The neuronal growth-associated protein GAP-43 induces filopodia in non-neuronal cells

The neuron-specific protein GAP-43 is associated with the membrane of the nerve growth cone and thus may be important to the activity of this distinctive neuronal structure. Transient transfection of COS and NIH 3T3 cells with appropriate vectors resulted in expression of GAP-43 in these non-neuronal cells; as in neurons, transfected GAP-43 associated with the membrane. In addition, many long fine filopodial processes extended from the periphery of such transfected cells. Stable CHO cell lines expressing GAP-43 also exhibited processes that were more numerous, far longer, and more complex than those of CHO cell lines not transfected or transfected with control plasmids. Thus GAP-43 may directly contribute to growth cone activity by regulating cell membrane structure and enhancing extension of filopodial processes.     

Cloning and expression of a cocaine-sensitive dopamine transporter complementary DNA

A rat dopamine (DA) transporter complementary DNA has been isolated with combined complementary DNA homology and expression approaches. The DA transporter is a 619-amino acid protein with 12 hydrophobic putative membrane-spanning domains and homology to the norepinephrine and gamma-aminobutyric acid transporters. The expressed complementary DNA confers transport of [3H]DA in Xenopus oocytes and in COS cells. Binding of the cocaine analog [3H]CFT ([3H]2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane) to transfected COS cell membranes yields a pharmacological profile similar to that in striatal membranes.     

Cloning of complementary DNA encoding a functional human interleukin-8 receptor

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is an inflammatory cytokine that activates neutrophil chemotaxis, degranulation, and the respiratory burst. Neutrophils express receptors for IL-8 that are coupled to guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins); binding of IL-8 to its receptor induces the mobilization of intracellular calcium stores. A cDNA clone from HL-60 neutrophils, designated p2, has now been isolated that encodes a human IL-8 receptor. When p2 is expressed in oocytes from Xenopus laevis, the oocytes bind 125I-labeled IL-8 specifically and respond to IL-8 by mobilizing calcium stores with an EC50 of 20 nM. This IL-8 receptor has 77% amino acid identity with a second human neutrophil receptor isotype that binds IL-8 with higher affinity. It also exhibits 69% amino acid identity with a protein reported to be an N-formyl peptide receptor from rabbit neutrophils, but less than 30% identity with all other known G protein-coupled receptors, including the human N-formyl peptide receptor.     

A protein induced during nerve growth (GAP-43) is a major component of growth-cone membranes

Growth cones are specialized structures that form the distal tips of growing axons. During both normal development of the nervous system and regeneration of injured nerves, growth cones are essential for elongation and guidance of growing axons. Developmental and regenerative axon growth is frequently accompanied by elevated synthesis of a protein designated GAP-43. GAP-43 has now been found to be a major component of growth-cone membranes in developing rat brains. Relative to total protein, GAP-43 is approximately 12 times as abundant in growth-cone membranes as in synaptic membranes from adult brains. Immunohistochemical localization of GAP-43 in frozen sections of developing brain indicates that the protein is specifically associated with neuropil areas containing growth cones and immature synaptic terminals. The results support the proposal that GAP-43 plays a role in axon growth.     

Cloning of human androgen receptor complementary DNA and localization to the X chromosome

The androgen receptor (AR) mediates the actions of male sex steroids. Human AR genomic DNA was cloned from a flow-sorted human X chromosome library by using a consensus nucleotide sequence from the DNA-binding domain of the family of nuclear receptors. The AR gene was localized on the human X chromosome between the centromere and q13. Cloned complementary DNA, selected with an AR-specific oligonucleotide probe, was expressed in monkey kidney (COS) cells and yielded a high-affinity androgen-binding protein with steroid-binding specificity corresponding to that of native AR. A predominant messenger RNA species of 9.6 kilobases was identified in human, rat, and mouse tissues known to contain AR and was undetectable in tissues lacking AR androgen-binding activity, including kidney and liver from androgen-insensitive mice. The deduced amino acid sequence of AR within the DNA-binding domain has highest sequence identity with the progesterone receptor.     

Molecular cloning of complementary DNA for the alpha subunit of the G protein that stimulates adenylate cyclase

A complementary DNA clone encoding the alpha subunit of the adenylate cyclase stimulatory G protein (Gs) was isolated and identified. A bovine brain complementary DNA library was screened with an oligonucleotide probe derived from amino acid sequence common to known G proteins. The only clone that was obtained with this probe has a complementary DNA insert of approximately 1670 base pairs. An antibody to a peptide synthesized according to deduced amino acid sequence reacts specifically with the alpha subunit of Gs. In addition, RNA that hybridizes with probes made from the clone is detected in wild-type S49 cells; however, cyc- S49 cells, which are deficient in Gs alpha activity, are devoid of this messenger RNA.     

