Splice isoforms of transcription factor Elf-1 affecting its regulatory function in transcription-molecular cloning of rat Elf-1

To elucidate the role of Elf-1 in Fc epsilonRI alpha chain expression, rat Elf-1 cDNAs were isolated and characterized. The rat Elf-1 cDNA of 2744 bp contained an open reading frame of 1848 bp. In addition to the full length rat Elf-1 cDNA (named type 1), two splice isoforms were isolated. One of the two isoforms lacked the amino acid residues from 85th to 120th (type 2), and the other from 85th to 175th (type 3). Similar isoforms were also observed in human tissue. Overexpression of rat Elf-1 (type 1) using a transient coexpression system inhibited of the alpha chain promoter activity. The inhibition activity was different between the isoforms; the inhibition activity of type 2 was lower than that of type 1, and type 3 did not have an inhibitory effect. This observation suggested that each Elf-1 isoform played a different role in the gene expression under its control.     

rHox: A homeobox gene expressed in osteoblastic cells

Homeodomain proteins are characterized by a conserved domain with a helix-turn-helix motif. These proteins act as regulatory factors in tissue differentiation and proliferation. However, their role in the regulation of osteoblast differentiation is unknown. In this study we have identified and characterized a homeobox gene in osteoblast-like cells. This gene, termed rHox, was isolated from a cDNA library derived from rat osteoblast-like cells. The nucleotide sequence of the 1,375 base pair (bp) cDNA contains a noncoding leader sequence of 329 bp, a 735 bp open reading frame, and 312 bp of 3′ noncoding sequence. Sequence comparison demonstrates that rHox is identical to the mouse Pmx gene (also called MHox) at the amino acid level and 90% homologous at the nucleotide level. Both Southwestern blotting and gel shift analyses indicate that rHox has potential to bind both the collagen l α 1 and the osteocalcin promoters. Transfection experiments using an rHox expression vector showed a strong repression of target promoter activity, regardless of whether the target promoters contained homeodomain binding reponse elements. These data suggest that rHox is a potent negative regulator of gene expression, although the specific role of rHox in bone gene regulation remains to be determined. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

优雅蝈螽水溶性和类膜结合型海藻糖酶编码cDNA的鉴定及其在体内的表达

海藻糖酶是一种二糖水解酶,催化海藻糖转换为葡萄糖,为昆虫包括发育、壳多糖合成及飞翔代谢在内的多种生理过程所必需。尽管某些昆虫的海藻糖酶基因已被鉴定,但优雅蝈螽的海藻糖酶编码序列尚未见报告。本研究采用RACE结合多重PCR技术,分离鉴定优雅蝈螽的水溶性海藻糖酶（GgTre1）和类膜结合型海藻糖酶（GgTre2-like）的全长编码序列（cDNA）,包括携带不同长度3′-非翻译区（3′-UTR）的3个GgTre1 cDNA 亚型（GenBank：No.KY400001-KY400003）和3个GgTre2-like cDNA 亚型（GenBank：No.KY400004-KY400006）。 3个GgTre1 cDNA序列分别为2 107,2 021和1 914 bp,具有相同长度的5′-UTR（33 bp）,但3′-UTR 长度不同,分别为322,248和129 bp。GgTre1-2 cDNA含1 740 bp,编码579 个氨基酸残基组成的多肽链,分子量为67.29 kD;与之不同,根据cDNA演绎的GgTre1-1和GgTre1-3序列较GgTre1-2多4个氨基酸残基,多肽链的分子量为67.88 kD。3个GgTre2-like cDNA（GgTre2-like-1,-2和-3）序列全长分别为2 491,2 460 和2 381 bp。5′-UTR 均为284 bp,3′-UTR 分别为398,367和285 bp。GgTre2-like cDNA开阅读框为1 809 bp,编码602 氨基酸残基组成的多肽链,分子量为67.88 kD。实时定量PCR, 分析GgTre1和GgTre2-like基因在雌、雄个体（各20个）的组织特异性表达。结果显示,GgTre1 在卵巢和附腺表达量最高;GgTre2-like 主要在卵巢表达,在雄性肌肉和马氏管的表达量高于其他组织。上述结果表明,本研究从优雅蝈螽分离到3′-UTR长度不同的3个水溶性和3个类膜结合型海藻糖酶cDNA序列。结果还提示,GgTre1 在各组织的表达差异较大,而GgTre2-like 在各组织的表达相对稳定。不同长度3′-UTR的GgTre1 和 GgTre2-like 亚型的存在,以及不同长度的3′-UTR在翻译过程中的特殊作用,尚待今后研究证实。     

Molecular cloning and in vitro properties of the recombinant rabbit secretin receptor

