Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone encoding the anti-viral protein from Phytolacca americana

Phytolacca anti-viral protein (PAP) was purified from Phytolacca leaves and the N-terminal was sequenced. A cDNA library was made from mRNAs isolated from Phytolacca leaves and cDNA clones for PAP were identified using oligonucleotide probes derived from the N-terminal amino acid sequence. The PAP-cDNA clone was sequenced from both directions. The predicted amino acid sequence of PAP was compared with the amino acid sequences of other ribosome-inactivating proteins. The identities of these proteins to PAP ranged from 29 to 38%, and a region was found in each with a sequence similar to the PAP sequence (AIQMVSEAARFKYI). Southern blot analysis indicates that PAP is encoded by a multi-gene family.Abbreviations MAP Mirabilis jalapa anti-viral protein - PAP Phytolacca anti-viral protein - SO6 30 kDa ribosome-inactivating protein from the seeds of Saponaria officinalis     

Characterization of the structural gene encoding a copper-containing nitrite reductase and homology of this gene to DNA of other denitrifiers.

A copper-containing nitrite reductase gene (nirU) from Pseudomonas sp. strain G-179 was found in a 1.9-kb EcoRI-BamHI DNA fragment. The coding region contained information for a polypeptide of 379 amino acids. The encoded protein had 78% identity in amino acid sequence to the nitrite reductase purified from Achromobacter cycloclastes. The ligands for type 1 copper- and type 2 copper-binding sites found in A. cycloclastes were also found in Pseudomonas sp. strain G-179, suggesting that these binding sites are conserved. Upstream from the promoter, two putative fnr boxes were found, suggesting that an FNR-like protein may be involved in regulation of the nitrite reductase gene under anaerobic conditions. When the 1.9-kb clone was used to probe Southern blots for similar sequences in DNAs from different denitrifiers, hybridization bands were seen for 15 of 16 denitrifiers known to have nitrite reductase containing copper. Except for Pseudomonas stutzeri JM300, all denitrifiers tested that have nitrite reductases containing heme c,d1 showed no or weak hybridization to this probe. Thus, this structural gene may be useful as a probe to detect denitrifiers with copper-containing nitrite reductases.     

Chemical modifications of pokeweed antiviral protein: effects upon ribosome inactivation, antiviral activity and cytotoxicity

Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) is a protein known to inactivate eukaryotic ribosomes by an unknown enzymatic action and inhibit the production of mammalian viruses in tissue culture. This protein was subjected to a variety of chemical modifications to determine their effects upon ribosomal inactivation, antiviral action, and cytotoxicity. It was found that modifications of a number of different amino acid residues had similar effects upon all 3 activities. Also the inactivation of PAP with diethylpyrocarbonate was not due to its reaction with a histidine residue but to a modification of an unidentified amino acid residue.     

Cloning, sequencing and expression of a sialidase gene from Clostridium sordellii G12

A 4.3 kb XbaI restriction fragment of DNA from Clostridium sordellii G12 hybridized with a synthetic oligonucleotide representing the N-terminus of the sialidase protein secreted by C. sordellii. This cloned fragment was shown to encode only part of the sialidase protein. The sialidase gene of C. sordellii was completed by a 0.7 kb RsaI restriction fragment overlapping one end of the XbaI fragment. After combining the two fragments and transformation of Escherichia coli, a clone that expressed sialidase was obtained. The nucleotide sequence of the sialidase gene of C. sordellii G12 was determined. The sequence of the 18 N-terminal amino acids of the purified extracellular enzyme perfectly matched the predicted amino acid sequence near the beginning of the structural gene. The amino acid sequence derived from the complete gene corresponds to a protein with a molecular mass of 44,735 Da. Upstream from the putative ATG initiation codon, ribosomal-binding site and promoter-like consensus sequences were found. The encoded protein has a leader sequence of 27 amino acids. The enzyme expressed in E. coli has similar properties to the enzyme isolated from C. sordellii, except for small differences in size and isoelectric point. Significant homology (70%) was found with a sialidase gene from C. perfringens.     

