Requirement of both tyrosine residues 1330 and 1337 in the C-terminal tail of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase for epithelial cell scattering and migration

RON is a receptor tyrosine kinase that mediates cell scattering, migration, and tubular formation. This study focused on the function of two tyrosines, Y1330 and Y1337, in the C-terminus of RON in regulating epithelial cell scattering and migration. Substitution of both tyrosine residues with phenylalanine causes complete loss of cell scattering and migration in kidney 293 cells. In contrast, single mutation of either tyrosine residue has no effect. We found that mutation at Y1330 or Y1337 alone does not significantly affect the association of RON with PI-3 kinase, whereas a double mutation abolishes the recruitment of substrates. RON-mediated cell migration was inhibited by PI-3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin. This effect was also achieved by a dominant inhibitory p85 of PI-3 kinase. We conclude that Y1330 and Y1337 are required for RON-mediated cell motility. By associating with PI-3 kinase, the Y1330-Y1337 docking site plays a critical role in transducing motile signals of RON.     

Molecular characterization of a Cryptosporidium isolate from a black bear

To further validate the observation of the existence of host-adapted strains of Cryptosporidium parvum, we genetically characterized an isolate of Cryptosporidium parasite from a black bear. Sequence analysis of the ribosomal RNA small subunit and the 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) showed that this parasite represents a new genotype of C. parvum and is related to the C. parvum dog genotype. This finding is helpful for clarifying Cryptosporidium taxonomy.     

Characterization of an Extremely Thermostable Restriction Enzyme, PspGI, from a Pyrococcus Strain and Cloning of the PspGI Restriction-Modification System in Escherichia coli

An extremely thermostable restriction endonuclease, PspGI, was purified from Pyrococcus sp. strain GI-H. PspGI is an isoschizomer of EcoRII and cleaves DNA before the first C in the sequence 5′ ^CCWGG 3′ (W is A or T). PspGI digestion can be carried out at 65 to 85°C. To express PspGI at high levels, the PspGI restriction-modification genes (pspGIR and pspGIM) were cloned in Escherichia coli. M.PspGI contains the conserved sequence motifs of α-aminomethyltransferases; therefore, it must be an N4-cytosine methylase. M.PspGI shows 53% similarity to (44% identity with) its isoschizomer, M.MvaI from Micrococcus variabilis. In a segment of 87 amino acid residues, PspGI shows significant sequence similarity to EcoRII and to regions of SsoII and StyD4I which have a closely related recognition sequence (5′ ^CCNGG 3′). PspGI was expressed in E. coli via a T7 expression system. Recombinant PspGI was purified to near homogeneity and had a half-life of 2 h at 95°C. PspGI remained active following 30 cycles of thermocycling; thus, it can be used in DNA-based diagnostic applications.     

Fluorescent Pseudomonad Pyoverdines Bind and Oxidize Ferrous Ion

Major pyoverdines from Pseudomonas fluorescens 2-79 (Pf-B), P. aeruginosa ATCC 15692 (Pa-C), and P. putida ATCC 12633 (Pp-C) were examined by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques to investigate the interaction between ferrous ion and the pyoverdine ligand. At physiological pH, ferrous ion quenched the fluorescence of all three pyoverdines much faster than ferric ion did. Also, increased absorbance at 460 nm was observed to be much faster for Fe²⁺-pyoverdine than for Fe³⁺-pyoverdine. At pH 7.4, about 90% of Fe³⁺ was bound by pyoverdine Pa-C after 24 h whereas Fe²⁺ was bound by the pyoverdine completely in only 5 min. The possibility that Fe²⁺ underwent rapid autoxidation before being bound by pyoverdine was considered unlikely, since the Fe²⁺ concentration in pyoverdine-free samples remained constant over a 3-min period at pH 7.4. Incubating excess Fe²⁺ with pyoverdine in the presence of 8-hydroxyquinoline, an Fe³⁺-specific chelating agent, resulted in the formation of a Fe³⁺-hydroxyquinoline complex, suggesting that the iron in the Fe²⁺-pyoverdine complex existed in the oxidized form. These results strongly suggested that pyoverdines bind and oxidize the ferrous ion.     

A combinatorial synthesis of tyrphostins via the "directed sorting" method

Using solid-phase organic synthesis, we have prepared a 432-member (18 x 8 x 3) sample library based on the AG 490 "tyrphostin" template. By utilizing 432 reactors each equipped with a unique radiofrequency memory ID tag, the 432 products could be obtained as discrete entities (i.e., not as mixtures) via 18 + 8 + 3, or 29 reactions. Reading each ID tag after each reaction step permitted the "directed sorting" of reactors into appropriate reaction vessels containing multiple reactors. After synthesis, all products were cleaved from the solid-phase support and lyophilized to afford powders. Characterization of 5% of the library members by NMR and mass spectrometry provided verification of structure. In addition, TLC analysis of every library member provided evidence that most (or all) are composed of a single major organic compound. Some 88% of these samples were obtained in amounts of between 5 and 19 mg. Using this reaction sequence and the "directed sorting" approach, the synthesis of much larger AG 490-based libraries can be envisioned.     

