Molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding mouse DNA helicase B, which has homology to Escherichia coli RecD protein, and identification of a mutation in the DNA helicase B from tsFT848 temperature-sensitive DNA replication mutant cells

DNA helicase B is a major DNA helicase in mouse FM3A cells. A temperature-sensitive mutant defective in DNA replication, tsFT848, isolated from FM3A cells, has a heat-labile DNA helicase B. In this study, we purified DNA helicase B from mouse FM3A cells and determined partial amino acid sequences of the purified protein. By using a DNA probe synthesized according to one of the partial amino acid sequences, a cDNA was isolated, which encoded a 121.5 kDa protein containing seven conserved motifs for DNA/RNA helicase superfamily members. A database search revealed similarity between DNA helicase B and the α subunit of exodeoxyribonuclease V of a number of prokaryotes including Escherichia coli RecD protein, but no homologous protein was found in yeast. The cDNA encoding DNA helicase B from tsFT848 was sequenced and a mutation was found between DNA/RNA helicase motifs IV and V.     

Efficient establishment of pure cultures of yellow chanterelle Cantharellus anzutake from ectomycorrhizal root tips,and morphological characteristics of ectomycorrhizae and cultured mycelium

Species of fleshy yellow Cantharellus are known as chanterelles, which are among the most popular wild edible mycorrhizal mushrooms in the world. However, pure culture isolates of Cantharellus are rare. We report an efficient isolation technique of the Japanese golden chanterelle, Cantharellus anzutake, from its ectomycorrhizal root tips. Field-sampled fresh ectomycorrhizal root tips of C. anzutake on various hosts such as pines, spruce, and oaks were vortexed with 0.005% Tween 80 solution, surface sterilized with 1% calcium hypochlorite solution, rinsed with sterilized distilled water, and placed on modified Norkrans’ C (MNC) agar plate medium. Most ectomycorrhizal root tips of C. anzutake produced yellowish mycelial colonies within a few months. In contrast, tissue isolation from basidiomata provided limited cultures of C. anzutake but much contamination of bacteria and molds, even on media that contained antibiotics. The established C. anzutake cultures had clamp connections on the hyphae and contained intracellular oily droplets. These cultured isolates were identified as C. anzutake by sequence analysis of the rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and translation elongation factor EF1-alpha (tef-1) genes.     

Aureolysin of Staphylococcus warneri M accelerates its proteolytic cascade,and participates in biofilm formation

The aureolysin (Aur) gene of S. warneri M (aurWM) was cloned and sequenced. Analyses of the aurWM-inactivated mutant (S. warneri Mau) suggested that AurWM was probably associated with efficient processing of the PROM protease (homolog of V8/SspA serine protease), whereas considerable amount of mature-PROC protease (homolog of SspB cysteine protease) accumulated without AurWM. Additionally, AurWM appeared to affect biofilm formation in an uncertain suppressive way.     

Impaired pressure sensation in mice lacking TRPV4

The sensation of pressure, mechanosensation, in vertebrates remains poorly understood on the molecular level. The ion channel TRPV4 is in the TRP family and is a candidate for a mechanosensitive calcium-permeable channel. It is located in dorsal root ganglia. In the present study, we show that disrupting the Trpv4 gene in mice markedly reduced the sensitivity of the tail to pressure and acidic nociception. The threshold to noxious stimuli and the conduction velocity of myelinated nerve responding to stimuli were also impaired. Activation of unmyelinated nerve was undetected. However, the mouse still retained olfaction, taste sensation, and heat avoidance. The TRPV4 channel expressed in vitro in Chinese hamster ovary cells was opened by low pH, citrate, and inflation but not by heat or capsaicin. These data identify the TRPV4 channel as essential for the normal detection of pressure and as a receptor of the high-threshold mechanosensory complex.     