Cloning and expression analysis of an ovine PAP-like protein cDNA, a gene differentially expressed in scrapie

In a previous study, the mRNA level of a pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP)-like protein was found to be elevated in the ileal Peyer's patch of lambs during the early phase of scrapie infection. Here, we report the isolation of the ovine PAP-like protein cDNA which encodes a putative 178 amino acid protein with a signal peptide and a C-lectin binding domain. Comparisons of REG/PAP proteins between various species showed that the deduced amino acid sequences were conserved. The overall amino acid identity between the ovine PAP-like protein and bovine, human and rat REG/PAP proteins varied from 23% to 85%. In Northern blot analysis the expression of the ovine PAP-like protein mRNA was restricted to the ileal and jejunal Peyer's patches. The cellular expression of the PAP-like protein mRNA in the ovine intestine was further characterized by in situ hybridization. PAP-like protein mRNA was detected in cells of the epithelial lining in most crypts and in some intestinal villi in the ileum and jejunum while in the colon and rectum, the PAP-like protein mRNA expression was only detected in the deep portion of a few crypts. The data provided will offer the possibility to search for a link between this PAP-like protein and early events in the development of scrapie.     

A novel gene encoding a sulfur-regulated outer membrane protein in Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans is a Gram-negative chemolithotrophic bacterium able to oxidize ferrous iron, elemental sulfur and inorganic sulfur compounds. The oxidation of sulfur by T. ferrooxidans resulted in an expression of some outer membrane proteins (OMPs) at a level higher than that observed during ferrous iron oxidation. Among these OMPs, a protein with a molecular mass of 54 kDa was purified and 18 amino acids of the N-terminal sequence determined. Using a 54 bp PCR generated DNA product as a probe for the protein, we isolated a 4.5 kb Pst I DNA chromosomal fragment containing the corresponding gene. Sequencing 2169 bp of this fragment revealed the open reading frame codifying for the protein, consisting of 467 amino acids and a molecular mass of 49,674 Da. The mature protein was produced by the removal of a 32 amino acid signal peptide-like sequence from the N-terminus of a 499 amino acid peptide. Although no significant homology with any known protein has been found and its physiological role remains unclear, its high expression on sulfur substrates suggests a role in sulfide mineral oxidation.     

Cloning and characterization of cDNA of the GPI-anchored purple acid phosphatase and its root tissue distribution in Spirodela oligorrhiza

A cDNA clone of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored purple acid phosphatase (PAP) has been obtained by a combination of cDNA library screening and 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends from Spirodela oligorrhiza plants grown under phosphate-deficient (−P) conditions. The open reading frame of the S. oligorrhiza PAP cDNA consists of 1 365 bp encoding a 455 amino acid protein. Its deduced amino acid sequence shows 82 and 80% similarity to Arabidopsis thaliana and Phaseolus vulgaris PAP, respectively. The amino acid residue, Ala439, followed by two more small amino acid residues, Asp and Ser, is predicted to be the GPI-anchoring ( ω ) site. The absence of a dibasic motif upstream of the putative ω site suggests that the PAP is a cell wall protein. This presumption is supported by the finding that PAP was released by digestion of the cell wall fraction with cellulase. The GPI anchor is speculated to be a signal for transporting PAP to the cell wall. Immunohistochemical results using −P plant roots demonstrate that PAP is preferentially distributed in the outermost cortical cells of roots but not in the epidermis, suggesting its role in acquiring inorganic phosphate under phosphate-deficient conditions. Northern blot analysis using the S. oligorrhiza PAP cDNA as a probe demonstrates that expression of the PAP gene increased during growth of −P plants and this time-dependent occurrence in mRNA levels of the PAP in −P plants was also observed in their protein and activity levels.     

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the beta-lytic protease gene from Achromobacter lyticus.

Two bacteriolytic enzymes secreted by Achromobacter lyticus M497-1 were purified and identified as being very similar (considering their amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence) to alpha- and beta-lytic proteases from Lysobacter enzymogenes. A 1.8-kb EcoRI fragment containing the structural gene for beta-lytic protease was cloned from A. lyticus chromosomal DNA. The protein sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence was identical to the known sequence of beta-lytic protease, except for six residues. The nucleotide sequence revealed that the mature enzyme is composed of 179 amino acid residues with an additional 195 amino acids at the amino-terminal end of the enzyme, which includes the signal peptide, thus indicating that the enzyme is synthesized as a precursor protein.     

Cloning and sequencing of a gene encoding a novel extracellular neutral proteinase from Streptomyces sp. strain C5 and expression of the gene in Streptomyces lividans 1326.