Identification of trait-improving quantitative trait loci alleles from a wild rice relative,Oryza rufipogon.

Wild species are valued as a unique source of genetic variation, but they have rarely been used for the genetic improvement of quantitative traits. To identify trait-improving quantitative trait loci (QTL) alleles from exotic species, an accession of Oryza rufipogon, a relative of cultivated rice, was chosen on the basis of a genetic diversity study. An interspecific BC2 testcross population (V20A/O. rufipogon//V20B///V20B////Ce64) consisting of 300 families was evaluated for 12 agronomically important quantitative traits. The O. rufipogon accession was phenotypically inferior for all 12 traits. However, transgressive segregants that outperformed the original elite hybrid variety, V20A/Ce64, were observed for all traits examined. A set of 122 RFLP and microsatellite markers was used to identify QTL. A total of 68 significant QTL were identified, and of these, 35 (51%) had beneficial alleles derived from the phenotypically inferior O. rufipogon parent. Nineteen (54%) of these beneficial QTL alleles were free of deleterious effects on other characters. O. rufipogon alleles at two QTL on chromosomes 1 and 2 were associated with an 18 and 17% increase in grain yield per plant, respectively, without delaying maturity or increasing plant height. This discovery suggests that the innovative use of molecular maps and markers can alter the way geneticists utilize wild and exotic germplasm.     

BAC/YAC contigs from the H2-M region of mouse Chr 17 define gene order as Znf173-Tctex5-Mog-D17Tu42-M3-M2

 A yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig from the C57BL/6 (H2 ^b ) mouse was created from the major histocompatibility complex (Mhc, H2 in mouse) class Ib subregion, H2-M. It spans approximately 1.2 megabase (Mb) pairs and unites the previous >1.5-Mb YAC contigs (Jones et al. 1995) into a single contig, which includes 21 Mhc class I genes distal to H2-T1. A bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) contig from the 129 (H2 ^bc ) mouse, spanning approximately 600 kilobases, was also built from Znf173 (Afp, a gene for acid finger protein), through Tctex5 (t-complex testis expressed-5) and Mog (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein), to H2-M2. Twenty-four sequence-tagged site (STS) markers were newly developed, and 35 markers were mapped in the YAC/BAC contigs, which define the marker order as Cen –Znf173–Tctex5 – Mog–D17Tu42–D17Mit232–H2-M3–D17Leh525–H2-M2– Tel. The gene order of Znf173 – Tctex5 – Mog – D17Tu42 is conserved between mouse and human, showing that the middle H2-M region corresponds to the subregion of the human Mhc surrounding HLA-A. Received: 25 July 1997 / Revised: 10 September 1997     

青蒿转杜松烯合成酶基因发根系的培养

将已克隆的棉花杜松烯合成酶的ｃＤＮＡ（ｃａｄＣ１４）插入到植物表达载体ｐＢＩ１２１中,构建含ＣａＭＶ３５Ｓ启动子驱动下的杜松烯合成酶基因的植物表达载体ｐＢＩＣ１４。用含ｐＢＩＣ１４质粒的发根农杆菌（Ａｇｒｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍｒｈｉｚｏｇｅｎｅｓ）１５８３４感染青蒿（ＡｒｔｅｍｉｓｉａａｎｎｕａＬ．）叶片并诱导发根,共建立１２１个生长迅速的发根系。经浓度为２０ｍｇ／Ｌ的Ｋａｎ筛选,获得１２个抗Ｋａｎ阳性根系。ＰＣＲ和Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎｂｌｏｔｉｎｇ分析表明,外源杜松烯合成酶基因已整合到青蒿基因组中,其转基因频率为３％。ＲＴＰＣＲ分析表明,外源杜松烯合成酶基因在Ｃ３７根系中,在转录水平上已有表达。     

Synthesis and biological activity of [Tic] didemnin B

A didemnin B analog containing a Tic (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid) as a conformationally restrained replacement for tyrosine has been synthesized and shown to have comparable potency as a protein biosynthesis inhibitor. Synthetic highlights include an oxidation of an alcohol to an acid in the presence of the sensitive Tic heterocycle and a modified Schmidt-type one-pot macrocyclization.