Characterization of Three Novel Human Cadherin Genes (CDH7, CDH19, and CDH20) Clustered on Chromosome 18q22–q23 and with High Homology to Chicken Cadherin-7

Full-length coding sequences of two novel human cadherin cDNAs were obtained by sequence analysis of several EST clones and 5′ and 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) products. Exons for a third cDNA sequence were identified in a public-domain human genomic sequence, and the coding sequence was completed by 3′ RACE. One of the sequences (CDH7L1, HGMW-approved gene symbol CDH7) is so similar to chicken cadherin-7 gene that we consider it to be the human orthologue. In contrast, the published partial sequence of human cadherin-7 is identical to our second cadherin sequence (CDH7L2), for which we propose CDH19 as the new name. The third sequence (CDH7L3, HGMW-approved gene symbol CDH20) is almost identical to the mouse “cadherin-7” cDNA. According to phylogenetic analysis, this mouse cadherin-7 and its here presented human homologue are most likely the orthologues of Xenopus F-cadherin. These novel human genes, CDH7, CDH19, and CDH20, are localized on chromosome 18q22–q23, distal of both the gene CDH2 (18q11) encoding N-cadherin and the locus of the six desmosomal cadherin genes (18q12). Based on genetic linkage maps, this genomic region is close to the region to which Paget's disease was linked. Interestingly, the expression patterns of these three closely related cadherins are strikingly different.     

The Mouse Glutathione PeroxidaseGpx2Gene Maps to Chromosome 12; Its PseudogeneGpx2-psMaps to Chromosome 7

TheGPX2gene codes for GSHPx-GI, a glutathione peroxidase whose mRNA is readily detectable in the gastrointestinal tract. AlthoughGPX2is a single gene in humans, there are two genes in the mouse genome with homology toGPX2.By analyzing a panel of mouse interspecies DNA from the Jackson Laboratory's backcross resource, we have chromosomally mapped these two genes. One was mapped to the central region of mouse chromosome 12 betweenD12Mit4andD12Mit5,nearfosandTgfb3.This region is homologous to human 14q24.1, where humanGPX2has been mapped, and most likely represents the functional mouseGpx2gene. The otherGpx2-like gene was mapped to mouse chromosome 7 betweenPcsk3andHbb.We have isolated the latter gene from a P1 phage library. Its pseudogene nature is revealed by the sequence analysis: (a) it is intronless; (b) it has a single nucleotide deletion in the coding region; and (c) it has a poly(A) tail at its 3′-untranslated region.     

Molecular Cloning and Chromosomal Mapping of the Mouse Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 Gene

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is predominantly expressed in neurons. In vitro, Cdk5 purified from the nervous tissue phosphorylates both high-molecular-weight neurofilament and microtubule-associated tau. The mouse gene encoding Cdk5 (Cdk5) was found to be 5 kb in length and divided into 12 exons. All of the exon-intron junctions matched the expected consensus sequence with the exception of the splice junction for intron 9, which has AT and AC dinucleotides instead of the usual GT and AG bordering sequence. In the 5′-flanking region of mouse Cdk5, several putative promoter elements were present, including AP1, Sp1, PuF, and TATA motifs. A metal regulatory element was also identified at position -207 to -201. Nucleotide sequence analysis of mouse Cdk5 showed high identity to the homologues of other vertebrate species, indicating that this kinase is highly conserved during evolution. Mouse Cdk5 was mapped to the centromeric region of mouse chromosome 5.     

Cloning and expression of a cDNA encoding mouse kidney -amino acid oxidase

A cDNA encoding -amino acid oxidase (DAO;EC 1.4.3.3) has been isolated from a BALB/c mouse kidney cDNA library by hybridization with the cDNA for the porcine enzyme. Analysis of the nucleotide (nt) sequence of the clone revealed that it has a 1647-nt sequence with a 5′-terminal untranslated region of 68 nt that encodes 345 amino acids (aa), and a 3′-terminal untranslated region of 544 nt that contains the polyadenylation signal sequence ATTAAA. The deduced aa sequence showed 77 and 78% aa identity with the porcine and human enzymes, respectively. Two catalytically important aa residues, Tyr²²⁸ and His³⁰⁷, of the porcine enzyme, were both conserved in these three species. RNA blot hybridization analysis indicated that a DAO mRNA, of 2 kb, exists in mouse kidney and brain, but not liver. Synthesis of a functional mouse enzyme in Escherichia coli was achieved through the use of a vector constructed to insert the coding sequence of the mouse DAO cDNA downstream from the tac promoter of plasmid pKK223-3, which was designed so as to contain the lac repressor gene inducible by isopropyl-β- -thiogalactopyranoside. Immunoblot analysis confirmed the synthesis and induction of the mouse DAO protein, and the molecular size of the recombinant mouse DAO was found to be identical to that of the mouse kidney enzyme. Moreover, the maximum activity of the mouse recombinant DAO was estimated to be comparable with that of the porcine DAO synthesized in E. coli cells.     

