Cloning and structural characteristics of human hair keratin genes rich in sulfur]

Two human genomic genes for the hair high-sulphur keratins were for the first time cloned in a 15 kb fragment. The primary structures of the coding regions of the genes and their 5'- and 3'-flanks were determined. In the 5'-flanking region, TATA boxes, initiating codons and a 18 nucleotide sequence, previously described in sheep keratin genes and designated as "the matrix-specific" sequence was revealed. Basing on the nucleotide sequences, the encoded amino acid sequences of the high-sulphur keratins were determined for the first time. The suggested functional role of the structural elements (regions) revealed in the proteins primary structure and problems concerning their evolution tendencies are discussed.     

Cloning of the aroP gene and identification of its product in Escherichia coli K-12.

The aroP gene of Escherichia coli K-12 was located in a ca. 1.2-kilobase region of DNA. The aroP gene product was identified as a membrane-bound protein with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 37,000.     

Molecular characterization of the gyrB region of the oral spirochete, Treponema denticola

The nucleotide (nt) sequence of the Treponema denticola (Td) DNA gyrase beta-subunit gene (gyrB) has been determined. Southern blot analysis of Td chromosomal DNA indicated that gyrB is present as a single copy. Approximately 3.2kb of the nt sequence 5' and 0.7kb of nucleotide sequence 3' of gyrB were obtained. Analysis of the deduced amino acid (aa) sequence revealed two complete open reading frames (ORFs) (ORF1 and ORF3) and a truncated ORF (ORF4'). ORF1 has no homology to sequences in the databases, whereas ORF3 and ORF4' have significant homology to several bacterial DnaA (replication initiator) and DnaE (DNA polymerase III) proteins respectively. RT-PCR data showed that orf1-gyrB are co-transcribed, while dnaA-dnaE are co-transcribed but in the opposite direction. These data indicated that the gene organization of the Td gyrB region is unique compared with that of other bacteria. Eighteen putative DnaA boxes with several AT-rich regions were identified in the dnaA-dnaE intergenic region, and three putative DnaA boxes were identified in the gyrB-dnaA intergenic region. Spontaneous coumermycin A(1)-resistant Td mutants were isolated and characterized. The mutants have a >20-fold higher resistance to coumermycin A(1) than wild-type Td. A single point mutation in gyrB that changed GyrB Lys(136) to Glu or Thr appears to be responsible for the coumermycin A(1) resistance.     

Identification and sequence of the drpA gene from Escherichia coli.

The drpA gene of Escherichia coli encodes a factor that is involved in global RNA synthesis. We establish that the drpA gene has been successfully cloned and describe the fine-structure map of three drpA-(Ts) mutations as well as the complete nucleotide sequence of the drpA gene. We identified a major sigma-70 promoter for the drpA gene on the bases of (i) its similarity to the consensus sequence and (ii) S1 protection and primer extension mapping data. In addition, the nucleotide sequence revealed a pair of dnaA boxes and a factor-independent terminator at the 5' end and 3' end of the gene, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of the DrpA protein showed a nucleotide-binding pocket found in some ATPases.     

In vitro assembly of the mouse U14 snoRNP core complex and identification of a 65-kDa box C/D-binding protein.

The eukaryotic nucleolus contains a diverse population of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) that have been categorized into two major families based on evolutionarily conserved sequence elements. U14 snoRNA is a member of the larger, box C/D snoRNA family and possesses nucleotide box C and D consensus sequences. In previous studies, we have defined a U14 box C/D core motif that is essential for intronic U14 snoRNA processing. These studies also revealed that nuclear proteins that recognize boxes C/D are required. We have now established an in vitro U14 snoRNP assembly system to characterize protein binding. Electrophoretic mobility-shift analysis demonstrated that all the sequences and structures of the box C/D core motif required for U14 processing are also necessary for protein binding and snoRNP assembly. These required elements include a base paired 5',3' terminal stem and the phylogenetically conserved nucleotides of boxes C and D. The ability of other box C/D snoRNAs to compete for protein binding demonstrated that the box C/D core motif-binding proteins are common to this family of snoRNAs. UV crosslinking of nuclear proteins bound to the U14 core motif identified a 65-kDa mouse snoRNP protein that requires boxes C and D for binding. Two additional core motif proteins of 55 and 50 kDa were also identified by biochemical fractionation of the in vitro-assembled U14 snoRNP complex. Thus, the U14 snoRNP core complex is a multiprotein particle whose assembly requires nucleotide boxes C and D.     