The rabbit secretin receptor cDNA was cloned from rabbit pancreas using combined polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/rapid amplification of cDNA ends (PCR/RACE) approaches. The rabbit cDNA encoded 445 amino acids and had 80 and 85% homology with rat- and human receptor, respectively, in terms of nucleic and amino acid sequences. Several regions where the rabbit receptor sequence diverged from the rat/human receptor sequences were observed in the putative extracellular domains of the receptor. A cDNA coding for a similar sequence with a 76 bp deletion after the 5th transmembrane domain was also found; it probably encoded an inactive protein. The whole rabbit secretin receptor cDNA was subcloned in expression vector pCR3.1, then stably and transiently transfected in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The pharmacological properties of the rat and rabbit secretin receptor studies were compared by radiolabeled secretin binding, binding inhibition, and adenylate cyclase activation (using secretin analogs and fragments). Porcine secretin was equipotent with rabbit secretin on the rabbit secretin receptor, but fivefold more potent than rabbit secretin on the rat receptor. This was due to the serine → arginine residue replacement, in position 16 of rabbit secretin. Amino terminal modified secretin analogs (secretin(2–27), [E³]secretin, [N³]secretin) and VIP were less potent than secretin on both secretin receptors, but more potent on the rabbit than on the rat receptor. The carboxy-terminally truncated fragment (1–26) had the same reduced potency on rat and rabbit receptors. Thus, the rabbit secretin receptor had original properties, different from those of the rat receptor.     

Multiple isoforms of Arabidopsis casein kinase I combine conserved catalytic domains with variable carboxyl-terminal extensions.

Three cDNA clones encoding isoforms of casein kinase I (CKI) were isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana. One full-length clone, designated CKI1, contained an open reading frame of 1371 bp encoding a protein of 51,949 D with an isoelectric point of 9.7. In addition to the highly conserved catalytic domain (of about 300 amino acids), the Arabidopsis CKI isoforms contain 150 to 180 amino acid carboxyl-terminal extensions, which show among themselves a lower level of sequence conservation. These extensions do not show any sequence similarity to nonplant CKI isoforms, such as rat testis CKI delta, which is their closest isolated homolog, or to yeast CKI isoforms. Three additional isoforms of Arabidopsis CKI were found in the data bases of expressed sequence tags and/or were isolated serendipitously in nonspecific screening procedures by others. One of them also shows a carboxyl-terminal extension, but of only 80 amino acids. Casein kinase activity was detected in the soluble fraction of Escherichia coli strains expressing the CKI1 protein. This activity showed the crucial properties of CKI, including the ability to phosphorylate the D4 peptide, a specific substrate of CKI, and inhibition by N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-chloroisoquinoline-8-sulfonamide, a specific CKI inhibitor. Like several recombinant CKI isoforms from yeast, CKI1 was able to phosphorylate tyrosine-containing acidic polymers.     

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of human liver cDNA encoding for cystathionine gamma-lyase.

We have cloned and sequenced a full-length cDNA (1083 bp) encoding the human liver cystathionine-gamma-lyase enzyme (cystathionase). The human cystathionase sequence presented a substantial deletion of 132 bases (44 amino acids) compared to that reported for rat cystathionase, and of 135 bases (45 amino acids) compared to that reported for yeast cystathionase. After re-alignment for the missing nucleotides, the human cDNA sequence shows significant amino acid homology to that for the rat enzyme (85%) and the yeast enzyme (50%). A search for an undeleted cDNA, by the polymerase chain reaction, yielded a second clone which contained the missing 132 bases. Flanking nucleotides in the latter clone were identical to those in the cDNA clone containing the deletion. The two forms of human cystathionase deduced from the two cDNA clones may be derived from two different genes or may be splice variants.     

Expression and characterization of isoforms of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ-isomerase in the hamster

The enzyme 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ^5→4-isomerase (3β-HSD) is essential for the production of all classes of steroid hormones. Multiple isozymes of this enzyme have been demonstrated in the kidney and liver of both the rat and the mouse, although the function of the enzyme in these tissues is unknown. We have characterized three isozymes of 3β-HSD expressed in various tissues of the hamster. Both western and northern blot analyses demonstrated very high levels of 3β-HSD in the adrenal, kidney and male liver. Conversely, there were extremely low levels of enzyme expression in the female liver. cDNA libraries prepared from RNA isolated from hamster adrenal, kidney and liver were screened with a full-length cDNA encoding human type 1 3β-HSD. Separate cDNAs encoding three isoforms of 3β-HSD were isolated from these libraries. To examine the properties of the isoforms, the cDNAs were ligated into expression vectors for over-expression in 293 human fetal kidney cells. The type 1 isoform, isolated from an adrenal cDNA library, was identified as a high-affinity 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. A separate isoform, designated type 2, was isolated from the kidney, and this was also a high-affinity dehydrogenase/isomerase. Two cDNAs were isolated from the liver, one identical in sequence to type 2 of the kidney, and a distinct cDNA encoding an isoform designated type 3. The type 3 3β-HSD possessed no steroid dehydrogenase activity but was found to function as a 3-ketosteroid reductase. Thus male hamster liver expresses a high-affinity 3β-HSD (type 2) and a 3-ketosteroid reductase (type 3), whereas the kidney of both sexes express the type 2 3β-HSD isoform. These differ from the type 1 3β-HSD expressed in the adrenal cortex.     