Formation of lipid droplets induced by 2,3-dihydrogeranylgeranoic acid distinct from geranylgeranoic acid

Geranylgeranoic acid (GGA) and 2,3-dihydrogeranylgeranoic acid (2,3-diGGA) are geranylgeraniol-derived metabolites (Kodaira et al. (2002) J Biochem 132: 327-334). In the present study, we examined the effects of these acids on HL-60 cells. The cells were differentiated into neutrophils by GGA stimulation like retinoic acid stimulation. In the case of cells stimulated with 2,3-diGGA, neutrophils were not detected, but the formation of lipid droplets was induced. On the other hand, when the cells were cultured in the presence of 0.1% FBS instead of 10% FBS, apoptotic cells were induced not only by GGA stimulation but also with 2,3-diGGA. In the latter case, when the cells were cultured in the co-presence of a caspase-3 inhibitor (Ac-DMQD-CHO), the lipid droplets formation was observed in the cells. These results suggest that GGA and 2,3-diGGA are extremely different from each other with respect to their effects on HL-60 cells.     

Transgene expression in mammary glands of newborn rats

Transgene expression in the mammary glands of newborn rats was studied to establish an early selection system for transgenic animals producing exogenous proteins in their milk during lactation. A fusion gene composed of the bovine alpha S1 casein gene promoter and the human growth hormone gene was microinjected into rat embryos. Transgenic lines that produced human growth hormone in their milk were established and used in this study. Immediately after birth, and without any hormone treatment, human growth hormone was found in the extracts of mammary glands from both male and female rats derived from the line secreting human growth hormone in their milk. The expression of the transgene in mammary glands of newborn rats was also detected by the presence of human growth hormone mRNA. Nontransgenic newborn rats did not express the human growth hormone gene in their mammary glands, while the mRNA for rat alpha casein, an endogenous milk protein, was found in all mammary glands from both transgenic and nontransgenic neonates. These results show that analyzing the expression of transgenes in the mammary glands of neonates is a valuable tool to select the desired transgenic animals and to shorten the selection schedules establishing the transgenic animals. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Identification of transfer RNA suppressors in Escherichia coli. II. Duplicate genes for tRNA2Gln.

The number of gene copies for tRNA₂^Gln in λpsu⁺2 was determined by genetic and biochemical studies. The transducing phage stimulates the production of the su⁺2 (amber suppressor) and su°2 glutamine tRNAs and methionine tRNA_m. When the su⁺2 amber suppressor was converted to an ochre suppressor by single-base mutation, the phage stimulated ochre-suppressing tRNA₂^Gln, instead of the amber-suppressing tRNA₂^Gln. From the transducing phage carrying the ochre-suppressing allele, strains carrying both ochre and amber suppressors were readily obtainable. These phages stimulated both ochre-suppressing and amber-suppressing tRNA₂^Gln, but not the non-suppressing form. We conclude that the original transducing phage carries two tRNA₂^Gln genes, one su⁺2 and one su°2. The transducing phage carrying two suppressors, ochre and amber, segregates one-gene derivatives that encode only one or the other type of suppressor tRNA. These derivatives apparently arise by unequal recombination involving the two glutamine tRNA genes in the parental phage. This segregation is not accompanied by the loss of the tRNA_m^Met gene. Based on these results, it is suggested that Escherichia coli normally carries in tandem two identical genes specifying tRNA₂^Gln at 15 minutes on the bacterial chromosome. su⁺2 mutants may arise by single-base mutations in the anticodon region of either of these two, leaving the other intact. By double mutations, tRNA₂^Gln genes could also become ochre suppressors. A tRNA_m^Met gene is located near, but not between, these two tRNA₂^Gln genes.     

Organization and evolution of variable region genes of the human immunoglobulin heavy chain

We have isolated 23 different cosmid clones of the heavy-chain variable region genes (VH) of human immunoglobulin. These clones encompass about 1000 X 10(3) base-pairs of DNA containing 61 VH genes. Characterization of the 23 clones by Southern blot hybridization showed that VH genes belonging to different families were physically linked in many regions. Cluster 71, which was analyzed in detail, comprised seven VH segments arranged in the same orientation with different intervals. This clone contained internal homology regions, each carrying two VH segments of different families. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of VH segments within each family showed that profiles of accumulation of mutations in framework (FR) and complementarity-determining (CDR) regions were different. CDR had more mutations at amino-acid-substituting positions than at silent positions, whereas FR had the reverse distribution of mutations. Five out of seven VH segments of this cluster were pseudogenes containing various mutations. VH pseudogenes were classified into two distinct groups; one with a few replacement mutations (conserved pseudogenes), and the other with rather extensive mutations (diverged pseudogenes). The possibility that conserved pseudogenes serve as a reservoir of VH segments is discussed.