High-resolution linkage map in the vicinity of the Lp locus

Looptail (Lp) is a mutation that profoundly affects neurulation in mouse and is characterized by craniorachischisis, an open neural tube extending from the midbrain to the tail in embryos homozygous for the mutation. Lp maps to the distal portion of mouse chromosome 1, and as part of a positional cloning approach, we have generated a high-resolution linkage map of the Lp chromosomal region. For this, we have carried out extensive segregation analysis in a total of 706 backcross mice informative for Lp and derived from two crosses, (Lp/ + X SJL/J)F1 X SJL/J and (Lp/ + X SWR/J)F1 X SWR/J. In addition, 269 mice from a (Mus spretus X C57BL/6J)F1 X C57BL/6J interspecific backcross were also used to order marker loci and calculate intergene distances for this region. With these mice, a total of 28 DNA markers corresponding to either cloned genes or anonymous markers of the SSLP or SSCP-types were mapped within a 5-cM interval overlapping the Lp region, with the following locus order and interlocus distances (in cM): centromere-D1Mit110 / Atp1β1 / Cd3ζ / Cd3η / D1Mit145 — D1Hun14 / D1Mit15 — D1Mit111 / D1Mit112 — D1Mit114 — D1Mit148 / D1Mit205/ D1Mit36 / D1Mit146 / D1Mit147 / D1Mit270 / D1Hun13 — Fcgr2 — Mpp — Apoa2/Fcer1γ - Lp - D1Mit149 / Spna1/Fcer1α-Eph1-Hlx1/D1Mit62. These studies have allowed the delineation of a maximum genetic interval for Lp of 0.5 cM, a size amenable to physical mapping techniques.     

Mutation induction by thymine deprivation in Escherichia coli B/R : II. Mutation in the repressed and derpressed tryptophan operon

True Trp⁺ reversions are induced by thymine deprivation in cells with repressed trp operons as efficiently as in derepressed cells. At least part of the mutations are fixed during thymine starvation, i.e. in the absence of net DNA synthesis. The hypothesis is put forward that thymineless mutagenesis is due to repair-replication under limited concentrations of 5′-dTTP, performed by an inducible error-prone “DNA-polymerizing activity” on single-strand gaps.     

Structural Characterization and Chromosomal Location of the Mouse Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Gene and Pseudogenes

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor, MIF, is a cytokine released by T-lymphocytes, macrophanges, and the pituitary gland that serves to integrate peripheral and central inflammatory responses. Ubiquitous expression and developmental regulation suggest that MIF may have additional roles outside of the immune system. Here we report the structure and chromosomal location of the mouse Mif gene and the partial characterization of five Mif pseudogenes. The mouse Mif gene spans less than 0.7 kb of chromosomal DNA and is composed of three exons. A comparison between the mouse and the human genes shows a similar gene structure and common regulatory elements in both promoter regions. The mouse Mif gene maps to the middle region of chromosome 10, between Bcr and S100b, which have been mapped to human chromosomes 22q11 and 21q22.3, respectively. The entire sequence of two pseudogenes demonstrates the absence of introns, the presence of the 5′ untranslated region of the cDNA, a 3′ poly(A) tail, and the lack of sequence similarity with untranscribed regions of the gene. The five pseudogenes are highly homologous to the cDNA, but contain a variable number of mutations that would produce mutated or truncated MIF-like proteins. Phylogenetic analyses of MIF genes and pseudogenes indicate several independent genetic events that can account for multiple genomic integrations. Three of the Mif pseudogenes were also mapped by interspecific backcross to chromosomes 1, 9, and 17. These results suggest that Mif pseudogenes originated by retrotransposition.     

Physical and Genetic Maps of thedeafwaddlerRegion on Distal Mouse Chr 6

Thedeafwaddler(dfw) mutation, displaying motor ataxia and profound deafness, arose spontaneously in a C3H/HeJ colony and was mapped previously to distal mouse Chr 6. In this study, a high-resolution genetic map was generated by positioning 10 microsatellite markers and 5 known genes on a 968-meioses intersubspecific backcross segregating fordfw[(CAST/Ei–+/+ × C3HeB/FeJ–dfw/dfw) × C3HeB/FeJ–dfw/dfw], giving the following marker order and sex-averaged distances:D6Mit64–(0.10 + 0.10 cM)–Pang–(1.24 + 0.36 cM)–Itpr1–(0.62 + 0.25 cM)–D6Mit108–(0.52 + 0.23 cM)–D6Mit54–(0.21 + 0.15 cM)–D6Mit23, D6Mit107, D6Mit328–(0.72 + 0.27 cM)–D6Mit11–(0.21 + 0.15 cM)–dfw–(0.93 + 0.31 cM)–Gat4, D6Mit55–(0.10 + 0.10 cM)–D6Mit63–(0.31 + 0.18 cM)–Syn2–(0.62 + 0.25 cM)–D6Mit44(Rho). Female and male genetic maps are similar immediately surrounding thedfwlocus, but show marked differences in other areas. A yeast artificial chromosome-based physical map suggests that the closest markers flanking thedfwlocus,D6Mit11(proximal) andGat4, D6Mit55(distal), are contained within 650–950 kb. The human homologues of the flanking lociItpr1(proximal) andSyn2(distal) map to chromosome 3p25–p26, suggesting that the human homologue of thedfwgene is located within this same region.     

Genotoxic activity of four metabolites of the soy isoflavone daidzein

Products containing phytoestrogens are increasingly promoted as the “natural” alternative to estrogen replacement therapy. In the present study, we have used the in vitro micronucleus assay in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells to investigate the genotoxic potential of the isoflavone daidzein, and of four daidzein metabolites known to be formed in humans. Whereas no induction of micronuclei was observed with daidzein up to the limit of solubility (100 μM), all four daidzein metabolites, i.e. equol (2.3-fold induction at 100 μM), O-desmethylangolensin (6.2-fold induction at 10 μM), 4′,6,7-isoflavone (6.7-fold induction at 100 μM) and 3′,4′,7-isoflavone (8.2-fold induction at 100 μM) induced micronuclei in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, both reductive and oxidative metabolites of the soy isoflavone daidzein exhibit genotoxic potential in vitro.