人类PKNOX1基因一种新剪接型全长cDNA的克隆与表达分析

为了寻找新的Down’s综合征相关基因,利用生物信息学分析与实验技术相结合的方法,从定位于Down’s综合征关键区内(21q22．3)的EST(GenBank登录号H77399)出发,从人类睾丸组织cDNA文库内克隆到含同源盒结构域转录因子PKNOX1的一种新剪接型全长cDNA,命名为PKNOX1B,GenBank登陆号AYl42115。PKNOX1B基因跨越58．4kb,全长cDNA约2．8kb,有11个外显子和10个内含子,编码405个氨基酸残基的酸性蛋白质,分子量为44．628kDa,等电点6．28。PKNOX1B与PKNOX1的前9个外显子及9个内含子完全相同,由于PKNOX1B在第10与11外显子之间发生了差异剪接,以致其在3’端cDNA序列被截短约2kb,所编码的蛋白质在C端较PKNOX1短30个氨基酸残基。但PKNOX1B保留了与PKNOX1完全相同的同源盒结构域,因而它可能与其他含同源盒结构域基因家族成员一样参与了发育的遗传调控。RT-PCR结果显示PKNOX1B除骨髓组织外在人体组织广泛表达。在睾丸组织中PKNOX1可见5kb,2．9kb,2kb 3种转录本,而在其他组织中仅发现2个较大的转录本,2kb的转录本在睾丸组织呈现特异性的表达,它有可能参与了精子的发生过程。     

DSCAM, a highly conserved gene in mammals, expressed in differentiating mouse brain

Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion molecule (DSCAM) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, and represents a novel class of neuronal cell adhesion molecules. In order to understand the cellular functions of DSCAM, we isolated full-length mouse and human cDNA clones, and analysed its expression during mouse development and differentiation. Sequence analysis of the human DSCAM cDNA predicted at least 33 exons that are distributed over 840 kb. When compared to human DSCAM, the mouse homologue showed 90 and 98% identity at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. In mouse, DSCAM is located on 16C, the syntenic region for human chromosome band 21q22 and also the region duplicated in mouse DS models. DSCAM gene is predicted to encode an approximately 220-kDa protein, and its expression shows dynamic changes that correlate with neuronal differentiation during mouse development. Our results suggest that DSCAM may play critical roles in the formation and maintenance of specific neuronal networks in brain.     

Genomic organization, chromosomal localization, alternative splicing, and isoforms of the human synaptosome-associated protein-23 gene implicated in vesicle-membrane fusion processes

Synaptosome-associated protein-23 (SNAP23) is a component of the cellular mechanism required for specific membrane fusion and targetting of intracellular vesicles. We have cloned the full-length human cDNA and the SNAP23 gene. The SNAP23 gene has eight exons, with the initiation codon located in exon 2, and maps to the human chromosome 15q21-22 region. The human SNAP23 gene can generate two types of message, the full-length message (SNAP23A) and a shorter message (SNAP23B). The latter is the result of alternative splicing where exon 5 is joined to exon 7 and the skipping of exon 6; it thus lacks a region that is required for non-specific binding to plasma membranes. The two isoforms, expressed as fusion proteins with glutathione-S-transferase, interact in vitro with human syntaxin 6, thus retaining the specific protein interaction required for membrane fusion. Alterations in the SNAP23 gene might be involved in neurological and other diseases with defects in vesicle-membrane fusion processes that map to 15q15-21.     

Dual-specificity tyrosine(Y)-phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A-mediated phosphorylation of amyloid precursor protein: evidence for a functional link between Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease

Most individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) show an early-onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which potentially results from the presence of an extra copy of a segment of chromosome 21. Located on chromosome 21 are the genes that encode β-amyloid (Aβ) precursor protein ( APP ), a key protein involved in the pathogenesis of AD, and dual-specificity tyrosine(Y)-phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A ( DYRK1A ), a proline-directed protein kinase that plays a critical role in neurodevelopment. Here, we describe a potential mechanism for the regulation of AD pathology in DS brains by DYRK1A-mediated phosphorylation of APP. We show that APP is phosphorylated at Thr668 by DYRK1A in vitro and in mammalian cells. The amounts of phospho-APP and Aβ are increased in the brains of transgenic mice that over-express the human DYRK1A protein. Furthermore, we show that the amounts of phospho-APP as well as those of APP and DYRK1A are elevated in human DS brains. Taken together, these results reveal a potential regulatory link between APP and DYRK1A in DS brains, and suggest that the over-expression of DYRK1A in DS may play a role in accelerating AD pathogenesis through phosphorylation of APP.     

Characterization and expression of the human leukocyte-common antigen (CD45) gene contained in yeast artificial chromosomes.

The leukocyte-common antigen (CD45) is a transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase expressed uniquely by cells of hematopoietic origin. There are multiple isoforms of CD45 that are generated by the variable use of three exons (exons 4-6). The use of the variable exons results in changes near the amino-terminus of the mature glycoprotein. The gene is located on chromosome 1 for both human and mouse in a region that is homologous between these two species. This conserved linkage group contains a number of genes of immunological interest, such as the genes for complement regulatory proteins and the FCG2 receptor. Yeast artificial chromosomes provide a vector system in which large fragments of foreign DNA can be isolated and are suited to long-range physical mapping. To this end, three yeast artificial chromosomes containing the human CD45 gene have been isolated and characterized. They overlap to span 475 kb, establishing the largest physical map for DNA within the conserved linkage group. The CD45 gene is entirely encoded within one yeast artificial chromosome clone as determined by mapping with cDNA probes. A mouse B cell line transfected with this YAC clone expressed the low-molecular-weight isoform of the protein into the cell surface. The size of the human CD45 gene was determined to be approximately 120 +/- 10 kb.