scholarly journals Structure and expression of the human immunoglobulin lambda genes.

1990 ◽  
Vol 172 (2) ◽  
pp. 609-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
T J Vasicek ◽  
P Leder
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Rna Splicing ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Enhancer Activity ◽  
Initiation Point ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Duplication Events

We determined the DNA sequence of two large regions of chromosome 22: 33.7 kb containing the C lambda complex; and 5.2 kb 5' of the functionally rearranged lambda gene from the human myeloma, U266. Analysis of these sequences reveals the complete structure of the human C lambda complex and a previously undescribed seventh C lambda region that may encode the Ke+Oz- lambda protein. The seven constant regions are organized in a tandem array, and each is preceded by a single J lambda region. lambda 1, lambda 2, lambda 3, and lambda 7 are apparently active genes, while lambda 4, lambda 5, and lambda 6 are pseudogenes. There are no other J lambda or C lambda regions within a 60-kb region surrounding the C lambda complex; however, there are at least four other lambda-like genes and lambda pseudogenes in the human genome. The lambda genes appear to have evolved via a series of gene duplication events resulting from unequal crossing over or gene conversion between the highly conserved C lambda regions on mispaired chromosomes. The lack of Alu sequences in this large segment of DNA suggests that the C lambda complex resulted from a recent amplification of a smaller Alu-free segment of DNA. Illegitimate recombination between repeated sequences containing lambda 2 and lambda 3 may be responsible for variable amplification of the lambda genes. We also found a 1,377-bp open reading frame (ORF) located on the opposite strand in the region containing lambda 7. While this ORF is flanked by potential RNA splicing signals, we have no evidence that it is part of a functional gene. We also discovered a V lambda pseudogene, called psi V lambda 1, 3 kb upstream of the U266 lambda gene. Using primer extension analysis to map the transcription start in the human lambda gene, we have identified its initiation point 41 bp upstream of the initiation codon. Analysis of the lambda promoter reveals that it contains a TATAA box at position -29 relative to the transcription initiation site and an octamer sequence at -67. Computer analysis of 40 kb of DNA sequences surrounding the human lambda locus has revealed no sequences resembling the kappa or IgH transcriptional enhancers, nor have in vitro analyses for function revealed enhancer activity. A comparison of these results with those obtained in separate studies with transgenic mice point to a complex, developmentally linked mechanism of transcriptional activation.

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of maize mitochondrial gene expression

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 533-543
Author(s):  
R M Mulligan ◽  
P Leon ◽  
V Walbot
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Posttranscriptional Regulation ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Gene Copy ◽  
Promoter Strength ◽  
Protein Coding

Lysed maize mitochondria synthesize RNA in the presence of radioactive nucleoside triphosphates, and this assay was utilized to compare the rates of transcription of seven genes. The rates of incorporation varied over a 14-fold range, with the following rank order: 18S rRNA greater than 26S rRNA greater than atp1 greater than atp6 greater than atp9 greater than cob greater than cox3. The products of run-on transcription hybridized specifically to known transcribed regions and selectively to the antisense DNA strand; thus, the isolated run-on transcription system appears to be an accurate representation of endogenous transcription. Although there were small differences in gene copy abundance, these differences cannot account for the differences in apparent transcription rates; we conclude that promoter strength is the main determinant. Among the protein coding genes, incorporation was greatest for atp1. The most active transcription initiation site of this gene was characterized by hybridization with in vitro-capped RNA and by primer extension analyses. The DNA sequences at this and other transcription initiation sites that we have previously mapped were analyzed with respect to the apparent promoter strengths. We propose that two short sequence elements just upstream of initiation sites form at least a portion of the sequence requirements for a maize mitochondrial promoter. In addition to modulation at the level of transcription, steady-state abundance of protein-coding mRNAs varied over a 20-fold range and did not correlate with transcriptional activity. These observations suggest that posttranscriptional processes are important in the modulation of mRNA abundance.

Analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae his3 transcription in vitro: biochemical support for multiple mechanisms of transcription

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2832-2839
Author(s):  
A S Ponticelli ◽  
K Struhl
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Activator Proteins ◽  
Nuclear Extracts ◽  
Transcription In Vitro

The promoter region of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae his3 gene contains two TATA elements, TC and TR, that direct transcription initiation to two sites designated +1 and +13. On the basis of differences between their nucleotide sequences and their responsiveness to upstream promoter elements, it has previously been proposed that TC and TR promote transcription by different molecular mechanisms. To begin a study of his3 transcription in vitro, we used S. cerevisiae nuclear extracts together with various DNA templates and transcriptional activator proteins that have been characterized in vivo. We demonstrated accurate transcription initiation in vitro at the sites used in vivo, transcriptional activation by GCN4, and activation by a GAL4 derivative on various gal-his3 hybrid promoters. In all cases, transcription stimulation was dependent on the presence of an acidic activation region in the activator protein. In addition, analysis of promoters containing a variety of TR derivatives indicated that the level of transcription in vitro was directly related to the level achieved in vivo. The results demonstrated that the in vitro system accurately reproduced all known aspects of in vivo his3 transcription that depend on the TR element. However, in striking contrast to his3 transcription in vivo, transcription in vitro yielded approximately 20 times more of the +13 transcript than the +1 transcript. This result was not due to inability of the +1 initiation site to be efficiently utilized in vitro, but rather it reflects the lack of TC function in vitro. The results support the idea that TC and TR mediate transcription from the wild-type promoter by distinct mechanisms.

scholarly journals Analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae his3 transcription in vitro: biochemical support for multiple mechanisms of transcription.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2832-2839 ◽  
Author(s):  
A S Ponticelli ◽  
K Struhl
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Activator Proteins ◽  
Nuclear Extracts ◽  
Transcription In Vitro

The promoter region of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae his3 gene contains two TATA elements, TC and TR, that direct transcription initiation to two sites designated +1 and +13. On the basis of differences between their nucleotide sequences and their responsiveness to upstream promoter elements, it has previously been proposed that TC and TR promote transcription by different molecular mechanisms. To begin a study of his3 transcription in vitro, we used S. cerevisiae nuclear extracts together with various DNA templates and transcriptional activator proteins that have been characterized in vivo. We demonstrated accurate transcription initiation in vitro at the sites used in vivo, transcriptional activation by GCN4, and activation by a GAL4 derivative on various gal-his3 hybrid promoters. In all cases, transcription stimulation was dependent on the presence of an acidic activation region in the activator protein. In addition, analysis of promoters containing a variety of TR derivatives indicated that the level of transcription in vitro was directly related to the level achieved in vivo. The results demonstrated that the in vitro system accurately reproduced all known aspects of in vivo his3 transcription that depend on the TR element. However, in striking contrast to his3 transcription in vivo, transcription in vitro yielded approximately 20 times more of the +13 transcript than the +1 transcript. This result was not due to inability of the +1 initiation site to be efficiently utilized in vitro, but rather it reflects the lack of TC function in vitro. The results support the idea that TC and TR mediate transcription from the wild-type promoter by distinct mechanisms.

scholarly journals The manganese-responsive repressor Mur of Rhizobium leguminosarum is a member of the Fur-superfamily that recognizes an unusual operator sequence

Microbiology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (12) ◽  
pp. 4071-4078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edit Díaz-Mireles ◽  
Margaret Wexler ◽  
Jonathan D. Todd ◽  
Dominico Bellini ◽  
Andrew W. B. Johnston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Rhizobium Leguminosarum ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Recognition Sequence ◽  
Transcription Analysis ◽  
Similar Affinity

The manganese uptake regulator Mur of Rhizobium leguminosarum is a close homologue of the global iron regulatory protein Fur. Mur represses the sitABCD operon, which encodes a Mn2+ transport system, specifically in response to Mn2+ but not Fe2+. In previous work the authors mapped the 5′ ends of two sit operon transcripts, termed TS1 and TS2, which were co-ordinately regulated by Mn2+-Mur, but this paper now shows that only TS1 is a primary transcript. DNase I protection analyses showed that purified Mur bound, with similar affinity, to two sites in the regulatory region of sitABCD, but only when Mn2+ was present in the reaction buffer. These Mn2+-Mur-binding sites, termed MRS1 and MRS2 (Mur-responsive sequence), were closely related in sequence to each other and were separated by 16 bp, spanning the transcription initiation site TS1. The extent of the protected DNA was 34 and 31 bp for MRS1 and MRS2, respectively, which is in accord with other members of the Fur family. The DNA sequences recognized by Mn2+-Mur are wholly different from conventional Fur boxes, but some similarities to a recognition sequence for the Fur regulator from Bradyrhizobium japonicum were noted. Transcription analysis of the R. leguminosarum mur gene showed its expression to be independent of Mn2+-Mur. Thus, Mur is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that responds in vitro to manganese, and thus can occlude RNA polymerase access to the sitABCD promoter. Moreover, Mur recognizes a DNA sequence atypical for the Fur superfamily and, like Fur from B. japonicum, defines a new subclass of Fur-like transcriptional regulators.

scholarly journals Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of maize mitochondrial gene expression.