Purification and complementary DNA cloning of a receptor for basic fibroblast growth factor

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) participates in many processes including early developmental events, angiogenesis, wound healing, and maintenance of neuronal cell viability. A 130-kilodalton protein was isolated on the basis of its ability to specifically bind to bFGF. A complementary DNA clone was isolated with an oligonucleotide probe corresponding to determined amino acid sequences of tryptic peptide fragments of the purified protein. The putative bFGF receptor encoded by this complementary DNA is a transmembrane protein that contains three extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains, an unusual acidic region, and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. These domains are arranged in a pattern that is different from that of any growth factor receptor described.     

Molecular cloning and expression of a complementary DNA for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase

A complementary DNA (cDNA) clone that encodes inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase was isolated from a rat brain cDNA expression library with the use of monoclonal antibodies. This clone had an open reading frame that would direct the synthesis of a protein consisting of 449 amino acids and with a molecular mass of 49,853 daltons. The putative protein revealed a potential calmodulin-binding site and six regions with amino acid compositions (PEST regions) common to proteins that are susceptible to calpain. Expression of the cDNA in COS cells resulted in an approximately 150-fold increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase activity of these cells.     

Isolation of human C-reactive protein complementary DNA and localization of the gene to chromosome 1

With a synthetic oligonucleotide mixture as probe, complementary DNA clones of C-reactive protein were isolated from an adult human liver complementary DNA library. The clones ranged in size from 700 to 1100 base pairs and were identified by partial DNA sequence analysis. One complementary DNA clone was used as a probe for hybridization with human-rodent DNA's isolated from somatic cell hybrids and bound to nitrocellulose filters (Southern blot analysis) to assign the human C-reactive protein gene to chromosome 1.     

Functional analysis of a complementary DNA for the 50-kilodalton subunit of calmodulin kinase II

The calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II is a major component of brain synaptic junctions and has been proposed to play a variety of important roles in brain function. A complementary DNA representing a portion of the smaller 50-kilodalton subunit of the rat brain enzyme has been cloned and sequenced. The calmodulin-binding region has been identified and a synthetic analog prepared that binds calmodulin with high affinity in the presence of calcium. Like the 50-kilodalton kinase polypeptide, the concentration of the messenger RNA varies both neuroanatomically and during postnatal development of the brain. The broad tissue and species cross-reactivity of the complementary DNA suggests that the 50-kilodalton subunit found in rat brain is evolutionarily conserved and is the product of a single gene.     

Molecular cloning of the complementary DNA for human tumor necrosis factor

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a soluble protein that causes damage to tumor cells but has no effect on normal cells. Human TNF was purified to apparent homogeneity as a 17.3-kilodalton protein from HL-60 leukemia cells and showed cytotoxic and cytostatic activities against various human tumor cell lines. The amino acid sequence was determined for the amino terminal end of the purified protein, and oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes were synthesized on the basis of this sequence. Complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding human TNF was cloned from induced HL-60 messenger RNA and was confirmed by hybrid-selection assay, direct expression in COS-7 cells, and nucleotide sequence analysis. The human TNF cDNA is 1585 base pairs in length and encodes a protein of 233 amino acids. The mature protein begins at residue 77, leaving a long leader sequence of 76 amino acids. Expression of high levels of human TNF in Escherichia coli was accomplished under control of the bacteriophage lambda PL promoter and gene N ribosome binding site.     

Molecular cloning of complementary DNA encoding the avian receptor for vitamin D

Vitamin D3 receptors are intracellular proteins that mediate the nuclear action of the active metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]. Two receptor-specific monoclonal antibodies were used to recover the complementary DNA (cDNA) of this regulatory protein from a chicken intestinal lambda gt11 cDNA expression library. The amino acid sequences that were deduced from this cDNA revealed a highly conserved cysteine-rich region that displayed homology with a domain characteristic of other steroid receptors and with the gag-erbA oncogene product of avian erythroblastosis virus. RNA selected via hybridization with this DNA sequence directed the cell-free synthesis of immunoprecipitable vitamin D3 receptor. Northern blot analysis of polyadenylated RNA with these cDNA probes revealed two vitamin D receptor messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of 2.6 and 3.2 kilobases in receptor-containing chicken tissues and a major cross-hybridizing receptor mRNA species of 4.2 kilobases in mouse 3T6 fibroblasts. The 4.2-kilobase species was substantially increased by prior exposure of 3T6 cells to 1,25(OH)2D3. This cDNA represents perhaps the rarest mRNA cloned to date in eukaryotes, as well as the first receptor sequence described for an authentic vitamin.     

