Sequence analysis and editing for bisulphite genomic sequencing projects

Bisulphite genomic sequencing is a widely used technique for detailed analysis of the methylation status of a region of DNA. It relies upon the selective deamination of unmethylated cytosine to uracil after treatment with sodium bisulphite, usually followed by PCR amplification of the chosen target region. Since this two-step procedure replaces all unmethylated cytosine bases with thymine, PCR products derived from unmethylated templates contain only three types of nucleotide, in unequal proportions. This can create a number of technical difficulties (e.g. for some base-calling methods) and impedes manual analysis of sequencing results (since the long runs of T or A residues are difficult to align visually with the parent sequence). To facilitate the detailed analysis of bisulphite PCR products (particularly using multiple cloned templates), we have developed a visually intuitive program that identifies the methylation status of CpG dinucleotides by analysis of raw sequence data files produced by MegaBace or ABI sequencers as well as Staden SCF trace files and plain text files. The program then also collates and presents data derived from independent templates (e.g. separate clones). This results in a considerable reduction in the time required for completion of a detailed genomic methylation project.     

Generalized substitution of isoencoding codons shortens the duration of papillomavirus L1 protein expression in transiently gene-transfected keratinocytes due to cell differentiation

Recently we reported that gene codon composition determines differentiation-dependent expression of the PV L1 genes in mouse primary keratinocytes (KCs) in vitro and in vivo (Zhao et al. 2005, Mol. Cell Biol. 25:8643–8655). Here, we investigated whether generalized substitution of isoencoding codons affects the duration of expression of PV L1 genes in mouse and human KCs in day 1 culture transiently transfected with native (Nat) and codon modified (Mod) L1 genes. Following transient transfection, KC continuously transcribed both Nat and Mod PV L1 genes for at least 12 days, with the levels of L1 mRNAs from the Mod L1 genes significantly higher than those from the Nat L1 genes. However, continuous L1 protein expression at day 9 post-transfection was observed for both mouse and human KCs transfected with the Nat L1 genes only. Further, aa-tRNAs prepared from D8 KC cultures enhanced translation of two PV Nat L1 DNAs in RRL lysate and PV Nat L1 mRNAs in D0 cell-free lysate, whereas aa-tRNAs from D0 KCs enhanced translation of PV Mod L1 mRNAs in D8 cell-free lysate. It appears that aa-tRNAs in less-differentiated and differentiated KCs differentially match the PV Nat and Mod L1 mRNAs to regulate their translations in vitro.     

Differential effect of cross-linking the CD98 heavy chain on fusion and amino acid transport in the human placental trophoblast (BeWo) cell line

CD98 (otherwise known as 4F2) is an integral membrane protein with multiple functions including amino acid transport, integrin activation, cell fusion and cell activation. The molecular mechanisms coordinating these multiple functions remain unclear. We have studied CD98 heavy chain (hc) function in a human placental trophoblast cell line (BeWo). We show that cross-linking of CD98hc by incubation of cells in the presence of functional monoclonal antibodies causes cellular re-distribution of the protein from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane as measured by flow cytometry, western blotting and quantitative immuno-electron microscopy. The latter technique also indicated that CD98hc is trafficked between cell surface and cytoplasmic pools in vesicles. Increased cell surface CD98 correlates with increased cellular fusion in BeWo cells. In addition, we show reduced LAT 1 surface expression and neutral amino acid transport in the presence of the CD98 mabs. The results thus suggest that the function of CD98 in cell fusion is distinct from its role in cellular nutrient delivery.     