The gene encoding a novel milk protein-hydrolyzing proteinase was cloned on a 6.56-kb SstI fragment from Streptomyces sp. strain C5 genomic DNA into Streptomyces lividans 1326 by using the plasmid vector pIJ702. The gene encoding the small neutral proteinase (snpA) was located within a 2.6-kb BamHI-SstI restriction fragment that was partially sequenced. The molecular mass of the deduced amino acid sequence of the mature protein was determined to be 15,740, which corresponds very closely with the relative molecular mass of the purified protein (15,500) determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified neutral proteinase was determined, and the DNA encoding this sequence was found to be located within the sequenced DNA. The deduced amino acid sequence contains a conserved zinc binding site, although secondary ligand binding and active sites typical of thermolysinlike metalloproteinases are absent. The combination of its small size, deduced amino acid sequence, and substrate and inhibition profile indicate that snpA encodes a novel neutral proteinase.     

酵母PAP1与PHO85激酶复合物对YLR190w的磷酸化

酵母基因Pho85编码一个依赖于细胞周期蛋白 (cyclin)的蛋白激酶 (CDK) ,参与多种调控途径。PHO85功能的多效性归于其相关的细胞周期因子 ,现已经鉴定了 10个与PHO85相关的细胞周期因子 (PCL)。为了筛选PAP1 PHO85激酶复合物的特异底物 ,以PAP1为靶分子 ,利用酵母双杂交 (two hybrid)系统从酵母cDNA文库中克隆到一个与PAP1相互作用的蛋白质因子的基因 ,Ylr190w。Ylr190w编码 491个氨基酸的多肽链。体外翻译的YLR190w与纯化的融合蛋白GST PAP1可以被谷胱甘肽亲和柱共同吸附 ,这表明PAP1与YLR190w在体外也可以结合。用免疫沉淀获得的PAP1 PHO85复合物可以磷酸化在大肠杆菌中表达GST YLR190w ;并受到无机磷浓度影响 :高磷条件时磷酸化程度高 ,低磷条件时磷酸化程度低。它能与酵母细胞内YAF9结合 ,YAF9是人具有转录调控活性蛋白质因子AF9的酵母同源物。YLR190w与YAF9的相互作用受到磷条件影响 ,突变YLR190w蛋白S/TP位点的S和T后 ,它们的相互作用明显减弱 ,且不再受到磷条件影响     

Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of a small colicinogenic plasmid Cold gene coding for lysis]

The nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment of a small colicigonenic plasmid Cold-CA23 containing the lysis gene cdl has been defined. An open reading frame has been found within the fragment for 48 amino acid polypeptide with the molecular mass 4920 Da. The polypeptide is homologous to the lysis proteins encoded by the small colicinogenic plasmids ColE1 and CloDF13. The homology was also found for the structural and functional arrangement of the cdl gene and the plasmid CloDF13 lysis gene. The analysis of the possible secondary structures of the lysis protein encoded by cdl gene has revealed the amino acid sequences able to form the alternative structures. The described feature is supposed to be required for lysis protein translocation from cytoplasmatic to outer membrane of Escherichia coli cells.     

Polyphosphate:AMP phosphotransferase as a polyphosphate-dependent nucleoside monophosphate kinase in Acinetobacter johnsonii 210A

We have cloned the gene for polyphosphate:AMP phosphotransferase (PAP), the enzyme that catalyzes phosphorylation of AMP to ADP at the expense of polyphosphate [poly(P)] in Acinetobacter johnsonii 210A. A genomic DNA library was constructed in Escherichia coli, and crude lysates of about 6,000 clones were screened for PAP activity. PAP activity was evaluated by measuring ATP produced by the coupled reactions of PAP and purified E. coli poly(P) kinases (PPKs). In this coupled reaction, PAP produces ADP from poly(P) and AMP, and the resulting ADP is converted to ATP by PPK. The isolated pap gene (1,428 bp) encodes a protein of 475 amino acids with a molecular mass of 55.8 kDa. The C-terminal region of PAP is highly homologous with PPK2 homologs isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Two putative phosphate-binding motifs (P-loops) were also identified. The purified PAP enzyme had not only strong PAP activity but also poly(P)-dependent nucleoside monophosphate kinase activity, by which it converted ribonucleoside monophosphates and deoxyribonucleoside monophosphates to ribonucleoside diphosphates and deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates, respectively. The activity for AMP was about 10 times greater than that for GMP and 770 and about 1,100 times greater than that for UMP and CMP.     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA encoding human prostatic acid phosphatase

lambda gt11 clones encoding human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) (EC 3.1.3.2) were isolated from human prostatic cDNA libraries by immunoscreening with polyclonal antisera. Sequence data obtained from several overlapping clones indicated that the composite cDNAs contained the complete coding region for PAP, which encodes a 354-residue protein with a calculated molecular mass of 41,126 Da. In the 5'-end, the cDNA codes for a signal peptide of 32 amino acids. Direct protein sequencing of the amino-terminus of the mature protein and its proteolytic fragments confirmed the identity of the predicted protein sequence. PAP has no apparent sequence homology to other known proteins. However, both the cDNA clones coding for human placental alkaline phosphatase and PAP have an alu-type repetitive sequence about 900 nucleotides downstream from the coding region in the 3'-untranslated region. Two of our cDNA clones differed from others at the 5'-ends. RNA blot analysis indicated mRNA of 3.3 kb. We are continuing to study whether acid phosphatases form a gene family as do alkaline phosphatases.     

