Novel primers for complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequencing in mammals

Sequence-based species identification relies on the extent and integrity of sequence data available in online databases such as GenBank. When identifying species from a sample of unknown origin, partial DNA sequences obtained from the sample are aligned against existing sequences in databases. When the sequence from the matching species is not present in the database, high-scoring alignments with closely related sequences might produce unreliable results on species identity. For species identification in mammals, the cytochrome b (cyt b) gene has been identified to be highly informative; thus, large amounts of reference sequence data from the cyt b gene are much needed. To enhance availability of cyt b gene sequence data on a large number of mammalian species in GenBank and other such publicly accessible online databases, we identified a primer pair for complete cyt b gene sequencing in mammals. Using this primer pair, we successfully PCR amplified and sequenced the complete cyt b gene from 40 of 44 mammalian species representing 10 orders of mammals. We submitted 40 complete, correctly annotated, cyt b protein coding sequences to GenBank. To our knowledge, this is the first single primer pair to amplify the complete cyt b gene in a broad range of mammalian species. This primer pair can be used for the addition of new cyt b gene sequences and to enhance data available on species represented in GenBank. The availability of novel and complete gene sequences as high-quality reference data can improve the reliability of sequence-based species identification.     

Organization of the gene for gelatin-binding protein (GBP28)

GBP28 is a novel human plasma gelatin-binding protein that is encoded by apM1 mRNA, expressed specifically in adipose tissue. Three overlapping clones (two lambda clones and one BAC clone) containing the human plasma gelatin-binding protein (GBP28) gene were isolated and characterized. The GBP28 gene spans 16kb and is composed of three exons from 18bp to 4277bp in size with consensus splice sites. The sizes of the two introns were 0.8 and 12kb, respectively. The gene's regulatory sequences contain putative promoter elements, but no typical TATA box.The third exon of this gene contains a long 3'-untranslated sequence containing three Alu repeats. The exon-intron organization of this gene was very similar to that of obese gene, encoding leptin. We also report the chromosome mapping of this gene by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a genomic DNA fragment as a probe. The GBP28 gene was located on human chromosome 3q27. The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper will appear in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank nucleotide sequence databases with the accession numbers ABO12163, ABO12164 or ABO12165.     

Complete nucleotide sequence of the human RCC1 gene involved in coupling between DNA replication and mitosis.

Total genomic DNA of the human RCC1 gene was isolated from HeLa DNA and its complete nucleotide sequence (34,641 bp) was determined by the shotgun sequencing method. The exon-intron junctions were precisely assigned to this sequence by comparing the nucleotide sequence of RCC1 genomic DNA with that of its cDNA. The RCC1 gene was found to have 14 exons, 8 of which (starting from the seventh one) coded the seven repeated sequences of RCC1 protein. A single exon corresponded roughly to each repeat of the RCC1 protein except for the middle one, indicating that the RCC1 gene was generated through amplification of a primordial exon. Primer extension analysis revealed the presence of an internal promoter.     

簇毛麦HMW-GS及其启动子基因的克隆与序列分析

利用2对特异引物,从簇毛麦(Dasypyrum villosum)基因组中分离克隆出一个簇毛麦HMW-GS基因VHG-2(GenBank登录号为FJ600492)及其启动子序列VHGp-1(GenBank登录号为FJ600489).VHGp-1序列长度为1 099 bp,从5′至3′方向依次有E-box、N-box、G-box、HMW谷蛋白特异38 bp增强子和TATA-box等典型的HMW-GS基因启动子作用调控元件,说明VHGp-1为簇毛麦HMW-GS的启动子基因.VHG-2序列长度为1 572 bp,具有单一完整的、可编码498个氨基酸的开放阅读框(ORF),该ORF推导的氨基酸序列结构分析表明,编码区依次包含由21个氨基酸残基组成的信号肽、105个氨基酸残基组成的N-末端区、330个氨基酸残基组成的中部重复区和42个氨基酸残基组成的C-末端区;中部重复区主要重复单元为6肽(PQQGQQ)和9肽(GYYPTSP/LQQ);有6个半胱氨酸残基(Cys),其中5个分布在N-末端区,1个分布在C-末端区,第3、4个相邻.这些特征与报道的y-型HMW-GS多肽结构基本一致,说明VHG-2是簇毛麦的y-型HMW-GS基因.系统进化分析表明,簇毛麦HMW-GS启动子序列(VHGP-1)与智利大麦(H.chilense)H基因组的D-hordein基因、拟鹅观草和阿拉善鹅观草St基因组的HMW-GS基因的启动子具有比较近的同源关系,簇毛麦HMW-GS基因(VHG-2)与冰草、拟鹅观草和中间偃麦草的y-型HMW-GS基因具有较近的同源关系.     

Structure and expression of the Lactococcus lactis gene for phospho-beta-galactosidase (lacG) in Escherichia coli and L. lactis

The Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis 712 lacG gene encoding phospho-beta-galactosidase was isolated from the lactose mini-plasmid pMG820 and cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and L. lactis. The low phospho-beta-galactosidase activity in L. lactis transformed with high-copy-number plasmids containing the lacG gene contrasted with the high activity found in L. lactis containing the original, low-copy-number lactose plasmid pMG820, and indicated that the original lactose promoter was absent from the cloned DNA. In E. coli the phospho-beta-galactosidase could be overproduced using the strong inducible lambda PL promoter, which allowed a rapid purification of the active enzyme. The complete nucleotide sequence of the L. lactis lacG gene and its surrounding regions was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence was confirmed by comparison with the amino acid composition of the purified phospho-beta-galactosidase and its amino-terminal sequence. This also allowed the exact positioning of the lacG gene and identification of its characteristic Gram-positive translation initiation signals. The homologous expression data and the sequence organization of the L. lactis lacG gene indicate that the gene is organized into a large lactose operon which contains an intergenic promoter located in an inverted repeat immediately preceding the lacG gene. The organization and sequence of the L. lactis lacG gene were compared with those of the highly homologous lacG gene from Staphylococcus aureus. A remarkable bias for leucine codons was observed in the lacG genes of these two species. Heterogramic homology was observed between the deduced amino acid sequence of the L. lactis phospho-beta-galactosidase, that of the functionally analogous E. coli phospho-beta-glucosidase, and that of an Agrobacterium beta-glucosidase (cellobiase).