Serine-7 of the RNA polymerase II CTD is specifically required for snRNA gene expression

RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcribes genes that encode proteins and noncoding small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). The carboxyl-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of mammalian RNA Pol II, comprising tandem repeats of the heptapeptide consensus Tyr1-Ser2-Pro3-Thr4-Ser5-Pro6-Ser7, is required for expression of both gene types. We show that mutation of serine-7 to alanine causes a specific defect in snRNA gene expression. We also present evidence that phosphorylation of serine-7 facilitates interaction with the snRNA gene-specific Integrator complex. These findings assign a biological function to this amino acid and highlight a gene type-specific requirement for a residue within the CTD heptapeptide, supporting the existence of a CTD code.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a U1-like small nuclear RNA with unexpected properties

Previous experiments indicated that only a small subset of the approximately equal to 24 small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have binding sites for the Sm antigen, a hallmark of metazoan small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) involved in pre-messenger RNA splicing. Antibodies from human serum to Sm proteins were used to show that four snRNAs (snR7, snR14, snR19, and snR20) can be immunoprecipitated from yeast extracts. Three of these four, snR7, snR14, and snR20, have been shown to be analogs of mammalian U5, U4, and U2, respectively. Several regions of significant homology to U1 (164 nucleotides) have now been found in cloned and sequenced snR19 (568 nucleotides). These include ten out of ten matches to the 5' end of U1, the site known to interact with the 5' splice site of mammalian introns. Surprisingly, the precise conservation of this sequence precludes perfect complementarity between snR19 and the invariant yeast 5' junction (GTATGT), which differs from the mammalian consensus at the fourth position (GTPuAGT).     

Isolation of human transcribed sequences from human-rodent somatic cell hybrids

A method was developed for selectively isolating genes from localized regions of the human genome that are contained in interspecific hybrid cells. Complementary human DNA was prepared from a human-rodent somatic cell hybrid that contained less than 1% human DNA, by using consensus 5' intron splice sequences as primers. These primers would select immature, unspliced messenger RNA (still retaining species-specific repeat sequences) as templates. Screening a derived complementary DNA library for human repeat sequences resulted in the isolation of human clones at the anticipated frequency with characteristics expected of exons of transcribed human genes--single copy sequences that hybridized to discrete bands on Northern (RNA) blots.     

Chromosome painting of telomeric repeats reveals new evidence for genome evolution in peanut

Interspecific hybridization is an important approach to improve cultivated peanut varieties. Cytological markers such as tandem repeats will facilitate alien gene introgression in peanut. Telomeric repeats have also been frequently used in chromosome research. Most plant telomeric repeats are(TTTAGGG)n that are mainly distributed at the chromosome ends, although interstitial telomeric repeats(ITRs) are also commonly identified. In this study, the telomeric repeat was chromosomally localized in 10 Arachis species through sequential GISH(genomic in situ hybridization) and FISH(fluorescence in situ hybridization) combined with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole(DAPI) staining. Six ITRs were identified such as in the centromeric region of chromosome Bi5 in Arachis ipa?nsis, pericentromeric regions of chromosomes As5 in A. stenosperma, Bho7 in A. hoehnei and Av5 in A. villosa, nucleolar organizer regions of chromosomes As3 in A. stenosperma and Adi3 in A. diogoi, subtelomeric regions of chromosomes Bho9 in A. hoehnei and Adu7 in A. duranensis, and telomeric region of chromosome Es7 in A. stenophylla. The distributions of the telomeric repeat, 5S r DNA, 45 S r DNA and DAPI staining pattern provided not only ways of distinguishing different chromosomes, but also karyotypes with a higher resolution that could be used in evolutionary genome research. The distribution of telomeric repeats, 5S r DNA and 45 S r DNA sites in this study, along with inversions detected on the long arms of chromosomes Kb10 and Bho10, indicated frequent chromosomal rearrangements during evolution of Arachis species.     

Efficient metal-ion catalyzed template-directed oligonucleotide synthesis

The Pb2+ and Zn2+ ions are efficient catalysts for the polycytidylic acid-directed polymerization of an activated guanylic acid derivative, guanosine 5'-phosphorimidazolide. The products include oligomers of 30 to 40 units in length. The nucleotide residues are predominantly 2'-5' linked when Pb2+ is the catalyst, and predominantly 3'-5' linked in the presence of Zn2+. The significance of these results in the context of the prebiotic evolution of RNA polymerase is discussed.     