重组人骨保护素片段OPG179与人血清白蛋白在毕赤酵母中的融合表达

目的:在毕赤酵母中融合表达人骨保护素(OPG)片段OPG179与人血清白蛋白(HSA).方法:通过RT-PCR扩增获得OPG179基因,构建表达质粒pHILD2-rhOPG179-HSA,转化至毕赤酵母菌中进行表达、纯化,对分泌表达产物进行SDS-PAGE及Western印迹检测.结果:酶切鉴定与测序结果显示重组表达质...     

商陆抗病毒蛋白cDNA的克隆,测序及其植物表达载体的构建

商陆抗病毒重【'1（m）卜。。）（1。Ill'l－。l。。111。。。""。',NP）是从美洲商陆叶片。I。分或Utoot件如VR,分子量约30hi）L'。PAP属典型的中链核栩然大活主l'I,对动物病毒和植物病;每均计）'们的抗病;沙作用','－。在国外,PAP达国已被川于如N...加'1物从因?..     

亚洲玉米螟幼虫体内酚氧化酶原激活蛋白酶cDNA片段的克隆与序列分析

为研究亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée)幼虫体内酚氧化酶原激活蛋白酶（prophenoloxidase activating proteinase, PAP）表达调控的分子机理, 本研究根据不同昆虫酚氧化酶原激活蛋白酶基因序列的保守区域, 设计合成简并引物, 采用RT-PCR技术从亚洲玉米螟5龄幼虫中扩增出PAP的一段cDNA片段, 大小为509 bp, 编码169个氨基酸, 预测分子量为18.7 kD, 理论等电点(pI值)为5.1。该基因序列中含有丝氨酸蛋白酶样结构域中保守的催化三联体, 不含发夹结构域。BlastP分析结果表明: 该片段的氨基酸序列与烟草天蛾Manduca sexta PAP-3和冈比亚按蚊Anopheles gambiae发夹型蛋白B1的氨基酸序列一致性最高, 为47%; 与烟草天蛾PAP-2、家蚕Bombyx mori PPAE、 斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura PPAE-3、 蓖麻蚕Samia cynthia ricini PAP和黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster丝氨酸蛋白酶7的氨基酸序列的一致性分别为45%, 45%, 44%, 43%和41%。构建系统发育树, 对其进化关系进行了初步分析, 结果显示: 亚洲玉米螟PAP与烟草天蛾PAP-3和斜纹夜蛾PPAE-3的亲缘关系较近, 与黑腹果蝇丝氨酸蛋白酶7和冈比亚按蚊发夹型蛋白B1的亲缘关系较远。这些结果说明克隆得到的cDNA片段为亚洲玉米螟幼虫PAP基因靠近羧基端的部分序列。     

Expression of a truncated form of ribosomal protein L3 confers resistance to pokeweed antiviral protein and the Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol

The contamination of important agricultural products such as wheat, barley, or maize with the trichothecene mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) due to infection with Fusarium species is a worldwide problem. Trichothecenes inhibit protein synthesis by targeting ribosomal protein L3. Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), a ribosome-inactivating protein binds to L3 to depurinate the alpha-sarcin/loop of the large rRNA. Plants transformed with the wild-type PAP show lesions and express very low levels of PAP because PAP autoregulates its expression by destabilizing its own mRNA. We show here that transgenic tobacco plants expressing both the wild-type PAP and a truncated form of yeast L3 (L3delta) are phenotypically normal. PAP mRNA and protein levels are very high in these plants, indicating that L3delta suppresses the autoregulation of PAP mRNA expression. Ribosomes are not depurinated in the transgenic plants expressing PAP and L3delta, even though PAP is associated with ribosomes. The expression of the endogenous tobacco ribosomal protein L3 is up-regulated in these plants and they are resistant to the Fusarium mycotoxin DON. These results demonstrate that expression of an N-terminal fragment of yeast L3 leads to trans-dominant resistance to PAP and the trichothecene mycotoxin DON, providing evidence that both toxins target L3 by a common mechanism.     

