located on a 3.3-kilobase HindIII fragment. The purified enzyme appears to be identical to the 50,000 Mr polypeptide encoded by this gene based on insertion mutations that result in the loss of detectable enzymatic activity. The amino-terminal sequence of the purified protein was used to locate the start codon for the CMP-NeuAc synthetase gene. Both the enzyme and the 50,000 Mr polypeptide have the same NH2-terminal amino acid sequence. Antibodies prepared to a peptide derived from the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence bind to purified CMP-NeuAc synthetase.     

Molecular cloning and analysis of genes for sialic acid synthesis in Neisseria meningitidis group B and purification of the meningococcal CMP-NeuNAc synthetase enzyme.

The gene encoding for the CMP-NeuNAc synthetase enzyme of Neisseria meningitidis group B was cloned by complementation of a mutant of Escherichia coli defective for this enzyme. The gene (neuA) was isolated on a 4.1-kb fragment of meningococcal chromosomal DNA. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of this fragment revealed the presence of three genes, termed neuA, neuB, and neuC, organized in a single operon. The presence of a truncated ctrA gene at one end of the cloned DNA and a truncated gene encoding for the meningococcal sialyltransferase at the other confirmed that the cloned DNA corresponded to region A and part of region C of the meningococcal capsule gene cluster. The predicted amino acid sequence of the meningococcal NeuA protein was 57% homologous to that of NeuA, the CMP-NeuNAc synthetase encoded by E. coli K1. The predicted molecular mass of meningococcal NeuA protein was 24.8 kDa, which was 6 kDa larger than that formerly predicted (U. Edwards and M. Frosch, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 96:161-166, 1992). Purification of the recombinant meningococcal NeuA protein together with determination of the N-terminal amino acid sequence confirmed that this 24.8-kDa protein was indeed the meningococcal CMP-NeuNAc synthetase. The predicted amino acid sequences of the two other encoded proteins were homologous to those of the NeuC and NeuB proteins of E. coli K1, two proteins involved in the synthesis of NeuNAc. These results indicate that common steps exist in the biosynthesis of NeuNAc in these two microorganisms.