Characterization and ontogenetic expression analysis of the myosin light chains from the fast white muscle of mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi

Three full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) clones were isolated encoding the skeletal myosin light chain 1 (MLC1; 1237 bp), myosin light chain 2 (MLC2; 1206 bp) and myosin light chain 3 (MLC3; 1079 bp) from the fast white muscle cDNA library of mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi. The sequence analysis indicated that MLC1 and MLC3 were not produced from differentially spliced messenger RNAs (mRNA) as reported in birds and rodents but were encoded by different genes. The MLC2 encodes 170 amino acids, which include four EF-hand (helix-loop-helix) structures. The primary structures of the Ca(2+)-binding domain were well conserved among the MLC2s of seven other fish species. The ontogenetic expression analysis by real-time PCR showed that the three light-chain mRNAs were first detected in the gastrula stage, and their expression increased from the tail bud stage to the larval stage. All three MLC mRNAs showed longitudinal expression variation in the fast white muscle of S. chuatsi, especially MLC1 which was highly expressed at the posterior area. Taken together, the study provides a better understanding about the MLC gene structure and their expression pattern in muscle development of S. chuatsi.     

Isolation and sequencing of porcine fast skeletal muscle alkali myosin light chain 3 cDNA

Abstract

A cDNA coding for alkali myosin light chain 3 (MLC3_F) was isolated from a porcine skeletal muscle library. This clone has an insert of 859 bp encompassing the complete CDS (coding sequence) plus the 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions. Computer analysis showed that porcine MLC3_F cDNA is highly homologous to the corresponding cDNAs of human, rabbit and rat. Moreover, Northern analysis showed the presence of two bands that represent the mature mRNAs of the MLCl_F and MLC3_F isoforms according to data observed in other species.     

Functional significance of globotriaosyl ceramide in interferon-alpha(2)/type 1 interferon receptor-mediated antiviral activity

The N-terminus of the type 1 interferon receptor subunit, IFNAR1, has high amino acid sequence similarity to the receptor binding B subunit of the Escherichia coli-derived verotoxin 1, VT1. The glycolipid, globotriaosyl ceramide (Gb(3): Gal alpha(1) --> 4 Gal beta 1 --> 4 Glu beta 1 --> 1 Cer) is the specific cell receptor for VT1. Gb(3)-deficient variant cells selected for VT resistance are cross-resistant to interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha)-mediated antiproliferative activity. The association of eIFNAR1 with Gal alpha 1 --> 4 Gal containing glycolipids has been previously shown to be important for the receptor-mediated IFN-alpha signal transduction for growth inhibition. The crucial role of Gb(3) for the signal transduction of IFN-alpha-mediated antiviral activity is now reported. IFN-alpha-mediated antiviral activity, nuclear translocation of activated Stat1, and increased expression of PKR were defective in Gb(3)-deficient vero mutant cells, although the surface expression of IFNAR1 was unaltered. The VT1B subunit was found to inhibit IFN-alpha-mediated antiviral activity, Stat1 nuclear translocation and PKR upregulation. Unlike VT1 cytotoxicity, IFN-alpha-induced Stat1 nuclear translocation was not inhibited when RME was prevented, suggesting that the accessory function of Gb(3) occurs at the plasma membrane. IFN-alpha antiviral activity was also studied in Gb(3)-positive MRC-5 cells, which are resistant to IFN-alpha growth inhibition, partially resistant to VT1 but still remain fully sensitive to IFN-alpha antiviral activity, and two astrocytoma cell lines expressing different Gb(3) fatty acid isoforms. In both systems, long chain fatty acid-containing Gb(3) isoforms, which are less effective to mediate VT1 cytotoxicity, were found to correlate with higher IFN-alpha-mediated antiviral activity. Inhibition of Gb(3) synthesis in toto prevented IFN-alpha antiviral activity in all cells. We propose that the long chain Gb(3) fatty isoforms preferentially remain in the plasma membrane, and by associating with IFNAR1, mediate IFN-alpha antiviral signaling, whereas short chain Gb(3) fatty acid isoforms are preferentially internalized to mediate VT1 cytotoxicity and IFNAR1-dependent IFN-alpha growth inhibition.