Structure and expression of a complementary DNA for the nuclear coded precursor of human mitochondrial ornithine transcarbamylase

Most mitochondrial proteins are encoded in the nucleus and are translated on free cytoplasmic ribosomes as larger precursors containing amino-terminal "leader" sequences, which are removed after the precursors are taken up by mitochondria. We have deduced the complete primary structure of the precursor of a human mitochondrial matrix enzyme, ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), from the nucleotide sequence of cloned complementary DNA. The amino-terminal leader peptide of OTC is 32 amino acids in length and contains four arginines but no acidic residues. Cleavage of the leader peptide from the "mature" protein occurs between glutamine and asparagine residues. The sequence of mature human OTC resembles that of the subunits of both OTC and aspartate transcarbamylase from Escherichia coli. The biological activity of the cloned OTC complementary DNA was tested by joining it with SV40 (an animal virus) regulatory elements and transfecting cultured HeLa cells, which do not normally express OTC. Both the precursor and mature forms of the OTC subunit were identified; in stable transformants, enzymatic activity was also detected.     

Sequence and expression of human estrogen receptor complementary DNA

The mechanism by which the estrogen receptor and other steroid hormone receptors regulate gene expression in eukaryotic cells is not well understood. In this study, a complementary DNA clone containing the entire translated portion of the messenger RNA for the estrogen receptor from MCF-7 human breast cancer cells was sequenced and then expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells to give a functional protein. An open reading frame of 1785 nucleotides in the complementary DNA corresponded to a polypeptide of 595 amino acids and a molecular weight of 66,200, which is in good agreement with published molecular weight values of 65,000 to 70,000 for the estrogen receptor. Homogenates of transformed Chinese hamster ovary cells containing a protein that bound [3H]estradiol and sedimented as a 4S complex in salt-containing sucrose gradients and as an 8 to 9S complex in the absence of salt. Interaction of this receptor-[3H]estradiol complex with a monoclonal antibody that is specific for primate ER confirms the identity of the expressed complementary DNA as human estrogen receptor. Amino acid sequence comparisons revealed significant regional homology among the human estrogen receptor, the human glucocorticoid receptor, and the putative v-erbA oncogene product. This suggests that steroid receptor genes and the avian erythroblastosis viral oncogene are derived from a common primordial gene. The homologous region, which is rich in cysteine, lysine, and arginine, may represent the DNA-binding domain of these proteins.     

紫云英类受体蛋白激酶Nip43靶蛋白的筛选与初步鉴定

以紫云英类受体蛋白激酶Nip43的S-TKs结构域构建诱饵载体,通过酵母双杂交技术,筛选获得17个候选的阳性克隆。经过测序分析和Blast比对,最终确定了1个互作蛋白EPN。EPN蛋白是网格蛋白聚合反应中的配体蛋白,可调控网格蛋白的聚合反应。通过实验验证显示,靶蛋白EPN与Nip43蛋白互作最强的区域为ENTH/ANTH结构域。Real-time q PCR检测表明,epn基因参与了根瘤菌早期结瘤过程。     

The structure of rat preproatrial natriuretic factor as defined by a complementary DNA clone

The structure of rat preproatrial natriuretic factor ( preproANF ) was determined by nucleotide sequence analysis of an ANF complementary DNA clone. PreproANF is composed of a hydrophobic leader segment (20 amino acids), a precursor containing one glycosylation site (106 amino acids), and ANF (24 amino acids). Atrial natriuretic factor is located at the carboxyl terminus of the precursor molecule. The human, mouse, and rat genomes each contain a single ANF gene which is highly conserved.     

Cloning and expression of a Xenopus embryonic gap junction protein

Gap junctions in the early amphibian embryo may play a fundamental role in the regulation of differentiation by mediating the cell-to-cell transfer of chemical signals. A complementary DNA encoding a gap junction present in Xenopus oocytes and early embryos has now been cloned and sequenced. This protein sequence is homologous to the well-characterized gap junction structural proteins rat connexin32 and connexin43. RNA blot analysis of total Xenopus oocyte RNA showed hybridization to a single 1.6-kilobase band. This messenger RNA is abundant in oocytes, decreases to levels below the sensitivity of our assay by stage 15 (18 hours), and is not detectable in RNA from a number of adult organs. To confirm that the oocyte cDNA encodes a gap junction channel, the protein was over expressed in Xenopus oocytes by injection of RNA synthesized in vitro. Pairs of RNA-injected oocytes formed many more time- and voltage-sensitive cell-cell channels than water-injected pairs.     

Cloning of a membrane protein that induces a slow voltage-gated potassium current

A rat kidney messenger RNA that induces a slowly activating, voltage-dependent potassium current on its expression in Xenopus oocytes was identified by combining molecular cloning with an electrophysiological assay. The cloned complementary DNA encodes a novel membrane protein that consists of 130 amino acids with a single putative transmembrane domain. This protein differs from the known ion channel proteins but is involved in the induction of selective permeation of potassium ions by membrane depolarization.