The role of tryptophan residues in the function and stability of the mechanosensitive channel MscS from Escherichia coli

Tryptophan (Trp) residues play important roles in many proteins. In particular they are enriched in protein surfaces involved in protein docking and are often found in membrane proteins close to the lipid head groups. However, they are usually absent from the membrane domains of mechanosensitive channels. Three Trp residues occur naturally in the Escherichia coli MscS (MscS-Ec) protein: W16 lies in the periplasm, immediately before the first transmembrane span (TM1), whereas W240 and W251 lie at the subunit interfaces that create the cytoplasmic vestibule portals. The role of these residues in MscS function and stability were investigated using site-directed mutagenesis. Functional channels with altered properties were created when any of the Trp residues were replaced by another amino acid, with the greatest retention of function associated with phenylalanine (Phe) substitutions. Analysis of the fluorescence properties of purified mutant MscS proteins containing single Trp residues revealed that W16 and W251 are relatively inaccessible, whereas W240 is accessible to quenching agents. The data point to a significant role for W16 in the gating of MscS, and an essential role for W240 in MscS oligomer stability.     

Protein glycosylation in Campylobacter jejuni: partial suppression of pglF by mutation of pseC

Campylobacter jejuni has systems for N- and O-linked protein glycosylation. Although biochemical evidence demonstrated that a pseC mutant in the O-linked pathway accumulated the product of pglF in the N-linked pathway, analyses of transformation frequencies and glycosylation statuses of N-glycosylated proteins indicated a partial suppression of pglF by pseC.     

Severe retinitis pigmentosa mapped to 4p15 and associated with a novel mutation in the PROM1 gene

Mutation in the PROM1 gene previously has been identified in one family with retinal degeneration for which neither ERG recordings nor detailed information about visual impairment is available. A large family with multiple individuals affected by retinal degeneration was ascertained in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The visual acuity of all affected patients in the family was severely compromised beginning in early childhood. The retinal disease in this family is a severe form of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) accompanied by macular degeneration. Fundus changes advanced with age. Choriocapillaris atrophy and posterior RPE atrophy were obvious allowing visualization of the large choroidal vessels in patients over 40 years of age. Rod and cone responses on ERG recordings were extinguished in patient’s teens. A genome-wide scan mapped the disease to a 34.7 cM region of chromosome 4p14–p16 between D4S1599 and D4S405. A maximum lod score of 3.96 with D4S403 and D4S391 is seen at θ = 0. Sequence analysis of PROM1 located in the linkage interval identified a c.1726C>T homozygous transition in exon 15: resulting in p.Gln576X in the translated protein. This mutation is found in a homozygous state in all six affected individuals and was heterozygous in five of the six unaffected family members examined. The mutation was not detected in 192 chromosomes of unrelated control individuals of the same ethnicity and from the same region. This delineates the phenotypic characteristics of retinopathy caused by mutations in PROM1. Qingjiong Zhang, Fareeha Zulfiqar, Xueshan Xiao, Sheikh Riazuddin and J. Fielding Hejtmancik contributed equally.     

Robust anti-tumor immunity and memory in Rag-1-deficient mice following adoptive transfer of cytokine-primed splenocytes and tumor CD80 expression

Successful immunotherapy of solid tumors has proven difficult to achieve. The aim of the current study was to further investigate the effects of peripheral CD80-mediated co-stimulation on the efficacy of polyclonal anti-tumor effector CTL in an adoptive transfer model. Splenocytes obtained from wild-type mice immunized with CD80-transduced EL4 tumor cells were expanded in vitro in the presence of either IL-12 or IL-15 and irradiated CD80-transduced EL4 tumor cells. Polyclonal CD8 T cells were the major subset in the effector population. Primed effector cells were adoptively transferred into immuno-deficient Rag-1-deficient mice which were then challenged with syngeneic vector-control or CD80-transduced EL4 tumor cells. Expression of CD80 enhanced the elimination of EL4 tumors and mouse survival. Both IL-12 and IL-15 cultured cells had enhanced cytotoxicity. Importantly, anti-tumor memory was maintained without tumor evasion following re-challenge with either CD80-transduced and vector-control EL4 cells. We also show, using antibody-mediated depletion, that endogenous NK cells present in Rag-1-deficent mice exert anti-EL4 tumor activity that is enhanced by CD80 expression. Collectively these data show that peripheral co-stimulation by tumor expression of CD80 results in enhanced anti-tumor efficacy of NK and polyclonal effector T cells, and suggest that TCR repertoire diversity helps protect against tumor escape and provides memory with resultant robust immunity to subsequent tumor challenge irrespective of CD80 status.     