Human cysteine-proteinase inhibitors: nucleotide sequence analysis of three members of the cystatin gene family

Three genes from the human cystatin gene family of cysteine-proteinase inhibitors have been isolated from a bacteriophage lambda library containing HindIII digests of human genomic DNA. Two of the genes code for salivary cystatin SN and SA, the third is a pseudogene. The cloned genes were identified with a probe made from a salivary cystatin cDNA. The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene that codes for the precursor form of the neutral salivary protein, cystatin SN, was determined. The gene, which we name CST1, contains three exons and two intervening sequences. The expected CAT and ATA boxes are present in the 5'-flanking region of the gene. Partial nucleotide sequence determination of a second gene revealed that it codes for the precursor form of the acidic salivary protein, cystatin SA. This gene, which we name CST2, has the same gene organization as CST1. The complete nucleotide sequence of a third gene was determined. It does not contain a typical ATA box, and in addition, a premature stop codon and a frameshift deletion mutation occur within the gene. These inactivation mutations show that this gene, which we name CSTP1, is a cystatin pseudogene. These data combined with our genomic Southern-blot analyses show that the cystatin genes form a multigene family with at least seven members.     

Isolation and characterization of the mouse CD8 beta-chain (Ly-3) genes. Absence of an intervening sequence between V- and J-like gene segments

We have isolated and determined the nucleotide sequence and genomic organization of the genes encoding Ly-3.1 and Ly-3.2. These genes span approximately 14 kb on chromosome 6 and consist of six exons and five introns. The exons correlate roughly with the putative functional domains, namely, a leader exon, a variable and joining region-like exon, a hinge region-like exon, a transmembrane exon, and two intracytoplasmic exons. There is no intervening sequence between V- and J-like gene segments, indicating that rearrangement is not necessary for the expression of the Ly-3 gene. In the 5'-flanking region there is no "TATA" box nor "CAAT" box; however, three "GC" boxes are located upstream of the ATG initiator codon. There are short stretches of sequence homologous to 5'-flanking sequences of the Ly-2 gene. In addition, the sequences CTCTGTGGCA at -748 exhibits homology to the enhancer core sequence of the human Ig H chain and TCR genes. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence corresponding to the extracellular portion between Ly-3.1 and Ly-3.2 revealed a single base difference which results in an amino acid substitution. Therefore it is likely that this amino acid difference is responsible for the previously defined Ly-3 allotypes.     

Elements essential for processing intronic U14 snoRNA are located at the termini of the mature snoRNA sequence and include conserved nucleotide boxes C and D.

Essential elements for intronic U14 processing have been analyzed by microinjecting various mutant hsc70/Ul4 pre-mRNA precursors into Xenopus oocyte nuclei. Initial truncation experiments revealed that elements sufficient for U14 processing are located within the mature snoRNA sequence itself. Subsequent deletions within the U14 coding region demonstrated that only the terminal regions of the folded U14 molecule containing con- served nucleotide boxes C and D are required for processing. Mutagenesis of either box C or box D completely blocked U14 processing. The importance of boxes C and D was confirmed with the excision of appropriately sized U3 and U8 fragments containing boxes C and D from an hsc7O pre-mRNA intron. Competition studies indicate that a trans-acting factor (protein?) is binding this terminal motif and is essential for U14 processing. Competition studies also revealed that this factor is common to both intronic and non-intronic snoRNAs possessing nucleotide boxes C and D. Immunoprecipitation of full-length and internally deleted U14 snoRNA molecules demonstrated that the terminal region containing boxes C and D does not bind fibrillarin. Collectively, our results indicate that a trans-acting factor (different from fibrillarin) binds to the box C- and D-containing terminal motif of U14 snoRNA, thereby stabilizing the intronic snoRNA sequence in an RNP complex during processing.     