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 533-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
R M Mulligan ◽  
P Leon ◽  
V Walbot
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Posttranscriptional Regulation ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Gene Copy ◽  
Promoter Strength ◽  
Protein Coding

Lysed maize mitochondria synthesize RNA in the presence of radioactive nucleoside triphosphates, and this assay was utilized to compare the rates of transcription of seven genes. The rates of incorporation varied over a 14-fold range, with the following rank order: 18S rRNA greater than 26S rRNA greater than atp1 greater than atp6 greater than atp9 greater than cob greater than cox3. The products of run-on transcription hybridized specifically to known transcribed regions and selectively to the antisense DNA strand; thus, the isolated run-on transcription system appears to be an accurate representation of endogenous transcription. Although there were small differences in gene copy abundance, these differences cannot account for the differences in apparent transcription rates; we conclude that promoter strength is the main determinant. Among the protein coding genes, incorporation was greatest for atp1. The most active transcription initiation site of this gene was characterized by hybridization with in vitro-capped RNA and by primer extension analyses. The DNA sequences at this and other transcription initiation sites that we have previously mapped were analyzed with respect to the apparent promoter strengths. We propose that two short sequence elements just upstream of initiation sites form at least a portion of the sequence requirements for a maize mitochondrial promoter. In addition to modulation at the level of transcription, steady-state abundance of protein-coding mRNAs varied over a 20-fold range and did not correlate with transcriptional activity. These observations suggest that posttranscriptional processes are important in the modulation of mRNA abundance.

Interspersion of an unusual GCN4 activation site with a complex transcriptional repression site in Ty2 elements of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2091-2103
Author(s):  
S Türkel ◽  
P J Farabaugh
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Transcriptional Repression ◽  
Physiological Control ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Negative Region ◽  
Activation Site

Transcription of the Ty2-917 retrotransposon of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is modulated by a complex set of positive and negative elements, including a negative region located within the first open reading frame, TYA2. The negative region includes three downstream repression sites (DRSI, DRSII, and DRSIII). In addition, the negative region includes at least two downstream activation sites (DASs). This paper concerns the characterization of DASI. A 36-bp DASI oligonucleotide acts as an autonomous transcriptional activation site and includes two sequence elements which are both required for activation. We show that these sites bind in vitro the transcriptional activation protein GCN4 and that their activity in vivo responds to the level of GCN4 in the cell. We have termed the two sites GCN4 binding sites (GBS1 and GBS2). GBS1 is a high-affinity GCN4 binding site (dissociation constant, approximately 25 nM at 30 degrees C), binding GCN4 with about the affinity of a consensus UASGCN4, this though GBS1 includes two differences from the right half of the palindromic consensus site. GBS2 is more diverged from the consensus and binds GCN4 with about 20-fold-lower affinity. Nucleotides 13 to 36 of DASI overlap DRSII. Since DRSII is a transcriptional repression site, we tested whether DASI includes repression elements. We identify two sites flanking GBS2, both of which repress transcription activated by the consensus GCN4-specific upstream activation site (UASGCN4). One of these is repeated in the 12 bp immediately adjacent to DASI. Thus, in a 48-bp region of Ty2-917 are interspersed two positive and three negative transcriptional regulators. The net effect of the region must depend on the interaction of the proteins bound at these sites, which may include their competing for binding sites, and on the physiological control of the activity of these proteins.

Posterior stripe expression of hunchback is driven from two promoters by a common enhancer element

Development ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 121 (9) ◽  
pp. 3067-3077 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.S. Margolis ◽  
M.L. Borowsky ◽  
E. Steingrimsson ◽  
C.W. Shim ◽  
J.A. Lengyel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Enhancer Element ◽  
Gap Gene ◽  
Gap Genes ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

The gap gene hunchback (hb) is required for the formation and segmentation of two regions of the Drosophila embryo, a broad anterior domain and a narrow posterior domain. Accumulation of hb transcript in the posterior of the embryo occurs in two phases, an initial cap covering the terminal 15% of the embryo followed by a stripe at the anterior edge of this region. By in situ hybridization with transcript-specific probes, we show that the cap is composed only of mRNA from the distal transcription initiation site (P1), while the later posterior stripe is composed of mRNA from both the distal and proximal (P2) transcription initiation sites. Using a series of genomic rescue constructs and promoter-lacZ fusion genes, we define a 1.4 kb fragment of the hb upstream region that is both necessary and sufficient for posterior expression. Sequences within this fragment mediate regulation by the terminal gap genes tailless (tll) and a huckebein, which direct the formation of the posterior hb stripe. We show that the tll protein binds in vitro to specific sites within the 1.4 kb posterior enhancer region, providing the first direct evidence for activation of gene expression by tll. We propose a model in which the anterior border of the posterior hb stripe is determined by tll concentration in a manner analogous to the activation of anterior hb expression by bicoid.

