High-speed, multicolor fluorescent two-dimensional gene scanning.

Two-dimensional gene scanning (TDGS) is a method for analyzing multiple DNA fragments in parallel for all possible sequence variations, using extensive multiplex PCR and two-dimensional electrophoretic separation on the basis of size and melting temperature. High throughput application of TDGS is limited by the prolonged time periods necessary to complete the second-dimension electrophoretic separation step--denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis--and the current need for gel staining. To address these problems, we constructed a high-voltage, automatic, two-dimensional electrophoresis system and used this in combination with thinner gels to reduce two-dimensional electrophoresis time about 80%. Instead of gel staining, we used three different fluorophores to simultaneously analyze three samples in the same gel. These improvements greatly increase TDGS speed and throughput and make the method highly suitable for large-scale single-nucleotide polymorphism discovery and genetic testing.     

Dα3, a New Functional α Subunit of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors from Drosophila

Abstract: Nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (nAChRs) are important excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in the insect CNS. We have isolated and characterized the gene and the cDNA of a new nAChR subunit from Drosophila . The predicted mature nAChR protein consists of 773 amino acid residues and has the structural features of an ACh-binding α subunit. It was therefore named Dα3, for D rosophila α -subunit 3 . The dα3 gene maps to the X chromosome at position 7E. The properties of the Dα3 protein were assessed by expression in Xenopus oocytes. Dα3 did not form functional receptors on its own or in combination with any Drosophila β-type nAChR subunit. Nondesensitizing ACh-evoked inward currents were observed when Dα3 was coexpressed with the chick β2 subunit. Half-maximal responses were at ∼0.15 µ M ACh with a Hill coefficient of ∼1.5. The snake venom component α-bungarotoxin (100 n M ) efficiently but reversibly blocked Dα3/β2 receptors, suggesting that Dα3 may be a component of one of the previously described two classes of toxin binding sites in the Drosophila CNS.     

Structure of the l(2)gl gene of Drosophila and delimitation of its tumor suppressor domain

We have previously cloned lethal(2)giant larvae, a tumor-suppressor gene of Drosophila that normally controls cell proliferation and/or differentiation in the optic centers of the brain and the imaginal discs. Here we describe the structure of the l(2)gl genes as determined by sequencing genomic and cDNA clones. The structure of the cDNAs indicates the use of alternative splicing, either in the 5' untranslated exons or in the 3' coding exons. Thus the gene encodes two putative proteins of 1161 and 708 amino acids, p127 and p78, respectively, differing at their C termini. A 3'-truncated l(2)gl transposon that leaves the coding sequence of p78 intact but deletes 141 residues of p127 was capable of suppressing tumor formation in l(2)gl-deficient animals. These results suggest that the putative p78 protein is effective in controlling cell proliferation and/or differentiation.