小米psbA基因5''末端非编码区的结构特征

以小米(Setaria italica)为材料,克隆了含有叶绿体psbA基因的2.2kb EcoRⅠ片段,测定了该基因5＇末端非编码区的核苷酸序列。序列分析显示psbA基因5＇末端非编码区存在着与原核类似的启动子结构,其“-10”区的序列为TATACT,与原核生物“-10”共有基序(Consensus motif)仅相差一个核苷酸;其“-35”区的序列为TTGACA,与原核生物“-35”共有基序完全相同。另外,在“-10”区和“-35”区之间还存在着一个类似真核启动子结构的“TATATA”保守序列。这些结果表明小米psbA基因的启动子既具有原核的特征又具有真核的特征。小米psbA基因的mRNA前导序列长87bp,与高粱完全一致,而比水稻多出了“CTATTTT”7个核苷酸,比小麦、大麦和黑麦多出了“TTTT”4个核苷酸。因此推测在禾本科的C_3和C_4植物之间,psbA基因mRNA前导序列区的差异可能具有普遍性。计算机分析结果显示,以上6种植物的psbA基因mRNA前导序列区内均能形成小的茎环结构,而且这段“CTATTTT”额外序列恰好位于茎环结构中,造成了6种植物间茎环大小的差异。这一小的二级结构可能对psbA基因的表达调控有一定的影响。     

大肠杆菌酪氨酸转运系统基因敲除对酪氨酸生产的影响

酪氨酸是三大芳香族氨基酸之一,广泛用于食品、医药和化工等领域。转运系统工程为代谢工程改造大肠杆菌选育酪氨酸生产菌株提供了一种重要的研究策略。大肠杆菌中酪氨酸胞内转运主要通过aroP和tyrP基因编码的通透酶进行调控。以酪氨酸生产菌株HGXP为出发菌株,利用CRISPR-Cas9技术成功构建了aroP和tyrP基因敲除菌,并通过发酵试验考察了调节转运系统对酪氨酸生产的影响。发酵结果表明,aroP和tyrP基因敲除菌酪氨酸产量分别达到3.74 g/L和3.45 g/L,较出发菌株酪氨酸产量分别提高了19%和10%。对诱导温度进行了优化,结果表明38℃为最佳诱导温度。在3 L发酵罐上进行了补料分批发酵,aroP和tyrP基因敲除菌酪氨酸产量进一步提高至44.5 g/L和35.1 g/L,较出发菌株酪氨酸产量分别提高了57%和24%。研究结果对代谢工程强化大肠杆菌生产酪氨酸具有重要的参考价值。     

大肠杆菌色氨酸转运系统多基因敲除对色氨酸生产的影响

大肠杆菌中色氨酸向胞内的转运主要是由mtr、tnaB和aroP 3个基因编码的通透酶进行调控.利用Red重组技术,在mtr单基因敲除菌的基础上,成功构建了mtr.tnaB和mtr.aroP双基因敲除菌以及mtr.tnaB.aroP三基因敲除菌,并通过发酵实验首次考察了色氨酸转运系统多基因缺失对大肠杆菌合成色氨酸的影响.发酵结果表明,mtr.tnaB和mtr.aroP双基因缺失后,色氨酸产量分别达到1.38 g/L和1.27 g/L,与出发菌株相比分别提高了17％和9％,而mtr.tnaB.aroP三基因缺失后,菌体生长受到了明显抑制,发酵后色氨酸产量仅为0.63 g/L.在补料分批发酵实验中,mtr.tnaB双基因敲除菌的色氨酸产量进一步提高至12.2 g/L,与出发菌株相比色氨酸产量提高了27％.