凡纳滨对虾总RNA完整性的正确评估

凝胶电泳技术通常被用于总RNA完整性检测,一般认为28S和18S rRNA条带亮度的比值大于等于2表示总RNA完整性良好,该比值越小表明总RNA降解越严重。为了检测这一标准在水产虾蟹类中是否继续适用,分别对凡纳滨对虾rRNA和mRNA的完整性进行了分析。用TRIzol分离纯化的凡纳滨对虾总RNA经凝胶电泳检测,发现其28S:18S rRNA的比值远小于2;但是以同样的总RNA为模板进行RT-PCR,能顺利扩增出长约1 100 bp的ACT和eEF1A基因序列。进一步的3':5'分析显示这2个内参基因mRNA的3':5' ratio分别为2.79和1.53,直接表明被测mRNA完整性良好。因此,凝胶电泳低估了水产虾蟹类总RNA的完整性,建议采用3':5'分析技术对水产虾蟹类总RNA完整性进行检测。     

Histone phosphorylation: stimulation by adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate

Adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate at a concentration of 10-(7)M causes a four-to sixfold increase in the rate of histone phosphorylation catalyzed by a liver enzyme preparation. This observation suggests a mechanism for the induction of RNA synthesis by those hormones that cause increases in the concentration of cyclic AMP.     

The DNA binding arm of lambda repressor: critical contacts from a flexible region.

Segments of protein that do not adopt a well-ordered conformation in the absence of DNA can still contribute to site-specific recognition of DNA. The first six residues (NH2-Ser1-Thr2-Lys3-Lys4-Lys5-Pro6-) of phage lambda repressor are flexible but are important for site-specific binding. Low-temperature x-ray crystallography and codondirected saturation mutagenesis were used to study the role of this segment. All of the functional sequences have the form [X]1-[X]2-[Lys or Arg]3-[Lys]4-[Lys or Arg]5-[X]6. A high-resolution (1.8 angstrom) crystal structure shows that Lys3 and Lys4 each make multiple hydrogen bonds with guanines and that Lys5 interacts with the phosphate backbone. The symmetry of the complex breaks down near the center of the site, and these results suggest a revision in the traditional alignment of the six lambda operator sites.     

基于T7 RNA聚合酶的传染性法氏囊病病毒反向遗传系统的建立

    为了建立传染性法氏囊病病毒反向遗传系统,应用PCR法在鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒基因组A、B两节段的5'末端和3'末端分别引入T7启动子和核酶HDV序列,然后分别将含有T7启动子和核酶HDV序列的A、B节段构建到载体PT-Pluc当中,构建感染性载体PT-mA和PT-mB.在脂质体介导下将PT-mA和PT-mB共转染经痘病毒vTF7-3(含T7 RNA聚合酶基因,能稳定表达T7 RNA聚合酶)预先感染1 h的vero细胞.细胞病变观测、间接免疫荧光试验、电镜观察和分子标记检测证实成功实现了鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒的遗传拯救.     

黄瓜花叶病毒西番莲分离物RNA3 的cDNA全长克隆和序列分析

采用RT-PCR方法克隆了黄瓜花叶病毒西番莲致死分离物（CMV-PE）全长RNA3.经核苷酸序列测定，明确PE分离物 RNA3全长2216 nt，含有2个开放阅读框（ORF），其中5'端的ORF（121-963 nt）编码279 aa的3a蛋白，3'端ORF（1260-1916 nt ）编码218 aa的CP蛋白.5'端非编码区（NR）长120 nt,基因间隔区（IR）长296 nt，3'端NR区含301个碱基.PE分离物编码的3a蛋白中最明显的特征是在136-141位有一个独特的VWCLSS区域.将CMV-PE的RNA3的核苷酸序列及其编码蛋白的氨基酸序列与同属CMV亚组I的其它分离物进行比较，发现症状相似的CMV分离物的非编码区具有很高的序列同源性，说明非编码区序列与症状有关.     

Intracellular targeting and structural conservation of a prohormone-processing endoprotease

The prohormone-processing endoprotease (KEX2 gene product) of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a membrane-bound, 135,000-dalton glycoprotein, which contains both asparagine-linked and serine- and threonine-linked oligosaccharide and resides in a secretory compartment. Analysis of mutant kex2 genes truncated at their 3' end indicates that carboxyl terminal domains of the enzyme are required for its proper localization within the cell. A human gene product, "furin," shares 50% identity with the catalytic domain of Kex2 protease and is, therefore, a candidate for a human prohormone-processing enzyme.