H2O2 activates redox- and 4-aminopyridine-sensitive Kv channels in coronary vascular smooth muscle

Previously, we demonstrated that coronary vasodilation in response to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is attenuated by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), an inhibitor of voltage-gated K(+) (K(V)) channels. Using whole cell patch-clamp techniques, we tested the hypothesis that H(2)O(2) increases K(+) current in coronary artery smooth muscle cells. H(2)O(2) increased K(+) current in a concentration-dependent manner (increases of 14 +/- 3 and 43 +/- 4% at 0 mV with 1 and 10 mM H(2)O(2), respectively). H(2)O(2) increased a conductance that was half-activated at -18 +/- 1 mV and half-inactivated at -36 +/- 2 mV. H(2)O(2) increased current amplitude; however, the voltages of half activation and inactivation were not altered. Dithiothreitol, a thiol reductant, reversed the effect of H(2)O(2) on K(+) current and significantly shifted the voltage of half-activation to -10 +/- 1 mV. N-ethylmaleimide, a thiol-alkylating agent, blocked the effect of H(2)O(2) to increase K(+) current. Neither tetraethylammonium (1 mM) nor iberiotoxin (100 nM), antagonists of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels, blocked the effect of H(2)O(2) to increase K(+) current. In contrast, 3 mM 4-AP completely blocked the effect of H(2)O(2) to increase K(+) current. These findings lead us to conclude that H(2)O(2) increases the activity of 4-AP-sensitive K(V) channels. Furthermore, our data support the idea that 4-AP-sensitive K(V) channels are redox sensitive and contribute to H(2)O(2)-induced coronary vasodilation.     

Genetic structure and extinction of the woolly mammoth, Mammuthus primigenius

The interval since circa 50 Ka has been a period of significant species extinctions among the large mammal fauna. However, the relative roles of an increasing human presence and a synchronous series of complex environmental changes in these extinctions have yet to be fully resolved. Recent analyses of fossil material from Beringia have clarified our understanding of the spatiotemporal pattern of Late Pleistocene extinctions, identifying periods of population turnover well before the last glacial maximum (LGM: circa 21 Ka) or subsequent human expansion. To examine the role of pre-LGM population changes in shaping the genetic structure of an extinct species, we analyzed the mitochondrial DNA of woolly mammoths in western Beringia and across its range. We identify genetic signatures of a range expansion of mammoths, from eastern to western Beringia, after the last interglacial (circa 125 Ka), and then an extended period during which demographic inference indicates no population-size increase. The most marked change in diversity at this time is the loss of one of two major mitochondrial lineages.     

Power amplification in the mammalian cochlea

It was first suggested by Gold in 1948 [1] that the exquisite sensitivity and frequency selectivity of the mammalian cochlea is due to an active process referred to as the cochlear amplifier. It is thought that this process works by pumping energy to augment the otherwise damped sound-induced vibrations of the basilar membrane [2-4], a mechanism known as negative damping. The existence of the cochlear amplifier has been inferred from comparing responses of sensitive and compromised cochleae [5] and observations of acoustic emissions [6, 7] and through mathematical modeling [8, 9]. However, power amplification has yet to be demonstrated directly. Here, we prove that energy is indeed produced in the cochlea on a cycle-by-cycle basis. By using laser interferometry [10], we show that the nonlinear component of basilar-membrane responses to sound stimulation leads the forces acting on the membrane. This is possible only in active systems with negative damping [11]. Our finding provides the first direct evidence for power amplification in the mammalian cochlea. The finding also makes redundant current hypotheses of cochlear frequency sharpening and sensitization that are not based on negative damping.