Molecular cloning of a novel NF2/ERM/4.1 superfamily gene, ehm2, that is expressed in high-metastatic K1735 murine melanoma cells

We have cloned a novel gene, Ehm2, that is expressed in high-metastatic but not in low-metastatic K-1735 murine melanoma cells. The Ehm2 gene encodes a protein of 527 amino acid residues, showing up to 41% amino acid identity with the FERM domain of NF2/ERM/4.1 superfamily proteins, which have the function of connecting cell surface transmembrane proteins to cytoskeletal molecules. The Ehm2 gene was mapped to chromosome 4 and was expressed in the liver, lung, kidney, and testis and in 7- to 17-day embryos. The highest level of homology was observed with NBL4, which is a new subfamily protein of the NF2/ERM/4.1 superfamily. A human homologue of the mouse Ehm2 gene, showing significant homology (83% identity), was identified in the genomic DNA and EST databases. Furthermore, seven rat EST clones and one pig EST clone in the GenBank EST database were identified as having 83-92% sequence homology with the cDNA sequence of the mouse Ehm2 gene. Thus, Ehm2 is a highly conserved gene that encodes a novel member of the NF2/ERM/4.1 superfamily proteins.     

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Human CC Chemokine, SCYA26

By searching the Expressed Sequence Tag database, a full-length cDNA for a novel human CC chemokine was cloned. This cDNA encoded a 94-amino-acid protein with a putative signal peptide of 26 amino acids. The deduced mature protein had the four conserved cysteine residues characteristic of CC chemokines and showed 44% identity with MIP-1beta and 40% identity with MIP-1alpha, RANTES, and MCP-4. mRNA for this chemokine was expressed constitutively in human heart and liver and with lesser but detectable levels in skeletal muscle, kidney, and small intestine. To investigate its biological activity, the protein was expressed in mammalian cells and purified by affinity chromatography. The recombinant protein demonstrated chemotactic activity in vitro for T cells and monocytes but not for neutrophils. The gene was mapped to chromosome 7q11.2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Based on its structural identity with other CC chemokines and the chemotactic activity and chromosomal location of this chemokine, we designate this chemokine small inducible cytokine subfamily A, member 26 (SCYA26). This gene symbol has been approved by the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.     

巴西橡胶树 HbERFB4-1 基因的克隆和表达分析

根据EST序列信息,利用RACE技术分离了巴西橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)的1个AP2/ERF类基因,命名为HbERFB4-1。该基因cDNA全长732 bp,含有完整的开放阅读框架,编码147个氨基酸,不含内含子。推导的HbERFB4-1氨基酸序列与杨树(Populus trichocarpa)、蓖麻(Ricinus communis)、拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)和大豆(Glycine max)中相应蛋白氨基酸序列的一致性分别为78%、71%、62%和55%,具有典型的AP2类蛋白结构特征。聚类分析表明,HbERFB4-1属于ERF家族B4亚族。半定量RT-PCR分析结果表明,该基因在胶乳中的表达量相对较低,但乙烯利刺激后其在胶乳中的表达量迅速增加,推测该基因可能参与了胶乳中乙烯信号的转导。     

Nucleotide sequence of phospholipase A(2) gene expressed in snake pancreas reveals the molecular evolution of toxic phospholipase A(2) genes

A protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) coding sequence was cloned from a cDNA library derived from carrot (Daucus carota L.) somatic embryos. The cDNA is 2060 bp in length and encodes for a protein of 581 amino acids and molecular weight of 64.4 kDa. Primary structure analysis of the deduced protein revealed two thioredoxin-like active sites and an endoplasmic reticulum-retention signal at its C-terminus, which is also found in PDIs in plants and animals. Although between the carrot protein and other plant PDIs there is only about 30% identity, the active site regions are almost identical. The corresponding mRNA was found in varying amounts, in all tissues investigated. A recombinant protein expressed from the carrot cDNA clone effectively catalyzed both glutathione-insulin transhydrogenation and the oxidative renaturation of denatured RNase A. These results suggest that the protein coded for by the carrot gene is a novel member of the PDI family in plants. We therefore designated this novel carrot gene PDIL1. The protein expressed by the PDIL1 cDNA sequence had a highly acidic stretch at its N-terminal region (no such domain exists in known plant PDIs), and was located far from known plant PDIs on a maximum likelihood tree. The PDIL1 gene, together with closely-related genes identified in Arabidopsis and tomato, was suggested to belong to a novel subfamily of PDIs.     

百脉根LjCYCl基因克隆及其蛋白核定位

通过筛选百脉根(Lotus japonicus)基因组文库,克隆了LjCYCl(Lotus japonicus Cvcloidea-likel基因。LjCYCl是金鱼草(Antirrhium)CYC(Cycloidea)基因的同源基因,CYC属于TCP[TBl(teosinte branched 1),CYC,PCFs(PCF1 and PCF2)]基因家族,编码转录调控子控制金鱼草花的对称性。基因组序列分析表明,LjCYCl的开放阅读框(ORF)由两个外显子和一个内含子组成,其cDNA编码的LjCYCl蛋白包含了370个氨基酸。蛋白序列分析显示,LjCYCl包含一个TCP结构域和一个R结构域,属于TCP结构域蛋白家族的CYC／TBl亚家族;LjCYCl氨基酸序列与CYC相比,一致性和相似性分别为39．0％和42．6％。不同长度的LjCYCl-cDNA与报告基因GUS融合后,通过粒子轰击(particle bombardment)方法在洋葱表皮细胞瞬时表达融合蛋白,观察到包含了TCP结构域的融合蛋白能够进行细胞核定位,提示LjCYCl可能作为转录因子行使功能;TCP结构域自身不能完成核定位过程,还需要结构域两侧旁邻氨基酸序列的协助。     

百脉根LjCYC1基因克隆及其蛋白核定位

通过筛选百脉根(Lotus 7aponicus)基因组文库,克隆了LjCYC1(Lotus japonicus Cycloidea-like1)基因.L7CYC1是金鱼草(Antirrhium)CYC (Cycloidea)基因的同源基因,CYC属于TCP[TBl(teosinte branchedl),CYC,PCFs(PCFl and PCF2)]基因家族,编码转录调控子控制金鱼草花的对称性.基因组序列分析表明,LjCYC1的开放阅读框(ORF)由两个外显子和一个内含子组成,其cDNA编码的LjCYC1蛋白包含了370个氨基酸.蛋白序列分析显示,LjCYC1包含一个TCP结构域和一个R结构域,属于TCP结构域蛋白家族的CYC/TBl亚家族;LjCYCl氨基酸序列与CYC相比,一致性和相似性分别为39.0%和42.6%.不同长度的LjCYCl-cDNA与报告基因GUS融合后,通过粒子轰击(particle bombardment)方法在洋葱表皮细胞瞬时表达融合蛋白,观察到包含了TCP结构域的融合蛋白能够进行细胞核定位,提示LjCYCl可能作为转录因子行使功能;TCP结构域自身不能完成核定位过程,还需要结构域两侧旁邻氨基酸序列的协助.