Identification of promoter elements necessary for transcriptional regulation of a human histone H4 gene in vitro

1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 380-389
Author(s):  
S M Hanly ◽  
G C Bleecker ◽  
N Heintz
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
S Phase ◽  
Histone H4 ◽  
Promoter Elements ◽  
Nuclear Extracts ◽  
Distal Promoter ◽  
Histone H4 Gene

We have examined the nucleotide sequences necessary for transcription of a human histone H4 gene in vitro. Maximal transcription of the H4 promoter requires, in addition to the TATA box and cap site, promoter elements between 70 and 110 nucleotides upstream from the transcription initiation site. These distal promoter elements are recognized preferentially in extracts from synchronized S-phase HeLa cells. The inability of non-S-phase nuclear extracts to recognize the H4 upstream sequences reflects a specific lack of a transcription factor which interacts with those sequences. These results indicate that the cell cycle regulation of human histone gene expression involves both a specific transcription factor and distal transcription signals in the H4 promoter.

A new Bacillus cereus DNA-binding protein, HlyIIR, negatively regulates expression of B. cereus haemolysin II

Microbiology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 150 (11) ◽  
pp. 3691-3701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhanna I. Budarina ◽  
Dmitri V. Nikitin ◽  
Nikolay Zenkin ◽  
Marina Zakharova ◽  
Ekaterina Semenova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Bacillus Cereus ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Food Poisoning ◽  
Haemolytic Activity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Initiation Point ◽  
Dna Repeat ◽  
Opportunistic Human Pathogen

Haemolysin II, HlyII, is one of several cytotoxic proteins produced by Bacillus cereus, an opportunistic human pathogen that causes food poisoning. The hlyII gene confers haemolytic activity to Escherichia coli cells. Here a new B. cereus gene, hlyIIR, which is located immediately downstream of hlyII and regulates hlyII expression, is reported. The deduced amino acid sequence of HlyIIR is similar to prokaryotic DNA-binding transcriptional regulators of the TetR/AcrA family. Measurements of haemolytic activity levels and of hlyII promoter activity levels using gene fusions and primer-extension assays demonstrated that, in E. coli, hlyII transcription decreased in the presence of hlyIIR. Recombinant HlyIIR binds to a 22 bp inverted DNA repeat centred 48 bp upstream of the hlyII promoter transcription initiation point. In vitro transcription studies showed that HlyIIR inhibits transcription from the hlyII promoter by binding to the 22 bp repeat and RNA polymerase, and by decreasing the formation of the catalytically competent open promoter complex.

scholarly journals A Type Ib ParB Protein Involved in Plasmid Partitioning in a Gram-Positive Bacterium

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (23) ◽  
pp. 8103-8108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Yin ◽  
Tai-Yuan Li ◽  
Mao-Hua Xie ◽  
Lina Jiang ◽  
Yi Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Plasmid Stability ◽  
Direct Repeat ◽  
Positive Bacterium ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Plasmid Partition ◽  
Orf4 Protein ◽  
Bacterial Plasmid

ABSTRACT Our current understanding of segregation of prokaryotic plasmids has been derived mainly from the study of the gram-negative bacterial plasmids. We previously reported a replicon of the cryptic plasmid from a gram-positive bacterium, Leifsonia xyli subsp. cynodontis. The replicon contains a putative plasmid partition cassette including a Walker-type ATPase followed by open reading frame 4 without sequence homologue. Here we reported that the orf4 gene was essential for maintaining the plasmid stability in L. xyli subsp. cynodontis. Furthermore, the purified orf4 protein specifically and cooperatively bound to direct repeat sequences located upstream of the parA gene in vitro, indicating that orf4 is a parB gene and that the direct repeat DNA sequences constitute a partition site, parS. The location of parS and the features of ParA and ParB proteins suggest that this plasmid partition cassette belongs to type Ib, representing the first type Ib cassette identified from a gram-positive bacterial plasmid.

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