Structure of a Bacillus subtilis endo-beta-1,4-glucanase gene.

The nucleotide sequence of the portion of a Bacillus subtilis (strain PAP115) 3 kb Pst I fragment which contains an endo-beta-1, 4-glucanase gene has been determined. This gene encodes a protein of 499 amino acid residues (Mr = 55,234) with a typical B. subtilis signal peptide. Escherichia coli which has been transformed with this gene produces an extracellular endoglucanase with an amino-terminus corresponding to the thirtieth encoded amino acid residue. The gene is preceded by a cryptic reading frame with a rho-independent terminator structure, and itself has such a structure in the immediate 3'-flanking region. We have also identified, in the 5'-flanking region, nucleotide sequences which resemble promoter elements recognized by Bacillus RNA polymerase E sigma 43. Comparison of the encoded amino acid sequence to other known beta-glucanases reveals a small region of similarity to the encoded protein of the Clostridium thermocellum celB gene. These similar regions may contain substrate-binding and/or catalytic sites.     

High expression of the human hepatocarcinoma-intestine-pancreas/pancreatic-associated protein (HIP/PAP) gene in the mammary gland of lactating transgenic mice. Secretion into the milk and purification of the HIP/PAP lectin.

The human hepatocarcinoma-intestine-pancreas/pancreatic-associated protein (HIP/PAP) gene was previously identified because of its increased expression in primary liver cancers and during the acute phase of pancreatitis. In normal tissues, HIP/PAP is expressed both in endocrine and exocrine cells of the intestine and pancreas. HIP/PAP is a lactose binding C-type lectin which acts as an adhesion molecule for rat hepatocytes. The aim of the work was to study the HIP/PAP secretory pathway and to produce high levels of HIP/PAP in the milk of lactating transgenic mice. In view of its lactose C-type lectin properties, we have studied the consequences of the expression of HIP/PAP on mammary epithelial cells. In homozygous mice, production reached 11.2 mg.mL-1 of milk. High levels of soluble and pure HIP/PAP (18.6 mg) were purified from 29 mL of milk. The purified protein was sequenced and the N-terminal amino acid of the mature HIP/PAP was identified as Glu27, thus localizing the site of cleavage of the signal peptide. The HIP/PAP transgene was only expressed in the mammary gland of lactating transgenic mice. HIP/PAP was detected by immunofluorescence in the whole gland, but labelling was heterogeneous between alveolar clusters, with strongly positive sparse cells. Using immuno electron microscopy, HIP/PAP was observed in all the compartments of the secretory pathway within the mammary epithelial cells. We provide evidence that HIP/PAP is secreted through the Golgi pathway. However, the number of distended Golgi saccules was increased when compared to that found in wild-type mouse mammary cells. These modifications could be related to HIP/PAP C-type lectin specific properties.     

Characterization of a discontinuous epitope of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) core protein p24 by epitope excision and differential chemical modification followed by mass spectrometric peptide mapping analysis

A combination of epitope excision, epitope extraction, and differential chemical modification followed by mass spectrometric peptide mapping was used for the characterization of a discontinuous epitope that is recognized by the mouse anti-HIV-p24 monoclonal antibody 5E2.A3. In epitope excision, the protein is first bound to an immobilized antibody and then digested with proteolytic enzymes. In epitope extraction, the protein is first digested and subsequently allowed to react with the antibody. After epitope excision of the p24-5E2.A3 complex with endoproteinase Lys-C, a large fragment remained affinity bound corresponding to amino acids 1-158 of HIV-p24 (fragment 1-158). Further digestion, however, resulted in loss of affinity. Moreover, no affinity-bound fragments were observed after an epitope extraction experiment. These data from the epitope excision and extraction experiments suggest that the epitope is discontinuous. For the further characterization of the epitope, amino groups in the epitope-containing fragment were acetylated in both the affinity bound and free states followed by mass spectrometric analysis. Two successive acetylation reactions were performed: (1) the first used a low molar excess of acetic anhydride, and (2) the second, after separation from the antibody, a high molar excess of its hexadeuteroderivative. This isotopic labeling procedure, in combination with high resolution mass spectrometry, allowed the precise determination of relative reactivities of amino groups. In this study, no differences were observed in the ranking of the relative reactivities of five lysine residues. However, the N-terminal amino group was found to be part of the discontinuous epitope.